Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” is a very bazaar story, to say the least. I found it almost disturbing, not just because of the visuals that the author depicts, but more so, the fact that Gregor is so accepting of his condition. “One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin” (Kafka 1999). This is the opening line of the story. One would be well justified to have a panic attack, or nervous breakdown, or some other sort of mental crisis upon such a discovery of himself. Instead, he looks to the window and is depressed by the dismal weather. The book tells us “it was no dream”, but it doesn’t specify at that point whether Gregor was stating that it wasn’t a dream, or just clarifying that point to the reader. It doesn’t take very long at all to realize that Gregor does not think he’s dreaming. “What if I slept a little more and forgot all about this nonsense” (Kafka 1999).
This odd reaction to his condition suggests that Gregor’s transformation into a bug is actually a metaphor. He wakes up one day and doesn’t like what he sees, but it’s not necessarily a surprise to him. He wants to just go back to sleep and try to forget about what he’s become. I would say that he is probably very overweight. “He lay on his hard, armor like back, and when lifting his head slightly, he could view his brown, vaulted belly partitioned by arching ridges, while on top of it, the blanket, about to slide off altogether, could barely hold” (Kafka 1999).
I have to agree with you. How can Gregor not be freaking out?!? He is more worried about his boss showing up than the fact that he's a giant bug. “Wouldn't it be suffice to send an office boy to inquire – if indeed this snooping were at all necessary?” (2003) You said, “I would say that he is probably very overweight.” Do you mean Gregor as a bug or Gregor as a human? Gregor tried to pretend that he didn't wake up as a bug. “For now, he wanted to get up calmly and without being nagged, put on his clothes, above all have breakfast.” (2001)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely. Gregor had every reason to be extremely paranoid and worried. The first thing he said to himself was, "What's happened to me." (Kafka 1999). Even thinking to himself saying that he seemed calm about what he had just become overnight. The point about his physical appearance, and him possibly being quite overweight or maybe even obese, makes a good point. That would make much sense it the story is a metaphor for something such as being overweight. I also found it odd as you did that he was more interested in the weather outside than his transformed body. It really does seem as though he is not worried about his new physical appearance. This story was quite strange for sure.
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