Transformation In Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis Franz Kafka’s short story, The Metamorphosis, illustrates the struggle of a family trying to manage with the insect transformation of the main character, Gregor Samsa. Although most readers might argue that the focus of the metamorphosis is based around Gregor due to his transformation; however, from the moment we meet Gregor, his reality insignificantly changes in spite of his drastic physical change. Gregor’s physical change introduces an altercation in Grete’s life that we see over the course of the story.
Grete undergoes a drastic change from being described as a ‘useless’ daughter and later on becoming a ‘beautiful and marriageable’women. Thus indicating that Grete’s development into adulthood is the central transformation in the story. From the moment we are introduced to Grete, she is nothing but a mere voice behind Gregor’s bedroom door. Her first words to Gregor are tender and compassionate: “Gregor? Are you all right? Do you need anything? ” (ABC8). Which suggests that they had a close and loving relationship. But as Gregor refuses to open his bedroom door, Grete begins to weep in her bedroom.
Showing us readers that Grete is nothing but a child. But as the story goes on, Grete’s significant change into adulthood is noticed throughout her change of action, feelings, and speech toward her brother. Which represents her metamorphosis form adolescence into adulthood. After Gregor’s transformation, Grete is initially the only character that shows any compassion for his well-being. His mother and father are terrified at first by his new appearance and take no initiative to care for him as their son.
Therefore, Grete takes on the responsibly of feeding him, identifying what type of food he’ll enjoy eating, and lastly, attempts to nderstand what will make him feel more comfortable. But as she catches her first glimpse of Gregor by accident, she slammed the door quickly in surprise but as if she was sorry for what she had just done she opened the door again and “walked in on her tiptoes, as if she was in the presence of a serious invalid or a total stranger” (ABC37). Although she grows to become Gregor’s main caretaker by being the only one to feed him and provide any kind of positive human interaction; there is an obvious change in their relationship after Gregor’s transformation.
You notice this change when Grete feels like she is walking into a stranger’s room as she goes to pick up the bowl of milk she has left out for Gregor to drink. Despite her new feelings towards Gregor, she still attempts to act of love and goodwill by creating a method to discover the types foods he prefers. She did this by spreading out a varied of food such as: “old half-rotten vegetables, bones from the evening meal, covered with a white sauce which had almost solidified, some raisins and almonds, cheese… ” (ABC38).
Apart from being the only family member willing to engage with Gregor, she also takes on the role of being Gregor’s voice to communicate with the rest of the family on how he is doing. For example, in the story it mentions that,”… both his father and his mother often waited in front of Gregor’s door while his sister cleans up inside, and as soon as she came out she had to explain in detail how things looked in the room, what Gregor had eaten, how he had behaved this time, and whether perhaps a slight improvement was perceptible” (ABC50).
Grete serves as the only connection between Gregor and his parents to confirm on his well-being. It started out as a genuine concern for her brother but began to evolve into an obsession of superiority; which begins her metamorphosis of becoming a more independent and authoritative figure. Signs of change in Grete’s behavior developed as she started utilizing her authoritative decision without Gregor’s consent. She becomes less sensitive toward Gregor as she undoubtedly forgets that this insect is her brother and still contains human emotions.
In the story it mentions that “As soon as she entered, she ran straight to the window… and yanked the window open with eager hands, as if she was almost suffocating, and remained for a while by the window breathing deeply… ” (ABC48). Grete’s entrance into Gregor’s room shows that she seems to be less tolerable of her brother’s appearance. This moment of the text represents Grete’s lack of patience she obtains with Gregor; as she rudely opens the window at her discontent of his oder. In addition to her dramatic scene, she doesn’t even bother to hide her feelings when she enters into his room.
Grete, who was once perceived as a Gregor’s loving sister loses all compassion she had once felt for her brother. Not only has Grete taken the responsibility to care for Gregor but she has also earned a job as a salesgirl while studying French and stenography to obtain a better position. With Grete’s new job and other important household task she neglects to put Gregor first which suggests that he has become less important and more of a burden. For example, Gregor’s bedroom is described with, “Streaks of dirt ran along the walls; here and there lay tangles of dust and garbage… he perceived the dirt as much as he did, but she had decided just to let it stay” (ABC72).
Grete’s obligation to clean his room is harder ever done or done in a careless way that makes no difference. By the end of the story, Grete along with his mother and father have easily forgot about Gregor. Due to the family’s new dynamics, Grete has assumed a greater role to help provide for the family. In addition to that, the family host three boarders and one night after dinner Grete began playing the violin from the living room.
As she is playing the violin, Gregor draws himself out of his room in front of all the guest which causes an major issue to occur with the family. Which leads to Grete’s plateau of her metamorphosis and her ultimate betrayal against her brother. Grete full of rage states, “I will not utter my brother’s name in front of this monster, and thus I say only that we must try to get rid of it. We have tried what is humanly possible to take care of it and to be patient. I believe that no one can criticize us in the slightest” (ABC84).
Gregor is no longer referred as a person but rather becomes an ‘it’. She feels that he has become a burden to the family and can no longer be considered her brother. The final realization of Grete’s metamorphosis is at the end of the story when her parents noticed that, “their daughter, who was getting more animated all the time, had blossomed recently, in spite of all the troubles which had made her cheeks pale, into a beautiful and voluptuous young woman… they thought that the time was now at hand to seek out a good honest man for her” (ABC96).
While Gregor suffers a fatal death, the family is now free and can look forward for a hopeful future for Grete. Throughout the story you notice the changes Grete goes through from once being a loving sister to condemning the vermin he has become. She assumes the role of Gregor’s benefactor and essentially replaces Gregor in the family being the responsible child with a bright future ahead of her. In the story Gregor’s physical state changes, but his reality stays the same, unlike Grete’s reality. Thus it is Grete who undertones the true metamorphosis.