Franz Kafka’s, “Metamorphosis” presents different distinctions between the chief clerk’s and Gregor’s father reaction to Gregor’s metamorphosis. While the chief clerk is nonchalant, Gregor’s father is completely distressed. The chief clerk’s emmited “a sharp ‘Oh!…his hand pressed against his open mouth, and slowly retreating, as if being pushed back by an invisible but irresistible force”. It is evident that the chief clerk is not concerned with Gregor, as shown through his lack of expression and body language, by slowly retreating. However his transformation peaks his curiosity, being the irresistible force that causes him to remain. On the other hand, Gregor’s father looked “uncertainly round the room, covered his eyes with his hands and cried, his mighty chest shaking with sobs”. His reaction shows sign of disbelief and concern for his son, by frantically looking frantically across the rom and bursting out into tears. While one the chief clerk is only concerned because of the impact it would cause to sales, his father is concerned with the well being of his son. Through this distinctions Kafka is able to present a connection between the reactions associated with Gregor’s relationships.
Assignment 9 Yohana Gonzalez
November 7, 2015 Written by yg111658 | 3 Comments
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3 responses so far ↓
al158379 // Nov 7th 2015 at 6:01 am
I disagree with your point that the chief clerk felt nonchalant because he displays an intense amount of fear when seeing Gregor for the first time. I wouldn’t describe his behavior as nonchalant when he trembles in fear. He is not calm in the situation of non-caring, he really is frightened of Gregor.
e.volynsky // Nov 7th 2015 at 9:56 am
I would have to agree with the comment above. I wouldn’t say the chief clerk had a nonchalant reaction because I am sure he was horrified. I would say the chief clerk had a more dismissive reaction rather than a nonchalant one. He couldn’t stand to see the sight of Gregor as an insect. If his reaction was nonchalant, he would continue to interact with Gregor ignoring his new transformation.
JMERLE // Nov 7th 2015 at 4:06 pm
Yohana,
You point to two very distinct reactions from these two characters, and you use two very nice quotations. I think you need to look, again, at the chief clerk’s reaction, which most people would say is not at all one of nonchalance, but of terror. Your calling the father “concerned” is, I think, appropriate on some level, at least. Many people only see the anger and violence, but I think you can certainly make a case for at least some element of sadness (he weeps, after all, although we could argue about why he is weeping).
8/10