Could we consider Gregor to be insane? Why or why not? Does his attitude of normalcy towards his condition when he wakes up at the beginning of the story reveal anything about his mental state?
Gregor Samsa performs a dull, unfulfilling job as a traveling salesman in order to provide for his family, and put his sister through school. One day, he wakes up to find himself transformed into a giant bug. This transformation could be a metaphor for Gregor’s mental breakdown. He has performed a job he hates for so long that he cannot stand it, and simply refuses to leave his room, because he cannot bring himself to live his unfulfilling life any longer. He is not literally a bug, but because of his newfound laziness, he is perceived to be an insect by his family. This would explain why he and his family seem perfectly normal and unchanged by this transformation. The maid, who was the only person to have an adverse reaction to Gregor’s transformation, could simply be upset about the change of condition of his room. His laziness and refusal to leave the room would create a much dirtier living area to clean. Gregor’s state, while initially could be looked on as sympathetic to his family, would soon become annoying, as it did with his family. Gregor’s mental breakdown comes to fruition when he finally realizes the burden he is on his family, and allowed himself to die in order to allow his family to move on.
I’m not quite sure if I can absolutely call Gregor “insane” but his mental state is peculiar. The opening of The Metamorphosis stood out to me the most out of the entire story. Gregor’s reaction to his transformation is what I expected but then he continues to prepare for the day. It is almost as though, Gregor feels obligated that he has to go to work regardless of what excuse he may have. I can’t help but wonder if Kafka’s decision to make Gregor’s monstrous form be insect-like. A number of insects, such as ants and bees, behave on orders given to them by a higher order. Could the bug allusion be a connection to Gregor’s attitude in the beginning of the story. After all, he bothered to get ready in order to “avoid a tirade from the boss” (55) and he even viewed himself better than the other employees who are “bunch of scoundrels” (59).
I think more evident to this bug parallel is how Gregor sort of “shuts down” or rather does not do anything for the rest of the story. Gregor’s parents and sister pursue jobs to deal with their “financial position” (77) but Gregor stays in his room, sits on his couch, and eat. There is no solution in reversing Gregor’s transformation and his family is shutting him out of their lives. But Gregor is just there; he’s just a nuisance to his family. When he does try to get involved, he only causes more trouble for his family. In turn, his folks feel that “‘things can’t go on’” (103) the way they are now. When Gregor dies, the family feels no remorse and instead their lives improve because he is dead. I feel Gregor’s mental state speaks about the functionality of family. A core value in the concept of family is that no matter what, your folks are there for you. Here in The Metamorphosis, it seems your value in the family is whether or not you are doing something productive and promising in the household.
Gregor is a bug. He isn't physically a bug but mentally and spiritually he has taken the form of an insect. Now this is peculiar. Why would he take the form as a bug to repel his pain? It is clear he is repressing something but what it is, is difficult to determine. I believe he has decided to become a bug because he views himself as hated. Bugs are often seen as revolting and repulsive. Something that should be exterminated. Now this is proved as he relinquishes his duties as a father and salesman. Being the bug allows him comfort in the fact that since he is a bug, this is what he's supposed to do. Now he doesn't feel as guilty about how he is behaving.
In looking at "The Metamorphasis" solely from Gregor's point of view, in a more metaphorical sense, I believe that his being turned into an insect is not literal, but rather a way of demonstrating the hardships Gregor is going through. His struggle with his job, family, and the pain he's in in general may be causing him a great deal of depression, which then manifests itself, in Gregors mind, into the 'monstrous vermin' he describes. When he becomes this bug he displays many symptoms of depression such as not being able to get out of bed, and physical changes that can occur as well. So, either the insect is being used by the narrator as a metaphor for Gregors condition, or perhaps Gregor is the one imagining it, either because of madness, or as some kind of delusional coping stradegy. On the other hand, it is rather impossible in this literature to assume Gregor is in fact insane and just imagining himself as an insect. This is because Gregor is not the narrator of the story, rather there is a third person, outside narrator. This type of narrator's purpose is to tell us the facts of what is happening, which he does in detail as he describes Gregor's insect state, as well as the reactions of the family, etc. This narrator cannot get inside the head of Gregor, so we can't call Gregor insane, since his state is being described by an all knowing narrator, and therefore either the narrator himself is insane, or he is just using the insect as a metaphor but in such a way that we can't really tell.
