By definition
metamorphosis means "the process of transformation from an immature form
to an adult form in two or more distinct stages". The key idea that I am
getting at is the idea of transformation through stages. When Gregor first
wakes up he is still able to communicate and speak with his family, even though
his speech is affected with an “irrepressibly painful squeaking”. This is the
first stage of his transformation.
The next stage in
metamorphosis is when Grete brings him food and he begins to lose his ability
to communicate. His speech becomes hissing and squeaking and he can’t
communicate verbally with his family. Grete continues to bring him food and
Gregor takes joy in eating, and discovering his new bodily functions (like
climbing on walls). This stage is like a larva in metamorphosis. The primary
function of a larva is to eat. They eat continuously so that they have enough energy
to develop into the next stage.
The next stage in
metamorphosis is the pupa. In this stage the larva changes into a stationary
chrysalis. The pupa does not eat or move. It just preforms the changes necessary
to develop into an adult. Gregor in his case also becomes stationary in the
stage. He has the apple lodged in his back which causes him to have minimal
movement. He also does not eat in this stage. Grete puts food in his room, but
he doesn’t even touch it.
After a while Gregor
leaves his room to listen to his sister play the violin, I believe this moment
is where the adult Gregor is manifest. This is one of the only moments where we
see Gregor have some sort of human interaction. He comes out of his pupa stage
and everyone is horrified at the “adult” form. In fact even Grete has had
enough, this is the stage where she no longer sees him as her brother. This is
the stage where the metamorphosis is complete. Gregor’s family no longer sees
him as a human, because Gregor has completed his metamorphosis. He has changed
from his human form to an insect form. Adults in metamorphosis often have the
shortest life-span. This also makes sense in Gregor’s case. He dies shortly
after he completes his metamorphosis.
I believe Kafka
named this book very intentionally. Not only does it follow similar stages to
the scientific version of the metamorphosis. It also can be interpreted as the
way Gregor thoughts change throughout the novel.
I think that the scientific process of metamorphosis could apply even better to his father. We meet his father in his larva stage, where he spends hours every morning reading the newspaper and eating breakfast. Once Gregor transforms, he goes into his pupa stage, where he and his family sit around the house discussing their finances and the future. The family even begins eating less in this section. His father has grown into his adult stage by the end of the novel. By the time Gregor dies, his father has physically grown larger and has gotten a job to support himself, as has the rest of his family. I saw much more metamorphosis happening within his family than within Gregor, as Gregor seems to in general be deteriorating over the course of the story.
ReplyDeleteThe scientific analysis of Gregor's change is very interesting. I like the points you make about the larva and pupa stage, although it seems that his adult stage is cut rather short. Your thoughts also line up with Gregor's slow increase in bug-like habits, such as climbing on the walls, hissing, ceasing to think in English as much, and so on. I wonder, however, if you could say that Gregor's 'adult form' was actually reached with his death. We discussed in class how much better his family did without him, despite his best efforts to be good even as an insect. When his sister finally says he should just die, he does so in the ultimate sacrifice of self for his family's benefit. In that light, his death could be seen as the completion of his transformation.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting interpretation, and you have a lot of evidence in the idea of insect-like stages of metamorphosis. I had forgotten about the rather slow nature of his physical transformation, especially in the fact that he woke up still verbally communicating with humans. Another idea partly supported in class-discussion was that Gregor seems to be slowly drained of his humanity, by his family. This is a more sinister possibility, but it does also follow a progression of Gregor losing touch with his humanity, and family (espcially Grete.) Hypothetically, his parents are the parasites, and Grete is his sibling competition.
ReplyDeleteI haven't thought of Gregor's transformation occurring in distinct stages before. At least after he loses his ability to speak, I think Gregor's changes were more mental than physical, however. The stillness of the pupa stage is brought on by an infected wound, not his body changing on his own. However, Gregor's mindset clearly changes at this point to a more apathetic, dreamy state that matches your description of the pupa stage well. At the end, his body is even more uncooperative and hasn't changed into a renewed "adult" form, but he's gained some new energy and interest in life, as shown when he's listening to his sister's music and fantasizing about sitting with her in his room. This reminded me of things I've heard about people who are dying and get a sudden final burst of lucidity right before they die.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely is a bit of a stretch. I just was wondering why it was titled "the metamorphosis" instead of "the change" or something. I wonder how much Kakfa was interested in the actual science of it, and I thought it would be interesting to think about.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty awesome actually! You definitely get the sense of his condition worsening in stages as the story goes on, slowly becoming more and more disconnected and useless from his original life. As you mentioned, it starts out with him able to talk in a way, and he loses more aspects from his control continuously. It adds to the heavy isolation vibes of The Metamorphosis quite well.
ReplyDeleteI really like your "scientific" interpretation of the title of this book. I do think some of your evidence is a bit lacking: for example, there is a lot more to the pupa stage than simply immobility. However, I liked your argument as a whole, and I tood definitely noticed changes in Gregor's behavior as the book went on.
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