Gregor's Metamorphosis Sacrifice

At a glance, the Samsa family seems like the quintessential family in 1915: a mother, a father, and two children. The youthful but mature young man (in this case, Gregor) is the breadwinner of the family while the others stay home due to their inability to work, whether they’re too young like Grete or too old like Mr. Samsa. However, a scratch just beneath the surface of this façade reveals otherwise. Not only is the family disconnected from each other in the beginning of the story, but it takes drastic events to take place in order for them to be brought back together. Of course, this event is Gregor’s transformation, which is not without its sacrifices. Gregor’s transformation and eventual death, despite the sacrifice, was the result of and cure for the Samsa family’s dysfunctionality. In order to

Prior to Gregor’s transformation, life was at a high point. At least, through Gregor’s eyes it seemed to be so. He is wildly successful at his job, whether others see it or not, providing his family with luxuries that many others do not have. For example, not only do the Samsas have a large house, jewelry, clothing, food, and maids (not to mention that Gregor plans to pay off the debt and send Grete to the Conservatory), but all this was solely financed by Gregor, who is the only working member of the family. Despite all that Gregor’s done for his family, he rarely (if ever) receives any thanks for his support as this has come to be expected of him. Paragraph 1 of page 14 describes this, expressing how, “They had even got used to it, both Gregor and the family, they took the money with gratitude and he was glad to provide it, although there was no longer much warm affection given in return” (14). Along with the reactions of devastation from the rest of the Samsa family when they feared that Gregor would not be able to go to work, this quote shows how much Gregor was used and taken for granted. It is also possible