How Does Gregor Samsa Change

Gregor Samsa, is the protagonist of the short story, Metamorphosis. The whole story as the title suggests, brings a good picture of how changes can come in life and people and things transforming with the new having little to reflect its old nature with. Metamorphosis can take the usual state of things transforming and can be seen by the eye as the forms become different and conspicuous, but also, the book most importantly draws our attention to how people’s characters also go into metamorphosis and the results are felt by the heart and they are so real.

Hard to believe, a big shocker, to himself, Gregor Samsa woke up one morning and he was completely transformed from a human being to vermin. “One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin”. Talk of an insect that looked like a giant beetle. He could not fathom the changes.

It was unbearable for him. So many questions with little and no answers. Why him? The sole breadwinner to a family with all dependant on him. He was doing quite a noble job taking responsibility over his aging parents and sister who was too young to provide by then. Why him, while he was a performer at work. He did his art of salesmanship with his whole heart delivering results that were commendable. Who was to fit in his shoes? Was he to sit there and watch his dear family suffer? The biggest question that seemed to weigh him down, is how his family would be able to handle the new him? As always, he had their interests at heart, but did they? Talk of carrying everyone’s cross with no reciprocation. This can sure be the fastest road to one’s grave.
The new day had dawned. No more work. It had been 15 years of consistently rising up early, catching the train on time and going to work. With a great motivation to provide for his family keeping them warm and comfortable. He even was planning to surprise his sister on Christmas day as he was planning to take her to covenant. Never did he ever put himself first. Gregor Samsa's life was totally sold out to his family. Over those 15 years of working tirelessly, he only gave his best to them, and to the company he worked for. Totally sold out, withholding nothing. A new day had dawned, and everything he was, had been stripped away, as he had gone through a major metamorphosis, he now is, only an insect, lying and crawling on the floor. He could only eat and hardly sleep, come rain, come sunshine. What a metamorphosis!
As soon as the events of this dreadful day unfold to the father, anger and frustration engulfed him.

He went for days contemplating the next major step as Gregor Samsa was as good as dead. He was not able to provide any more. As any father and husband would do, the father stepped up to the task of providing for the family. What a change of attitude toward his role? So he could go out and work and provide for his family. What took him so long to realize this. All was well as far as family security and provision was concerned. He came out thoughtful and a good manager, besides the fact that his business had collapsed 5 years ago. He had some savings from it that had accrued some good amount of interest. He even managed well the resources Gregor Samsa brought home. He goes ahead, to rent out some room in his house for the purposes of generating more income for his household. So much came out of the situation now. The changes brought about a new pattern of thinking for him. What took him so long, one might wonder, as the change seemed to open a father’s mind from a deep

sleep.
His heart was suddenly cold toward Gregor Samsa. One would not expect this after the many years of his son’s diligent service to his family. He even was able to afford to kick him around mercilessly. He hurt him badly with an apple after trying to throw a few at him hard enough. He was the father and the leader of the home. His position was clear. He had Gregor Samsa locked up in his room. Never once did he ever pay him a visit. No sign of love or affection. From the word go, he was indifferent and angry. He was ashamed of his son and he thought it brought shame to his entire household. In his position, as a father, he withdrew completely from his son. Offering no moral support. Not even gratitude for the many years the son had served him and taken up his providing duties. Now that he was not in a position to provide, he was as good as dead. If only he showed some gratitude, may be the story would have enede on a good note. An animal or not, Gregor Samsa needed to be loved and accepted. A sense of belonging especially from the father would have meant everything for him.
Gregor Samsa's mother, as many women in the society, played a role that demonstrated little or no decision as far as taking up matters in her hands in her capacity as a wife and mother to Gregor Samsa. She seems to hide behing her husband’s shadow. Her husband decided the fate of her son and she followed silently. One question though, where is the mother’s love in all this. Of all the people, she should have ran to her son, she should have embraced him more dearly and never losing sight of him. She should have been the one feeding him. Mothers are the best caregivers of all times. But what happened to her?
Even a mother’s heart can change. She might not have expressed cruelty as the husband did, but then, the omission of failing to love and to protect did more harm than good. A mother is known to be dear, warm, friendly and forbearing. What happened to her in this case. She did forsake Gregor Samsa. Not considering all the goodness, he had brought her way. It took her so long to make up her mind to visit her son. The only times she went were out of chances and circumstances. Not ever did she resolve in her heart visit him, touch him, and just assure him that he had her support and the best of wishes in her heart.
Grete, as she is called in the book was a good picture of what metamorphosis is. In the story, she comes out as the hero. She was the only one bold enough to take up the usual duties of attending to her brother. The mother seemed not to have the courage in her heart. The father was too emotionally detached from the duties. Even if it was not out of her will, something had to be done anyway and she had to step up to the task. She came out as the one who cared and spoke on his behalf.
At first, she was filled with compassion and sympathy for her brother. She made sure that he ate. In case a change of diet was needed, she was kind enough to offer another. She was prompt with her meal delivery and the tiding up activities. One can tell she had his best interests at heart. But asides the chores around and for Gregor Samsa, she offered nothing more. May be Gregor Samsa would have appreciated if she stayed longer and gave him company as one would spend time and play with a pet, an animal all the same. In scene three, Gregor Samsa expresses how he would have loved it if Grete would have visited his room with a violin and played it for him.
Grete was only seventeen as all this happened. With the new situation in the house, she goes out there and finds work to do to generate income for her family. She also takes up more classes to increase her visibility and build capacity for the job market. This is a great step in her life.
The ending of the story has a shocker. Grete is the one who comes out, outspokenly, and suggests they get rid of Gregor Samsa. He had become of no use and was threatening their very lives. According to her, life would only go on if he is gotten rid of! Grete of all the people was against Gregor Samsa. She at first, was the only one who strongly carried his burdens. Now she was the traitor. What a change of heart and attitude. Who would have seen this coming? Gregor Samsa was doomed now. There was no hope for him. This must be the number one reason for death. No one had hope for him anymore.
The death was slow and sure. Grete did not just wake up one morning and decided they get rid of the brother, as her change of heart and attitude was gradual. She no longer was as intentional as she was earlier with Gregor Samsa meals. She now did it for the sake of doing it whether Gregor Samsa ate his meal or not was none of her business. She also got very messy with the tiding up process. She did it but skimpily.
Gregor Samsa remembers how they used to chat about their lives and dreams but not anymore, his sister had gotten busy with her life and her attention now was with everything else but him. All in all, he was grateful for her effort. “For the first fourteen days, Gregor's parents could not bring themselves to come into the room to see him. He would often hear them say how they appreciated all the new work his sister was doing even though, before, they had seen her as a girl who was somewhat useless and frequently been annoyed with her”. From the quote, she had gone miles for him, her changes, impressed him too.