I think the question of why Gregor was transformed into a cockroach specifically will probably never be answered in full. At the same time, it seems likely that Kafka will only open up even more possible interpretations. Obviously the novel couldn't have taken the same tone had Gregor become a big cuddly cat or dog, but of all the possible creatures, why a cockroach?
Other insects such as bees and butterflies are valued by humanity at least to some extent as pollinators or honey producers in the case of bees. Cockroaches however produce nothing of use. They are pests. Though Gregor provides quite substantially for his family as a human, he is similarly unappreciated by his family (specifically his father) and the higher-ups at the sales firm. This situation could only get worse for him as a cockroach, as he actually does become useless. Gregor seems relatively unperturbed about the logistics of life as a giant insect, but becoming irrelevant and completely dependent on his family is truly his worst nightmare. He watches his father begin to transform as well, from a feeble and lazy old man to a strong and healthy worker, essentially stepping right up to replace Gregor. Meanwhile, Gregor is more and more overtaken by "the cockroach".
Related to this are Kafka's reasons for writing The Metamorphosis, which some psychoanalysts have decided is autobiographical. Kafka's father was a successful businessman who pressured him to be successful. He was strict and domineering, and similarly to Gregor, Kafka obeyed, trying to meet the expectations of those around him. As Mr. Mitchell mentioned in class, Kafka didn't leave his home very often, and wrote feverishly all night. After Gregor's transformation, both he and the author are isolated. The cockroach can therefore also be interpreted as a mental and communicative barrier which Kafka felt prevented him from interacting with others.
I too often wonder why Kafka chose the cockroach. But I think it may have to do with the cockroaches ability to be trained. Studies show that cockroaches can be conditioned to do certain things. I think this relates to Gregor because as readers it seems he is trained. From my standpoint human Gregor was conditioned to work and live in a routine that is almost robotic. But it's possible this is not a robot characteristic but a cockroach's instead.
ReplyDeleteI too often wonder why Kafka chose the cockroach. But I think it may have to do with the cockroaches ability to be trained. Studies show that cockroaches can be conditioned to do certain things. I think this relates to Gregor because as readers it seems he is trained. From my standpoint human Gregor was conditioned to work and live in a routine that is almost robotic. But it's possible this is not a robot characteristic but a cockroach's instead.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Kafka chose a cockroach-like insect because they are pests. They are EVERYWHERE (especially at Uni) and multiply fast. That means that they are replaceable, and one cockroach isn't of any importance. When Gregor transforms, he is immediately replaced by his father as a worker, and is hardly missed in his family. He is dehumanized, which I think speaks to the dehumanizing nature of the modern work environment, when he turns into a giant insect and when his family begins moving his furniture out of his room. I don't think it matters what insect Gregor was meant to depict, I think that the significance of his form is that he becomes a physically small (well, most insects are small) and insignificant creature, which is what he's been treated as for the majority of his life.
ReplyDeleteThere is something about the cockroach which makes it so much more repulsing than just about any other bug. I think the section about the possibly autobiographical side of the novel is interesting. It would make a lot of sense, especially considering Gregor's relationship to his father.
ReplyDeleteI think an important aspect of cockroaches is that we just find no use in them. All we see is a burden. And in the end of the story, that's all that the Samsas view Gregor as. It's really sad that they didn't make a huge attempt to find the humanity in him. And if he became a puppy or even a bear, I don't think his family would've turned their backs on him so soon.
ReplyDeleteFrom the "hive/colony" point of view, I find it odd that Gregor is a burden to his family and that they get along so much better without him. For a hive, wouldn't every worker be important, and the loss of one be, if not catastrophic, at least a small inconvenience?
ReplyDeleteThis observation becomes interesting with Gregor being aware of his uselessness. In his dying moments he conjures an image of defending his sister Grete playing the violin in his room, and enjoys the thought of finally putting his new frame to a purpose. His total isolation from any activity after his strenuous working lifestyle may take a toll on his sanity rather quickly.
ReplyDeleteI think that Kafka wanted to leave the reason behind his transformation up to the reader. You get to pick whether it was caused by how he acts in a hive-like mentality, his family's perception of him as being a pest, or a magical third party entity. We don't know and that's what I find most interesting about the book, because each person reading the same thing can be interpreting it in a different way and still be completely justified for it.
ReplyDeleteThere are really two "why" questions, and one of them very likely can't be answered, within the bounds of the story: there's why Kafka the author chose a cockroach, or came up with this idea in the first place (what it means, what it signifies about humanity, work, identity, etc.); and there's the "why" within the story (which, curiously, Gregor himself never really asks)--why me? why did this happen? how do occurrences like this fit into a rational picture of the world? Kafka is clear not to even try to hint at answers like this--there's no sense of divine intervention, or mankind being taught a lesson, in this strange fable. It just happens, randomly and without meaning, and the hapless human is forced to muddle through this ironic joke of an existence. (In this respect, Kafka's vision isn't too far removed from Jake's.)
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