In the story "The Methamorphosis" by Franz Kafka, the main character Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to find out that he has turned into a bug. Despite the extravagant event, Gregor quickly get over it and determined to get to work. Throughout the story, Gregor does not bother to wonder why he has turned into a bug. Gregor never tries to find a solution; it seems that he has accepted his faith. Gregor's family did experience a shock when they first found out that he has turned into a bug. However, beside his mother, the family soon enough accepts the fact that Gregor is forever a bug. Gregor becomes a burden.
Kafka does not want the reader’s sympathy toward Gregor. Rather, he would like the reader to learn from Gregor. One could see this throughout the story where neither Gregor nor his family accept the facts and live on. The end of the story would be the only part of the story where one would feel sympathy toward Gregor. When Gregor finally realizes how much he loves his family and how much he has became a burden for them he surrender his life and pass away. Despite that, the entire story does not show any sign of Kafka trying to apply a sympathy theme towards Gregor.
11 years ago
4 comments:
I really like that you pointed out that Gregor accepts his fate. I think the hardest part about having a social abnormality is accepting it yourself.
Like Alex, I like how you pointed out that Gregor and his family accepted Gregor's transformation, but I am not sure why I, as a reader, am suppose to learn to just move on. I am not sure if this is even what I am suppose to learn.
Good point, Gregor accepted the fact that he turned into gigantic bug without any concern or question, rather than that, he was trying to kind of live normal routine with his buggy body. However, I think Kafka wanted to tell readers that Gregor is the symbol of the extreme individualist who barely communicate with his family. And by let Gregor regretting about his life, I think Kafka want us to think about our lives, that how we are careless about socializing and being with family because of concentrating on individual(personal) things that we do when we really don't have to.
Gregor does accept his fate and so does his whole family. I believe that Kafka is trying to comment on family values and the lack of love that Gregor's family feels for him. The fact that the family does not try and take extensive steps into finding a cure for Gregor shows how they do not value him as a important member of their family unit.
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