In this thug notes video, the importance of Gregor to the family’s well being and income prior to his metamorphosis is one of the important aspects highlighted. Gregor was very important to the family’s welfare. At first he was the only working member of the family, and his job was very important; According to Kafka “the whole future of Gregor and his family depended on it” (p.84). For so long he wanted to quit his work, because he wasn’t happy with it. But he said to himself, “Besides, I have to provide for my parents and my sister. (pp. 82-83).” This is significant because it demonstrates how he felt that his family was too dependent of him. When Gregor wouldn’t let anyone in his room in fear that they would be horrified by his condition, he thought that his family was harassing him because he was in danger of losing his job, and because the chief would begin harassing his parents again for the old debts. Everyone was angry and wanted him to get up for work. All that mattered to the family was what Gregor was able to provide.

After his secret of change to an insect was discovered, they realized that he was no longer of any use to the family, and he was unappreciated in every way. This is significant because as soon as they realized he had nothing to offer, his own family no longer gave importance or value to him. Gregor was now a problem for he had no function in the family. They locked him up, imprisoning him by not allowing him out of his room. This shows the mistreatment that he faced by his own family once he could no longer support them. Anything that was not needed for the moment was simply thrown into Gregor’s room. To them he was only a bug and not Gregor anymore. For this reason, they simply did not show him the respect that he deserved. This shows what the family values and how they were simply using Gregor as a way to benefit off of his income without really caring for him as a person.