In this novel Gregor is the main
provider for his family, and it is sad to me that after his
transformation he was pretty much kicked to the curb, and was under
appreciated for everything that he has dope in the past for his
family. They were all too concerned with money and wealth to see the
bigger picture that their loved one needed their help. At the
beginning of the novel Grete was the only one willing to help and try
to understand Gregor, but soon she wasn't even there for him. He was
viewed as a burden even though he required little care and attention.
I think that his family were very ungrateful for what they had been
given by Gregor. I think one main theme in this book was to not take
things for granted and maybe that family should always come first. I
also find it interesting that some of the issues that they had back
then, are a lot of the same ones that families deal with now.
Unfortunately I don' think that will ever change, especially when it
comes to fighting about money and that being the big worry to
families.
Some other questions that I still have, is why did Grete change her mind about taking care Gregor? She seemed like she was the only one that really loved him but suddenly changed her mind... why? Also why do you guys think that the author started the book the way that he did? Right away in the first sentence tell us about his transformation but never tells us why? This really puzzled me while reading.
How do you make a post like this?? HELP!
ReplyDeleteOnce you've created your account you have to subscribe to this blog, then you should be able to see a 'new post' button in the upper right hand corner of the screen. That button should take you to a separate screen for you to write your post. You will need/want to open up Microsoft word to ensure that you are meeting the word count requirements though. Let me know if you have any more troubles.
DeleteAll I see is my "dashboard" with a "reading list". By subscribe do you mean follow? That's the only option I saw... I'm f*cked. :(
DeleteGot it finally! Thank youuuu! :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteWhat she said!^
ReplyDeleteOnce you've created your account you have to subscribe to this blog, then you should be able to see a 'new post' button in the upper right hand corner of the screen. That button should take you to a separate screen for you to write your post. You will need/want to open up Microsoft word to ensure that you are meeting the word count requirements though. Let me know if you have any more troubles.
DeleteIt is sad that the family couldn't put aside there shock of his transformation and help Gregor. Grete stuck by his side only for a little while and not to her fullest potential I feel like. Then in the end she was the one that wanted to get rid of him so that the family didn't have to suffer anymore. Gregor definitley put his family first his whole life and then in the end was abandoned by them. I think that Grete changed her mind because she didn't have enough will power to keep going on like they were. She gave up because that is all she knew to do.
ReplyDeleteI think Kafka had to start the novel that way. It was a very short story and a whole lot of plot leading up to his transformation probably wouldn't have done much for the story. He was setting the surreal tone of the book and I get the feeling that Kafka just wrote that way, without a lot of filler.
ReplyDeleteSomeone please tell me how to make a post............ :(
ReplyDeleteDid you accept the invite that Brian sent to our century emails? Of course, I can't access my account just in time for this assignment but that might be the issue. Let me know, please!
Deletedid you see my reply from your earlier post?
DeleteAhh it's working now and I have no clue why! Thanks A MILLION Liz! Layne: try clicking the link in Brian's email again. I have no clue why but this time it worked when I clicked it...
DeleteI agree it was soo sad that all Gregor (as a bug) really wanted was to be part of the family, have someone feed him and someone clean up after him. I dont think thats asking to much at all! I mean after all he has done for the family and how they treated him in his time of need is just soo depressing. No wonder why he didnt eat anything who would want to live a life like that? I was shocked when his sister said that Gregor had to go after she had been the one who cared for him and to me she showed the most care than anyone else. I couldnt believe that she was the first to say it. I dont know why Kafka would start the story like that either but its been on my mind all night! I need to know why this is happening to Gregor!
ReplyDeleteErin, I like that you asked the question about why the sudden transformation and no explanation as to why?? I can only speculate of course but I am intrigued as to whether or not this was one of the ways that Kafka attempted to share his confusion and upset about his own illness with his readers. I mean, he found out about a disease that would kill him slowly (or possibly quickly, dependent upon when he found out) so I myself see the parallel to all people who find out that they have a terminal and life changing illness. The one question that it seems everyone asks themselves in that situation as humans is, "Why me?" Which I think also brings us to the confusion that we as readers feel around his sudden change because we see how great a person he was previously, how giving and gracious. But, what everyone has to realize is that bad things happen to good people all the time, without any explanation as to why.. It's unfortunate, but unfortunately true.
ReplyDelete~Liz
I got the feeling from the sister that she, along with the parents, did indeed love Gregor, when he was providing for them. When he could no longer go to work to provide, that's when I felt things started to change, and rather quickly. Money changes everything, it's very unfortunate, but that's the reality they lived in, and amazingly so do a lot of us today. Change is inevitable, it's going to happen and in most instances there is no explanation as to why things have to change or need to.
ReplyDeleteFor whatever reason, Grete felt like Gregor wasn't a part of the bug anymore. She didn't think the bug could communicate with them even though he could. I also think it was a culmination of frustration over losing a close family member and realizing she was never going to get him back. Ultimately, I think she wanted to get rid of all reminders of Gregor.
ReplyDeleteI think the reason why Grete turned on Gregor had a lot to do with responsibility. Prior to Gregor's metamorphosis, Grete was seen as a young girl who did not do a whole lot other than play the violin. When Gregor could no longer provide for the family, Grete had to get a job and try to take care of Gregor on top of that job. Gregor had been used to working and taking care of his family, but this was a new concept for Grete and I think that she was took young to handle the responsibility of working and taking care of Gregor. As far as irony goes, I find it funny that towards the end of the novel Grete and Gregor swap roles as providers, and Grete could not handle it.
ReplyDeleteI think that this story was also about Grete, i think she grew up and that is why she decided that it was a good idea to get rid of Gregor. She matured a lot during the changes of Gregor. She did give up on Gregor but i think that it was a sign that she was an adult because she made the right choice for her family. I also agree that the beginning was very abrupt, and it made the story much more complex becuase every one of the characters had ambiguous origins.
ReplyDeleteCouple things to comment on:
ReplyDelete1. You mention that a theme is "family should come first." The sad thing, though, is that Gregor wants his family to come first. He has every intention of helping them; he's just physically unable to do so. So he's not really violating this.
2. To answer your question about Grete: I think she just gives up hope. She no longer sees the bug as her brother and cannot call him by name. As far as she's concerned, he no longer exists.
3. To answer your question about the opening: Kafka meant to be deliberately jarring with that opening, I feel. This is not unlike many Modernist works.