Re: Gregor the bug -- Great Books II

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 01:55:51 04/13/08 Sun
Author: Joel Gehrke
Subject: Re: Gregor the bug
In reply to: tsawyer 's message, "Re: Gregor the bug" on 22:08:49 04/06/08 Sun

Manuel/Tom,

I've already posted at length about how great Gregor is; he is beautiful; he's a servant, and a lover, and it's wonderful.

That said, he isn't a perfect servant, he isn't perfectly beautiful, or perfectly loving.

After all, he's human; I don't think Kafka let's him be as perfect as Christ, Manuel, as you suggested. He's an exemplar for all of us, but the allegory isn't there.

Towards the end of part II, as Grete starts ignoring Gregor, you see him become more like his father. The parallels become much more blatant than earlier in the book.

When people come to feed Gregor, he stops hiding under the couch and covering himself with the shroud (remember that sacrificial image?) choosing instead out of anger/bitterness to stay in the corner whether it traumatizes his family or not. He stops taking care of himself, - sort of the Underground Man, who effectively cuts off his nose to spite his face - and becomes a dirty, slovenly figure, like his disgusting father.

And when he dies, his head falls (paraphrased) "finally, against his will." He doesn't sacrifice himself willingly for his family, but dies in anger and bitterness.

The metamorphosis from loving cog to bitter bug is reflected in his sister, whose treatment of Gregor demonstrates which stages of that change she is in.

I still think Gregor is the hero of the story, and a very good imitation of how to love one's duties. I think the picture of someone fulfilling their vocation is wonderful; however, he's still a sinner. I don't think he is perfect, and I don't think Kafka intends him to be.

Anything else would be an imperfect rendering of the human condition.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Re: Gregor the bug -- Manuel Valle, 22:43:44 05/04/08 Sun