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

Although both the chief officer and Gregor’s dad both experience feelings of shock and fear at Gregor’s transformation, Gregor’s dad was ultimately more accepting of his transformation and was able to restrain his shock better than the chief officer. On the other hand, the chief officer was unable to hide his mortification towards Gregor’s transformation. Kafka writes ,”But the chief clerk had 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). The chief officer’s reaction towards Gregor is of sheer terror and he is not receptive towards Gregor in any manner. His first reaction towards the situation is to run away. On the other hand, Gregor’s father is able to stay more calm. Kafka writes, “Regrettably, the consequence of the chief clerk’s flight was finally to turn the senses of his father, who to that point had remained relatively calm, because, instead of himself taking off after the man, or at least not getting in the way of Gregor as he attempted to do just that he……..attempted to drive Gregor back into his room” (219). This illustrates how, instead of running away from Gregor, Gregor’s father faces his fears and approaches him directly. He  remembers that, in spite of Gregor’s transformation, he is still his son.