Perception In The Metamorphosis

Imagine a world where all people are able to communicate clearly and effectively. Where members of a society can remove themselves from the restrictions of societal norms and be able to appreciate one another as members of the same society. If only society did not poison minds and make understanding one another so difficult. There are many steps to understanding a situation, however the most crucial is one’s perception. Perception is shown with an initial reaction, followed by an immediate reaction, and these reactions are the basis for all decisions made after. Every reaction is the basis of an individual’s decision when presented with a situation. Society negatively alters the perception, and furthermore reactions and decisions, of people,
Perception is a way of processing a situation, based upon the individual’s circumstances and prior experience. Perception is the basis of all mental reactions, and mental reactions determine how a person will act, when presented with a given situation. The initial, or mental, reaction is how someone reacts prior to fully understanding a situation. This mental reaction is followed by an immediate reaction which is a reaction that stems from a person’s realization and understanding of a situation and is subject to society’s influence. Throughout The Metamorphosis, Gregor’s family shows each stage of reacting to the situation they are presented with.
Initial reactions are individualized, simply because no two people have the same experiences and circumstances, however, in a family, initial reactions can be very similar. Every person has their own role and purpose in a family and families are particularly tightly knit. When a person contracts a sickness, families usually have concern for the ill, and take care of their responsibilities until they become well. Illness is responded to with compassion and caution simultaneously. The Metamorphosis is based around the illness of Gregor
Didn’t you want to go somewhere?” showing concern for her son’s tardiness to work. This is followed by Mr. Samsa and Grete trying to determine what is wrong with Gregor and why he is not ready for his morning. Grete offers to get Gregor something and is the first to propose he is not well. The father’s initial reaction is that Gregor is simply not ready, however, Gregor’s sister, Grete, is more accurate with interpreting Gregor as sick (Kafka 8). Society implies that when one is not well, that others are to help, if they can. Despite Gregor’s insistence upon him being able to prepare himself for work, his parents tell Grete and Anna to call a locksmith and a doctor as the morning drags on, showing his initial reaction to be concern and desire to help, and his mother, with the same intentions, tries to ward of the chief clerk from Gregor’s job who seems concerned, but for another reason. (Kafka 14,18). Every person’s initial reaction changed as soon as Gregor opened his bedroom door, however, and was altered from compassion to