Th. 2/23
Chapter 1
Human characteristics in Gregor which reader can relate to as opposed to repulsive descriptions of bug
Thought-provoking; many unexplained questions: why did Kafka choose a bug? Disgust must be unalienable fact for true understanding; book is still in Gregor's point of view, repulsive details necessary to understand family's POV. Readers sympathize with Gregor's plight; his environment has dehumanized him: this is result?
Physical mirrors the emotional; family surrounds him, but doors separate him from them; after he locked the door - creating a barrier -, he cannot open it after his transformation; he is the cause of his own isolation. p. 13 "they should have called "keep going, go, Gregor, keep going" as Gregor tries to open door, but there is no support from his family.
p 17, "his little legs were on firm ground; he had control of them completely... snap his jaws at the coffee table.."
Metamorphosis has occurred but is still occuring. Gregor is losing human characteristics? Isolated, locked himself away for so long that he is no longer recognizable to others as Gregor, but he still remains himself and he is still developing.
Remnants of Gregor's old self: p. 15 "on the wall directly opposite hung a portrait of Gregor from his army days, in his lieutenant's uniform, his hand on his sword, a carefree smile on his lips, demanding respect for his bearing and his rank". Great contrast from his old self (commands respect), and his current state, low and worthless.
Put family above his own needs, paying parents' debt, still worthy of respect, noble. Commentary on how workplace interferes with life, taking it away progressively until Gregor loses respectability and becomes insignificant bug.
Opposition between Gregor's selflessness and his family's selfishness. Father "hisses" at Gregor; comparable to insect?
(""\("•`.´•")/"")
F. 2/24
Is Gregor changed internally as well? Adopts animal instincts. Tastes change: dislikes what he used to enjoy, now prefers rotten food. Can breathe more easily on ceiling - feels cramped, claustrophobic. "Expresses" himself freely by leaving traces on ceiling. Gregor has adapted to his new self.
p. 31,32 from "and doesn't it look as if ..." to "...rather a great advantage". Gregor is allowing himself to move towards his new state, recalled to being human with his mother's voice. Family does not wish to see Gregor, Gregor is hiding for their well-being, at great sacrifice to himself. Gregor still retains human characteristics. Human-Bug ambiguity.
Gregor is not only character to be "changed". Family also undergoes transformation.
What age is Gregor? Gregor must resolve Human-Bug ambiguity, parallels transitional stage of life. Chronologically is 25-30, but mentally remains very adolescent: he is not assertive, has never made independent decisions, lived independently. Forced by family debt to reach adulthood very quickly to gain income; he has skipped developmental stages and remains very young/adolescent emotionally.
Role reversal. Initially Gregor's father was a parasite, inactive in front of Gregor's work. Here, Gregor has become a parasite in his bug form.
W. 2/29
Chapter 3
Shocked that Grete wanted Gregor out first because dad was the one with strongest feelings about Gregor's staying. She talks about Gregor with the pronoun "it"
Dramatic irony because reader knows more than family does.
Gregor is coming out being something his dad doesn't want him to be, so considers him as being rebellious. Dad's aggressiveness shows that he is acknowledging that the cockroach is Gregor
G feels betrayal from his family - used by his family but puts that feeling aside for the good of their functioning
Best thing to happen to the family because can't depend on G anymore so have to learn to be self sufficient - roles have changed as he becomes the burden when it was the other way around.
Everything is at Gregor's expense - true that family is horrible to G but must consider that it is from G's point of few. Everyone is a failure to communication
Cycle - new routine created where G was focal point of responsibility but now it's Grete
Grete stretching at the end is her transforming the way Gregor transformed into cockroach. Ironic that both their names start with "Gre"
The fact that her name has a peculiar spelling parallels her ambiguous quality.
G was always loving towards his sister but never seen mutuality of this feeling - Grete has a childish personality. G is selfish sometimes but keeps wanting to be selfless. One selfish thing he's done is become a bug.
Family wasn't ready when G's death came up. Gave up on the cockroach Gregor because of lack of communication making it untenable but allowed themselves to grieve for the Gregor they love and cherish.
why help something that cannot love back ?
His fantasy is that Grete should never have to work and do anything but play her music. His helping his family was imposed on him but feels good about being able to supply them a beautiful apartment. Grete has never had to be the older one and take care of his family and Gregor over-babies the baby (Grete)
Even though Gregor dies on page 51 narration from his p.o.v goes on. As soon as Gregor loses ability to earn money, loses his purpose and that burden has shifted on to the others. Created closure by deciding to move. Their happiness depends on Gregor's deciding to leave.
Today, Thursday 1st, March, 2012.
Chapter 2 -- pages 25-27
How is Gregor's impression of his family growing ?
Gregor kept a part of the money he earned, that grew into a "tidy principal" over time.
His parents have been investing this money, which makes Gregor happy.
Gregor feels like a cockroach too, as he can't help his family.
Page 27 : "but now things were undoubtedly better the way his father had arranged them."
→ Gregor represses himself, giving himself the reason that his family doesn't really need him anymore.
Gregor's dream about his sister is for her to get to the conservatory, but she has no idea about it. It shows that Gregor is really carry.
In a way, his imprisonment has really been a liberation to him, he can rest (in some way) and learn about his family.
we see the real heart of is family, they really don't seem to need him, for example, the day he became a cockroach, they replaced him easily ; The nucleus revolves only around money. Even the box where the money is kept is locked and kept. This is why Gregor often looks like a fool, because he cares so much compared to the rest of his family, but it is also his biggest quality, as he carries the heart of the family.
Gregor's last thoughts are about love, his final thoughts are nostalgic. He feels nothing but love, he's exhausted. The rotten apple is the symbol of the sin and burden, and it no longer bothers him, now all the bad feeling he had are gone, the only thing he can do to prove his love for his family at this point is let go, and die. he has moved on. He has allowed himself to pass and his body lets it go. He stopped eating garbage and has been dying for a while. He came out of his room because for a bit he remembered what it was like to be human. Because of the music his sister was playing, without art people can't live.
