Paperback. 80 pages. Publisher: Broadway Books, 2004
The book told the story about Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman. One day, he wakes up his bed and found himself transformed into a cockroach. The metamorphosis he has been through make unable form him to accomplish everyday tasks. He had a dull life because of his work as a traveling salesman. He could not quit his job, once his family depend on his income. Due to the various transformations on his body, he is not able to go to work anymore. An office manager from work made an attempt to talk to Gregor, but he was horrified by his new appearance and voice. Gregor got more comfortable with his new shape and started living as an insect and his behavior was affected as well. His family fed him with trash and were disgusted by his new appearance, voice and habits. The family members found new ways to survive: they hosted people and they got jobs, which they haven't done since then. Once his family realized he has no function anymore, they decided to get rid of him. Gregor dies alone. When his family found him, they felt relieved and ready to start a new life.
1. Why do you think Kafka chose a cockroach for the animal Gregor turned into? 2. Also, why do you think Kafka chose to have Gregor not be able to change himself back into a human?
ReplyDelete3. Have you ever felt like you were completely alienated from everyone else from everyone else? If so, what made you feel that way?
1. Because it's an animal that humans don't relate to, an animal that is useless, that lives in dirty surroundings, on its own world.
ReplyDelete2. I think his transformation occurred because of the way his family treated him. The environment he lived in made he become a monster.
3. No, I haven't. I enjoy some short periods of solitude, but they usually end really soon.
It's good to have some periods of solitude, as you put it, and great that you are able to enjoy them instead of suffer from them!
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