great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

Gregor’s metamorphosis triggered two very different reactions from his father and the chief clerk. When Gregor finally manages to unlock and open the door with his mouth, to reveal himself to his family, they all seem horrified. Gregor’s father’s reaction was certainly more aggressive than the chief clerk’s reaction; he was angered by Gregor’s transformation. “His father clenched his fist with a pugnacious expression, as if ready to push Gregor back into his room, then look uncertainly round the living room, then covered his eyes with his hands, and cried, his mighty chest shaking with sobs” (217). Gregor’s father reacted in this irrationally combative way, as if ready to fight Gregor. Judging from the nature of their relationship, Gregor’s father’s sobs when seeing his son do not seem very sympathetic or genuine, but rather fueled with this rage that he feels toward his son. On the contrary, the chief clerk’s reaction was apathetic; it seemed so empty and dissmisive. “But the chief clerk has turned his back on Gregor the moment he had begun speaking, and only stared back at him with mouth agape, over his trembling shoulder” (218). He was horrified to such an extent that he could not bare to even look at Gregor.