- Do you think that Gregor is more powerful BEFORE or AFTER his metamorphosis? Explain your response.
I believe Gregor is more powerful after his metamorphosis. Prior to his transformation, Gregor was the sole provider to his family. He worked countless days as a salesman to give his family a roof on their heads and repaying debts. After Gregor’s metamorphosis, he stands up to the Chief Clerk, who shows up to his house enraged that Gregor has not shown up for work. For instance, he states, “As you know all too well. I am under a very great obligation to the director. In addition, I have responsibilities for my parents and my sister. I am in a jam, but I will work my way out of it. Only don’t make it any harder for me than it is already!”(218). This expression of frustration out of Gregor at the Chief Clerk elucidates how much more powerful he is after his metamorphosis. Gregor knows that he is “in a jam” and is truly frustrated at the Chief Clerk. He wants to express that he is trying his best and that is very powerful of him to do so.
5.Gregor emerges from his room one last time when he hears his sister playing her violin for the lodgers. What is the significance of this scene? What meaning does music hold for Gregor here?
Gregor emerging from his room one last time to hear his sister playing the violin is significant because it brought up the question, “could he be an animal, to be so moved by music”(236)? The music infiltrates Gregor’s emotions; sparking feelings he desires. Kafka does a phenomenal job of illustrating how Gregor wants to go up to his sister and ask her to play the violin for him in his room, “He was determined to go right up to his sister, to pluck at her skirt, and so let her know she was to come in his room with her violin…”(236) Kafka delineates how Gregor wants to be rewarded with such music because it makes him feel good, yet, still uses animal-like verbs like “pluck” to describe how he wants to grab his sister’s attention. The music is the sole feeling that makes him feel like a human again.
Rishi, Interestingly, both of the examples that you’ve included here show Gregor reaching out to someone else and trying to communicate something essential. However, I wonder if he is successful in this regard. Do his family and the clerk hear him and understand him? Does his sister have any idea what he is thinking and feeling as he approaches when she is playing the violin? Would you still consider him powerful if he is not able to communicate?