Alex Maldonado
12K
Alex Maldonado
12K
Ms. Van der Linden
Due: 11/21/08
Metamorphosis essay
Word count: 1338
Page count: 6
In the novella “Metamorphosis”, when protagonist Gregor Samsa is hit by an apple, thrown by his father Mr. Samsa, the collision brings forth this sudden realization within Gregor and his family, as told by the Bible, ‘by the apple “your eyes shall be opened”: How and in which way are Gregor’s eyes opened? How about the family? Do you believe that the use of apples has religious significance? Why or why not?
The novella “Metamorphosis” tells the story of Gregor Samsa following his transformation into an insect. This essay is about the events that follow Gregor’s injury, caused by the wrath of his father, when he gets an apple stuck in his back, as well as the significance of this act. The metamorphosis in this instant is the change of attitudes that exclude Gregor from the rest of his family.
Gregor becomes an outcast when he is transformed into an insect. His own family is unable to communicate with him or identify with him. While he had previously been counted on to provide for his family, Gregor becomes a burden on his family. Instead of seeing Gregor as a son, his father feels that Gregor is a parasite in his house because he cannot contribute to the family. He is treated with digust by his family. His mother cannot even stand to look at him. Gregor overhears his sister say they had to dispose of him somehow seeing as this new Gregor isn’t truly him. She cannot bring herself to see her brother in his new insect body. Though she tries to take care of Gregor, she cannot bear to look at him. “She did not find him immediately, but when she noticed him under the couch (God, he had to be somewhere or other; for he could hardly fly away) she got such a shock that, without being able to control herself she slammed the door shut once again from the outside. However, as she was sorry for her behaviour, she immediately opened the door again and walked in on her tiptoes, as if she was in the presence of a serious invalid or a total stranger.”[1]. Gregor fully realizes that his place in the family had changed when his father throws the apples at him. These actions are the father’s response to Gregor’s interference in the family affairs, which causes them to lose the tenants who provided income and causes the mother to faint. “A weakly thrown apple grazed Gregor’s back but skidded off harmlessly. However another thrown immediately after that one drove into Gregor’s back really hard. Gregor wanted to drag himself off, as if the unexpected and incredible pain would go away if he changed his position. But he felt as if he was nailed in place and lay stretched out completely confused in all his senses. Only with his final glance did he notice how the door of his room was pulled open and how, right in front of his sister (who was yelling), his mother ran out in her undergarments, for his sister had undressed her in order to give her some freedom to breathe in her fainting spell, and how his mother then ran up to his father, on the way her tied up skirts one after the other slipped toward the floor, and how, tripping over her skirts, she hurled herself onto his father and, throwing her arms around him, in complete union with him—but at this moment Gregor’s powers of sight gave way—as her hands reached to the back of his father’s head and she begged him to spare Gregor’s life.”[2]
