The Real Monsters

In class, we’ve discussed how Gregor’s metamorphosis has drastically changed the family routine and dynamics. Before, the whole family was entirely dependant on Gregor and his cushy traveling salesman job. The father would sit at the table “reading the paper or studying timetables” (10) while Gregor headed off to work every morning. His mother and father both quit working, embracing a relaxing lifestyle, while their son worked to bring comfort to their lives. Now, although Grete, Gregor’s sister, is still in school, and so working isn’t totally a necessity, she still seems to go along with depending on Gregor. She could have gotten a job, as we see happens once Gregor is unable to work anymore, she just chooses not to.

At first, I wasn’t very judgemental of the family for leaning on Gregor for stability. It’s pretty much human nature to crave comfortability in life, and so Gregor’s family isn’t really in the wrong for being able to fulfill that desire. It’s not until the very end that I became very skeptical of Mr. and Mrs. Samsa’s way to live their lives. “While they were talking in this vein, it occurred almost simultaneously to Mr. and Mrs. Samsa, as they watched their daughter getting livelier and livelier, that lately, in spite of all the troubles which had turned her cheeks pal, she had blossomed into a good-looking, shapely girl...it would soon be time, too, to find her a good husband. And it was like a confirmation of their new dreams and good intentions when at the end of the ride their daugher got up first and stretched her young body” (58). The parents are like parasites. Immediately after Gregor’s death, the parents realize that their daughter is growing up, and will soon be of age to marry, thus added a fully working husband to the family. Since their old source of income has been sucked dry and has perished, it’s time for the parents to latch onto another source to provide them the life of luxury they once had. Mr. and Mrs. Samsa are the real monsters; moving on from host to host in order to satisfy their desires in life. They seemingly can’t live a life where they have to work and provide for themselves, and so they turn to their youthful daughter and rely on her to marry a man who will fully provide for the family, like Gregor once did.

It’s interesting how, initially, Kafka sets us up to believe that Gregor in the monster of the story. But once Gregor passes away, we realize who the true monsters of the story. Mr. and Mrs. Samsa, after hearing about the death of their son, quickly move on and focus on their daughter and how she can help them get back to their old lives. Now, I definitely wonder how our perspective would have changed if the story wasn’t in Gregor’s perspective. Would we feel as sympathetic for Gregor or the parents? Would we understand the parents’ motives more, or despise them even more?