Character Analysis Of Gregor In Kovalyov's The Metamorphosis

Although Gregor and Kovalyov change physically they do no change internally, as their later actions still continue to depict Gregor’s fixation with materialistic goods and Kovalyov’s concern with physical assets. With the physical transformations of both protagonist, the reader expects internal change but it does not happen in The Nose or in The Metamorphosis. Gregor’s physical transformation presents an opportunity for him to also change internally as he can instead focus on his family’s poor treatment since he is not occupied with work. However, Gregor’s preoccupation with money is still present even after he transforms and it continues to cause him misery. Whenever he would listen to his family converse over an issue of money, he would “let

go of the door and throw himself down on the cool leather sofa which stood beside it, for he felt hot with shame and grief” (29). Through Gregor’s continued obsession with money, Kafka critiques labor as a socioeconomic demand that forces Gregor to give up living a happy life before and even after the metamorphosis. Kafka reveals the immense power money has in Gregor’s life to further depict the importance Gregor places on materialistic things. Additionally, when Gregor realizes his mom and sister are removing his objects from his room, he lashes out. The narrator details, “[Gregor] really didn’t know what to salvage first, then he saw hanging […] the picture of the lady all dressed in furs, hurriedly crawled up on it and pressed himself against the glass” (35). This scene symbolizes the hope that Gregor is holding onto, as he tries to keep the last of his material objects. By showing how Gregor is still consumed by money and materialistic objects, Kafka reveals how Gregor only knows to value materialistic objects. Kafka shows that Gregor’s initial concern remains even after he lives as vermin, as he still holds the same superficial interests.