I am posting another blog, since I had a hard time getting into the blog the first time and didn't get to finish typing. This is my first time, so it's very interesting and also stressful at the same time with the time limitation.
The chats were very interesting, but they were also fast, so it was challenging with trying to keep up with folks.
The first chat room that Symbolism and we the majority of the folks discussed the following:
Gregor's nightmare, how he wakes up with it and it lasts through the end.
Transformation, his looks and the way he thinks.
The woman in the picture and what she represents to him.
He locks himself in the room in the beginning and his family puts in back in.
The second chat room was Character. Almost everyone agreed that Gregor was a hardworking person that supported his family. Even when he was the bug, he did not harm his family. He also was worried about his families needs over his situation. The big question and concern was how Gregor's family was treating him like the way they did throughout the story? Also why did he turn into a bug? What was significant with it? People also didn't get why no one took that apple out from his back?
The third chat room was Irony.
Some were some examples of irony that we chatted about was:
He provided for the familly and was mistreated and undervalued. (He took care of them for five years and they couldn't for three months).
Ironic that his sister is the one that turns on him.
He was working to pay his father's debt off and his father was the first one to hurt him.
When he needed his family, they were not there for him for support and guidance.
He saved money for Grete to go to school, but she never gets it.
His family only joined the workforce when they were completely broke.
We were trying to figure out how old Gregor was?
Regarding your question about the apple--I think it's symbolic of the family's desire to avoid Gregor at all costs. If they try to help him, they have to acknowledge that he has feelings in some way, and I don't think they're quite prepared to do that. That helps them distance themselves when he finally dies at the end.
ReplyDeleteHow old is Gregor? Hmmm....well, his sister is about 17, as I recall, so I'm guessing early 20s? If Gregor is a parallel to Kafka himself, perhaps a bit older, like 25 or 30?