Dealing with Transformation in The Metamorphosis Essay -- Papers

Dealing with Transformation in The MetamorphosisIn The Metamorphosis Gregor Samsa is forced to deal with his transformation from a human existence into an insect. After his transformation Gregor is no longer able to do everyday ordinary things. He now has to depend on someone to do these things for him. His junior sister, Grete, makes herself responsible for Gregor. She takes it upon herself to make sure that Gregor is fed and his room is cleaned. This leads to the question why does she place such a huge responsibility on herself? An optimist like Gregor who nevertheless sees the good side of people would say it is because she is a loving and caring person. That her brothers current condition makes her feel sorry for him and she wants to help him in any way possible. moreover a pessimist would see an ulterior motive to his sisters actions. Since the narrator of the story is Gregor the reader is introduced to Grete through the optimists point of view. Gregor portrays Gre te as a nurturing and caring person whose actions ar solely based on what is best for Gregor. However, what if the narrator was not Gregor but a neutral person who had no preliminary relationship to Grete? Would Gretes motives for helping Gregor appear to be purely unselfish? There are many points in the story that the reader is left with the popular opinion that Grete might have ulterior motives. If the narrator were an impartial character Gretes intentions would not appear to be so pure. Gretes motives from the beginning of the story are questionable. Why does she make herself responsible for Gregor? Gregor believes that she had perhaps taken on so difficult a task merely out of childish thoughtlessness (100). However there is another ... ...ghout the novel. Gregor throughout the book constantly misreads his sisters actions and misinterprets her motives. Since the story is told through Gregors point of view we perceive Grete through near of the novel as so meone who is unselfish and helpful. However at the end we find ourselves wondering if Gretes intentions are really as pure as Gregor thinks. Did Grete plan from the beginning to get rid of Gregor? The truth is once Gregor was out of the picture Grete became the needed and helpful child. Grete had a lot to gain and nothing to mislay by getting rid of Gregor. Gregor is not impartial when it comes to his sister and he is unable to perceive her bad intentions because he thinks so highly of her. Therefore it force out be said that if the narrator of the story was a detached character Grete would not appear to be so harmless and innocent.