Family Relations It The Metamorphisis Essay, Research Paper

In The Metamorphosis Gregors new state both scares and

angers his father eventually resulting in Gregors death.

Gregors father has been long free from working to support

the family and this burden has now been restored by

Gregors metamorphosis.

Mr. Samsa?s dependency on Gregor is shown in his

first appearance in the book were he immediately seems

furious that gregor has so little as missed a train. In an

incredible display of hypocrisy he says ? He?s not well,

sir, believe me, what else would make him miss a train!?

This shows the beginning of the end for Gregor. Gregor is

late for only one day of work and his father reacts as if he

has done something terribly wrong.

As Gregor first reveals his new state we see more

anger and a hint at the violent out burst that would come.

?His father knotted his fist with a fierce expression on his

face as if he meant to knock Gregor back into his room,

then looked uncertainly round the living room, covered

his eyes with his hands and wept till his great chest

heaved.? I interpret his fathers uncertain look and heaving

weep as the sudden realization that Gregor could no

longer work given his new position.

Robert M. Goldenson PH.D.. state that ? Ordinarily

situations that arouse anger pass over quickly, but if they

do not, and the responses persist for a long period, they

may produce psychosomatic symptoms.? This is likely

what occurred in Mr. Samsa?s case. The more time he had

to think about Gregor not bringing in any money but only

taking up a room caused him to see Gregor as a pest or

infestation.

John T. Wood says that ?Anger and fear are two of

the most powerful forces that drive men and other

animals.? This is shown when the unreasonable Mr.

Samsa attacked Gregor with a barrage of apples which

later caused Gregors death. It?s apparent that Gregors

father was waiting for any excuse to be violent with him

by his haste in looking for Gregor when he enters the

house. ?It was clear to Gregor that his father had taken

the worst interpretation of Grete?s all too brief statement

and was assuming that Gregor had been guilty of some

violent act.?

This was the final piece of evidence of Mr. Samsa?s

building anger and fear of his son. Even worse was his

lack of sorrow when Gregor was found dead. ?Now thanks

be to God.? was his comment upon his arrival in Gregors

room showing that his death was both anticipated and

welcome by his father.

Kaempfert, Wade. ?kafka? Major 20th century

writers. Ed. Bryan Ryan. Detroit: Gale Research Inc, 1991

Ellis, John. ? Franz Kafka? European writers Ed.

George Stade. New York: Chartes Scribner?s sons, 1989

Weinstein, Grace People Study People Published

U.S. by E.P. Dutton

Wood, John What Are You Afraid Of? Spectrum, 1976

Roy, Gregor. ?Franz Kafka?s The Metamorphosis?

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