I'm experimenting with center alignment, in my obviously exhaustive efforts to make the experience of reading my blog more aesthetically pleasing; to create a coupling of beauty with genius.
One of my favorite passages from part II was the one in which Grete wants to move the furniture out of Gregor's room, and Gregor hear's his mother's protests, on page 89:
"(...) Gregor realized that the lack of any direct human address during the course of these two months, coupled with the monotonous life within his family, must have confused his mind; otherwise he was at a loss to explain how he could seriously have wanted to have his room cleared out. (...) Not a thing should be removed; everything must stay; the good effects of the furniture on his condition he could not do without; and if the furniture should hinder him in his senseless crawling expeditions that was no drawback, it was a great advantage."
-- A small note before proceeding: Observe the tragic irony of his mother's pleas to keep his room as he would have wanted, when later on, his room becomes a filthy storage room for anything the family or renters do not want to see anymore. --
I definitely read this as Gregor further conforming to his parents' will. It's almost like even as an insect, he doesn't have an identity beyond what his family wants him to be. I also think Gregor's family are somewhat to blame for his more bug-like inclinations (although I don't necessarily blame them for treating him like, well, a bug, and not understanding that he is their son/brother).
A common thread throughout this novel is that Gregor has been shaped by his family's perceptions of him. We see him trying to break away from their grip, for instance, with the snide comment about their secret savings, but by and large, he believes what his family believes, including what they believe about him. So, it makes sense that, as his family comes to see him as a bug, Gregor comes to see himself as a bug, and thus act like one. It's sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Kafka's modern "man," Gregor, is completely defined by his relationships. He has no identity of his own, painting a depressing picture of what it means to be human in the modern age.
I definitely read this as Gregor further conforming to his parents' will. It's almost like even as an insect, he doesn't have an identity beyond what his family wants him to be. I also think Gregor's family are somewhat to blame for his more bug-like inclinations (although I don't necessarily blame them for treating him like, well, a bug, and not understanding that he is their son/brother).
A common thread throughout this novel is that Gregor has been shaped by his family's perceptions of him. We see him trying to break away from their grip, for instance, with the snide comment about their secret savings, but by and large, he believes what his family believes, including what they believe about him. So, it makes sense that, as his family comes to see him as a bug, Gregor comes to see himself as a bug, and thus act like one. It's sort of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Kafka's modern "man," Gregor, is completely defined by his relationships. He has no identity of his own, painting a depressing picture of what it means to be human in the modern age.
I think that Gregor's death shows clearly just how much control Gregor allows his family to have over him. Once his sister confronts the family about getting rid of him and says what a burden he is, he simply goes back into his room and dies. I don't think there is any personality development in Gregor throughout the entire story. To the end, he is willing to be whoever or whatever his family wants him to be. His sister says that Gregor would've had the common decency to either leave or die, so he just DIES. I don't think he could be anymore of a push-over or Gregor-esque than he is in his final moments.
ReplyDeleteI feel that this definition of Gregor as a modern man holds fast because we see that he acts according to this before and after the metamorphosis. His free will or lack there of is seen before his change in the fact that he works to pay off his father's debts simply to please him. Then definitely the biggest example of his lack of individuality is his death. He has been acting according to other people's wishes throughout the entire book, but this is a new level as he dies simply because his family wants to get rid of him. There are just two examples, but there were many more throughout the book of his attempts to simply please others rather than have his own ideas.
ReplyDeleteEven his "snide comment"--like his mildly rebellious impulses to quit or complain about his job earlier--is outweighed by his strong inclination to affirm his family's savings as a good bit of foresight (it's paying off now that Gregor can't make it to work anymore!). It's as if this bit of self-assertion briefly surfaces (hey! I've been working to pay off your debt and you've been secretly stashing half the money!?) but is quickly repressed. The insect who can't express any human thoughts or emotions still badly wants to be deferential, even if those he defers to can't appreciate it.
ReplyDelete