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Metamorphosis Grete Character Analysis

1424 Words6 Pages

The Transformation of Grete in Frank Kafka’s novella, Metamorphosis In the novella, Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka elaborates on the protagonist, Gregor, physical transformation. In Kafka’s novella, Gregor’s unexplained transformation into some monstrous vermin affects his whole family, Grete. Grete is Gregor’s sister and a dynamic character in Kafka’s novella. This change leaves the family in turmoil, but also paves a way for Grete’s own transformation in the novella. The pressure of an unexpected transformation forces people to change their lives accordingly. Grete’s transformation caused by the limits of sympathy towards Gregor expressed in Kafka’s novella Metamorphosis. The first section of the novella shows how Grete cared for Gregor before his …show more content…

After an incident with Gregor leaving his room while Grete is playing the violin for their parents and for the boarders, Grete tells her parents, “Things can’t go on like this. Maybe you do not realize it, but I do. I will not pronounce the name of my brother in front of this monster, and so all I say is we must try and get rid of it. We’ve done everything humanly possible to take care of it; I don’t think anyone can blame us at the least” (1187). She continues this conversation and ends up crying, wanting to get rid of Gregor to end this suffering that they have been enduring for way too long. Her outburst shows that she has completely changed in the treatment towards Gregor, and this was the tipping point of Grete’s sympathy and caring of him. In the beginning, she treated him like her brother, but now she treats him like a bug that needs to be gotten rid of. When she finds out that Gregor has passed, it is apparent she is happy to move on with life. She throws out the boarders of the apartment and writes a letter to her employer for a day off. This signifies that Grete is set free when Gregor has passed because they do not have him as burden

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In beginning of the novel Grete is submissive younger sister, who listens to her parents and does not voice her opinions. Upon finding out about Gregor’s metamorphosis she originally is reduced to tears, for her family has keep her sheltered from society, thus Grete was just an innocent young girl. However as the chapter progresses Grete turns into the only person in the family who is willing to tolerate Gregor in his insect form, Grete grows assertive protecting Gregor and continuing to treat him as her brother. As Grete continues to care for Gregor their parents begin to see Grete as a proper independent and competent woman; however, once Grete is required to work as a shop girl while also maintaining her studies her patience and fortitude begin to dwindle.

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1405 Words | 6 Pages

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