How Does Metamorphosis Change

The dictionary defines “metamorphosis” in regards to change, whether it be physical, emotional, or spiritual. There is one obvious change that can be seen throughout the novella, Metamorphosis, and that is Gregor’s physical change into a cockroach. However, this is not the only change that can be seen in Metamorphosis. Gregor’s parents and sister also experience change on a more emotional level rather than physical, which is what Gregor experienced. The reader can see a shift in how Gregor’s family care for and perceive him. Gregor’s father, sister, and mother all act one way towards Gregor in the beginning of Metamorphosis, but then their behavior changes as the novella progresses. Gregor provides all the financial support for his family,
In the beginning of Metamorphosis Grete is seen as the only person who actually cares about Gregor’s well being. When Gregor’s family and the chief clerk are standing outside his door waiting for him to open it, the sister is the only one who asks Gregor if he is feeling well. Gregor’s parents and the chief clerk only care whether Gregor can make it into work or not. She is also the only one brave enough to go into Gregor’s room and feed him. However, as the novella progresses, the reader begins to see a shift in Grete’s attitude towards Gregor. She goes from caring about his well being, to only seeing him as a hindrance that must be taken care of everyday. “We can’t carry on like this. Maybe you can’t see it, but I can. I don’t want to call this monster my brother, all I can say is: we have to try and get rid of it. We’ve done all that’s humanly possible to look after it and be patient, I don’t think anyone could accuse us of doing anything wrong” (Kafka, Sec. 3, 13). At this point in the story, Grete doesn’t even see the Gregor as her own brother anymore. Instead, she sees him as a monster and wants nothing to do with him. This is yet another change in behavior that can be seen in
His whole family goes through their own changes, although they are very different from the changes that Gregor experiences. Their changes were based more upon an emotional change, rather than a physical change. They all treated Gregor one way in the beginning of Metamorphosis, but as the novella progressed, they all began treating Gregor differently. The father only saw Gregor as a source of income, but when Gregor could no longer provide that income, his father lost all interest in him. Gregor’s sister, Grete, was the only one who cared for Gregor in the beginning Metamorphosis, but then she became the one who wanted to see him gone the most. Lastly, Gregor’s mother did almost nothing to help Gregor once he changed into a cockroach. However, as time went on she began to care for him more and more, and she would eventually become the only one who cared about his well being and still saw him as Gregor. These are parts in the story, other than Gregor’s obvious change, that the reader can see metamorphic change