Gregor Samsa performs a dull, unfulfilling job as a traveling salesman in order to provide for his family, and put his sister through school. One day, he wakes up to find himself transformed into a giant bug. This transformation could be a metaphor for Gregor’s mental breakdown. He has performed a job he hates for so long that he cannot stand it, and simply refuses to leave his room, because he cannot bring himself to live his unfulfilling life any longer. He is not literally a bug, but because of his newfound laziness, he is perceived to be an insect by his family. This would explain why he and his family seem perfectly normal and unchanged by this transformation. The maid, who was the only person to have an adverse reaction to Gregor’s transformation, could simply be upset about the change of condition of his room. His laziness and refusal to leave the room would create a much dirtier living area to clean. Gregor’s state, while initially could be looked on as sympathetic to his family, would soon become annoying, as it did with his family. Gregor’s mental breakdown comes to fruition when he finally realizes the burden he is on his family, and allowed himself to die in order to allow his family to move on.
ReplyDeleteI’m not quite sure if I can absolutely call Gregor “insane” but his mental state is peculiar. The opening of The Metamorphosis stood out to me the most out of the entire story. Gregor’s reaction to his transformation is what I expected but then he continues to prepare for the day. It is almost as though, Gregor feels obligated that he has to go to work regardless of what excuse he may have. I can’t help but wonder if Kafka’s decision to make Gregor’s monstrous form be insect-like. A number of insects, such as ants and bees, behave on orders given to them by a higher order. Could the bug allusion be a connection to Gregor’s attitude in the beginning of the story. After all, he bothered to get ready in order to “avoid a tirade from the boss” (55) and he even viewed himself better than the other employees who are “bunch of scoundrels” (59).
ReplyDeleteI think more evident to this bug parallel is how Gregor sort of “shuts down” or rather does not do anything for the rest of the story. Gregor’s parents and sister pursue jobs to deal with their “financial position” (77) but Gregor stays in his room, sits on his couch, and eat. There is no solution in reversing Gregor’s transformation and his family is shutting him out of their lives. But Gregor is just there; he’s just a nuisance to his family. When he does try to get involved, he only causes more trouble for his family. In turn, his folks feel that “‘things can’t go on’” (103) the way they are now. When Gregor dies, the family feels no remorse and instead their lives improve because he is dead. I feel Gregor’s mental state speaks about the functionality of family. A core value in the concept of family is that no matter what, your folks are there for you. Here in The Metamorphosis, it seems your value in the family is whether or not you are doing something productive and promising in the household.
Gregor is a bug. He isn't physically a bug but mentally and spiritually he has taken the form of an insect. Now this is peculiar. Why would he take the form as a bug to repel his pain? It is clear he is repressing something but what it is, is difficult to determine. I believe he has decided to become a bug because he views himself as hated. Bugs are often seen as revolting and repulsive. Something that should be exterminated. Now this is proved as he relinquishes his duties as a father and salesman. Being the bug allows him comfort in the fact that since he is a bug, this is what he's supposed to do. Now he doesn't feel as guilty about how he is behaving.
ReplyDeleteIn looking at "The Metamorphasis" solely from Gregor's point of view, in a more metaphorical sense, I believe that his being turned into an insect is not literal, but rather a way of demonstrating the hardships Gregor is going through. His struggle with his job, family, and the pain he's in in general may be causing him a great deal of depression, which then manifests itself, in Gregors mind, into the 'monstrous vermin' he describes. When he becomes this bug he displays many symptoms of depression such as not being able to get out of bed, and physical changes that can occur as well. So, either the insect is being used by the narrator as a metaphor for Gregors condition, or perhaps Gregor is the one imagining it, either because of madness, or as some kind of delusional coping stradegy.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, it is rather impossible in this literature to assume Gregor is in fact insane and just imagining himself as an insect. This is because Gregor is not the narrator of the story, rather there is a third person, outside narrator. This type of narrator's purpose is to tell us the facts of what is happening, which he does in detail as he describes Gregor's insect state, as well as the reactions of the family, etc. This narrator cannot get inside the head of Gregor, so we can't call Gregor insane, since his state is being described by an all knowing narrator, and therefore either the narrator himself is insane, or he is just using the insect as a metaphor but in such a way that we can't really tell.