The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka.  (Page 386-418 The Edition: The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction) So I decided to check on my blog, and it just looked so lonely without a new post.  Maybe I am procrastinating.  Who really knows.  So.  This short story is different.  And I'm about to tell you how I feel about it.  **SPOILERS AHEAD**

When I first read the words "he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect" (386) I automatically think of a cockroach (sorry for the page number, but I need to practice MLA somewhere).  It kinda disturbed me and then I didn't really want to read it.  I think what most bothered me is that he wasn't at all fazed by it.  He was kinda like, "Oh I'm a gigantic insect, I have to get to work..."  If I woke up to find that I was an insect I think I'd freak out.  Big time.  But after the initial shock of the whole insect thing, Kafka is able to draw you in to see the real message behind the story. The family dynamic. 

At first, his sister Grete was really good about getting him food and cleaning his room.  But after time went on she just didn't want to have to deal with him any more.  If I were at first to take my sister (or brother) turning into an insect well, I wouldn't turn my back on her (or him).  Or it... just because it couldn't bring in money for the family.

The father in this story pissed me off.  I mean he makes his son go get a job so that Gregor (funny story about his name I'll mention it at the end) can pay off their debt, and yet he lives a lavish lifestyle all because of his son.  Gregor allows this abuse just because he believes that his father cannot work and then suddenly after Gregor is an insect his father can work.  It is hypocritical and hypocrisy. 

On another note, the housekeeper at the end who finds Gregor after he dies and does something to his body, is weird.  I mean just some of the things that she says to Gregor like "Look at the old dung beetle, then" and crap.  I mean, it's all because of the class system in this story that she believes that she has the right to treat him like this.  But she has no right! I would never in my right mind call someone that, even if they had turned into an insect.  Okay, I'll be honest, it was kinda hard to keep a straight face while typing that sentence.  But still!

Otherwise, I liked the story but just thought it was really really weird.  Now, the random note about the name Gregor.  Well, I had another paper due this week about this story, and I was typing away blah blah blah and then after I finished went to class and handed it in.  However it was during our discussion on some random topic that my friend starts talking about Gregor.  it was then I realized that I had written in George instead without really realizing my mistake.  Yeah.  I had a good laugh.  But I am kinda scared to get my mark back now because of this mistake.  Joy.

Happy Reading!