In Kafka’s “Metamorphosis,” Gregor, a traveling salesman, wakes up to find out the he has turned into an insect. Gregor’s receives two different reactions about his new buggy form from his father and the Chief Clerk. When Gregor finally leaves his room the Chief Clerk is absolutely terrified at the sight of him. Kafka writes that the Chief Clerk, “extended his right hanf fervently in the direction of the stairs, as though some supernatural salvation there awaited him. (218)” The clerk was so scared that he prayed that there would be something, anything to save him and get him out of the house as fast as possible. The clerk ran so fast down the stairs and out of the house that “he took the last few steps at a single bound and disappeared. (219)” As Gregor chased after the Clerk, in attempt to explain himself, the reader sees the father’s reaction towards Gregor. The father is also scared about what his son has become but instead of running he fights back. He attempts to get Gregor back into his room using anything handy (newspaper, brandishing stick). Kafka writes, “His [Gregor] father was moving forward implacably, emitting hissing sounds like a savage. (219)” Gregor later says that his father may have seen his “good intentions” because he didn’t not strike Gregor with his ‘weapons’ rather he attempted to direct him back to his room (220). This is a good example of how people have to make the decision between fight or flight in situations that they feel they may be in danger.
Victoria Barreras
2 responses so far ↓
r.joy // Nov 7th 2015 at 3:23 am
I completely agree with your explanation of the chief clerks reaction to Gregor’s “metamorphosis” but I don’t agree with the connection you made with the father and his feelings towards the change in Gregor. I feel the father was not at all afraid of Gregor and Kafka explains this by having Gregor explain his father to be “relatively calm.”(219) This tells me that there wasn’t any fear in the father and his reaction was purely to bring safety to Gregor’s mother.
JMERLE // Nov 7th 2015 at 4:02 pm
Victoria,
Yes, one might well say that there is an example of flight or fight, here, and you use two good quotations. I especially like that you note that the father’s reaction isn’t just one of anger, but of fear, as well. This is something not everyone can see. I also think that your quote for the clerk, seeking some supernatural intervention to save him from “Gregor,” also implies that the society at large (what most people feel the clerk represents) seems to have no idea how to deal with individual aberrations/problems.
Nice!
10/10