Unappreciated Characters of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis

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The Unappreciated Characters of Metamorphosis

The story of The Metamorphosis is one that is very subtle and very delicate.

Kafka wrote in a fashion that would allow a reader to interpret the story in a

way that may be different each time it is read. From the beginning, we see

that a young, hard working, man, Gregor, has turned into a bug, and as the

story continues, one can see that he was much more than an insect. What else

could he be? Even after his death, it is obvious that Gregor was there for a

cause. His family depended on him for their happiness. The purpose for his

existence was to serve his family. His mother and father created him and were

the driving force behind his physical change. There was a lack of

communication that existed throughout the story that revealed how unappreciated

they were of Gregor and his sister, who was on her way towards becoming like

her brother.

Gregor was very important to the family's welfare. At first he was the

only working member of the family, and his job was very important; the whole

future of Gregor and his family depended on it (p.84). For so long he wanted

to quit his work, because he wasn't happy with it. But he said to himself, "

Besides, I have to provide for my parents and my sister. (pp. 82-83)." He felt

that his family was too dependent of him. When Gregor wouldnt let anyone in his

room in fear that they would be horrified by his condition, he thought that his

family was harassing him because he was in danger of losing his job, and

because the chief would begin harassing his parents again for the old debts" (p.

76). At this point, everyone was angry and wanted him to get up for work.

All that mattered to the family was what Gregor was able to provide.

After his secret of change to an insect was discovered, they realized that he

was no longer of any use to the family, and he was unappreciated in every way.

He didn't have his job and no longer had anything to offer. "The house soon

started to fall apart; the household was reduced more and more "(p.

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