Franz Kafka Grete's Metamorphosis

In the novella, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Grete is influenced by her brother’s metamorphosis, she experiences a transformation of her own, she gains maturity and independence. She evolves throughout the course of the novella, starting from a concerned little sister to a sophisticated providing adult. This shift shows a very different side of Grete than the young girl first introduced.

Before the metamorphosis, Franz Kafka portrays Grete as this powerless child. For example, Gregor was first seen as the spokesperson of the family. His family depended on him when they were facing tough times after his father lost his job. Grete was Gregor’s unstable little sister who needed to be protected from the big, dangerous world. When Grete is

She matures psychologically when she starts taking responsibilities like getting a job to help support her family with their financial problems. She has earned a job as a sales clerk and begins to neglect taking proper care of Gregor. As Grete is considering in getting rid of Gregor. It’s hard for her to let go of Gregor as this sign of “helplessness” representing how she cares about her family and is concerned. Grete has grown above her childhood now thinking of others before herself and willing to make sacrifices for the good of her family. In addition, she becomes more controlling over Gregor. She decides to lock Gregor in his room “He was hardly in his room when the door was hastily pushed to, bolted fast and locked” (974). The door symbolizes this barrier between Grete and Gregor. Grete is becoming overpowering and controlling his life. Having more responsibilities gives her the power to control Gregor. Furthermore, she embodies the hopes of her parents as she begins this new stage of her life. She is emerging after a period of confinement, much like an insect emerging from a cocoon after its metamorphosis into a mature adult. Towards the end of the novella, Grete’s parents realize that she has “blossomed into a pretty and well-developed young woman” (977). Kafka uses the word “blossomed” to illustrate she has transformed from a tiny pod to a beautiful flower. It describes she has flourished into this person her parents have wanted her to become. She develops into a new and independent woman that she had always dreamed of