The metamorphosis is about a traveling salesman, Gregor, transforming into an insect. He realizes his body has changed but is still getting ready to go catch the 8 o’clock train to get to work. His family seems to know that something is wrong and keeps telling him to open the door. Gregor finally opens the door and shocked everyone, including the clerk, with his new appearance. Gregor is the one who supports the family previously after his father’s business collapsed. He now no longer has the ability to do the same thing. At first, his family tries to be understanding and takes care of him. However, a month later, they think Gregor is useless and wanted to get rid of him. At the end, Gregor chose to die.
In this video, the author explains the metaphors of Metamorphosis, which one of them being illness. His and his family reaction can also support this theory. At the beginning, he refuses to believe that his transformation will affect his life in anyway. So, he was still thinking about getting to work and his boss. His family, at the beginning, also handle his transformation pretty well that they are pretty supportive to them by bringing him food that he likes. However, they now feel that it’s too much for them to take care of Gregor. I agree with the author of this video that this happens very often with people having incurable or serious disease. People around the patient are usually very patient and caring at the beginning. Yet, they get annoyed as time goes by and wanted to avoid this person. Very few can take care of that person from the beginning till the end. Even family members cannot do so, such that we can see from this book that Gregor’s parents wanted to get rid of him.
I also think that it’s very cruel that his family wanted to get rid of Gregor when he’s sick. How come they didn’t think back to the time when Gregor is the only one who’s supporting the family? He even felt so sorry that he can no longer help out the family after he transformed into an insect. It seems like this happens a lot in real life, too. People are using some for a purpose. When that person can no longer provide the need or help, they’re considered useless. What have they done in the past is forgotten.