“The Metamorphosis” – Abdulla

Do you think that Gregor is more powerful BEFORE or AFTER his metamorphosis?  Explain your response.

I think Gregor is more powerful after his metamorphosis because he knows the truth about his family. He was a person that believed the best thing they could do was support his family. He was proud of being able to take care of them and being a provider. That ability genuinely made him happy. Although after turning to cockroach, he realized that his family did not hold the same level of support and loyalty as he did. Even though initially it seemed like they cared for him and loved him, that all faded away as time went on. They were okay with the fact that he had all the responsibilities and took care of them, but when the situation was vice versa that wasn’t true anymore. They only complained and felt sorrow for themselves because they have to do work. He was a burden, nothing more nothing less. So knowing the truth behind his family, knowing who they really are, made him more powerful. His life was miserable before the metamorphosis and after the metamorphosis. He had all the information needed to decide what way he wanted to go, sadly that was death.

Ultimately, what do you think Gregor’s metamorphosis means?  What does it mean to be transformed into a giant bug?

I think Gregor’s metamorphosis comments on how his family truly feels about him. Like if somebody does a lot of things for you, and one day he becomes something or someone that needs a lot of help would you do the same thing in return. Gregor was the sole supporter of the family, everybody relied on him. So when the time came for him to rely on everyone else, that was a true test for his family. The father was disgusted by him or disapproved of him throughout most of the story, the sister initially wanted to help him but then that fell apart as well, and the mother wanted to take care of her son but didn’t know how to. When the time came for them to stand up and take care of the family and Gregor, they failed. This led to Gregor thinking that whatever he did and was willing to do, would have never been done in return. So everything he was doing for a family that he loved and believed they felt the same way about him, fell short.