Metamorphosis Grete Character Analysis

In The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Gregor, the main character, clearly went through a Metamorphosis, but so did his sister Grete. Grete goes through the largest transition in response to Gregor’s becoming a bug.

Grete Samsa, Gregor’s sister, most definitely underwent a metamorphosis. Before Gregor had become a bug, Grete was just there. She was ignored by the family. Grete was described as the “useless” sister. Grete took violin lessons, but she wasn’t very great. She does not leave or go out often. Grete is fearful, and pictured as timid and afraid of the world. When it is time for breakfast, she quietly whispers and whines for Gregor to get up and eat. As the “breadwinner” of the family, Gregor got all of the attention. The whole Samsa family was dependant upon Gregor for everything.

When Gregor’s secret is revealed, his becoming a bug, Grete is the only one that actually cares for him. Grete cleans his room, brings him food, puts his chair by the window so he can look out of it, and invents the idea to move the furniture so he has space to run around. She, of course, is scared of him

in this new form, but Grete finds it within herself to be caring, loving, and helpful towards him. In her caring of Gregor, she becomes his only human contact, for the most part. Grete is Gregor’s only real true tie to the family, and even the rest of the world. Grete gets a job outside of the house soon after Gregor undergoes his transformation. She now takes Gregor’s place as breadwinner of the family. But, her new role in the family has her neglecting Gregor and her caring of him.
Grete is not only changing from a girl to a woman, but her sympathy for her brother also slowly fades away.

In the beginning, Grete took charge of her brother out of concern, respect, and love. Later, she soon looks at her caring as a duty or job. She doesn’t love it too much, but it carves out her place and role in her family. Grete becomes territorial about Gregor. She does not let her mother take care of him or be involved.

It would appear that in the start of the story, Grete and Gregor have a very close and very loving relationship. But, as the story progresses, she becomes the person who argues the most for getting rid of Gregor.

I believe one moral of the story is that change is not always a positive thing, especially in Grete’s example. Independence has been discovered in Grete. But, her heart has become cold and she is less loving because of this newly found

independence.