ipl-logo

Parental Control In Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis

985 Words4 Pages

Parental Control Why is an extreme amount of power given to parents? Parents are in the position to control their children. In Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, he shows how much control the mother and father have over Gregor and Grete. It is a reflection of his own childhood that caused him great distress in his own life. Parents are able to control the way their child is, which is shown throughout Metamorphosis as the parents cause Gregor and Grete to switch roles in the family. This creates the siblings’ relationship to come apart and ultimately leads to Gregor’s downfall. At the beginning of the novella, Gregor is the sole provider of the family. Since Gregor transformed into a bug and can no longer work, the Samsa’s are in dire financial …show more content…

Considering they do not have close relationships with their parents, they grow close to each other. Even when Gregor has transformed into a bug, Grete still cares for him. Since his parents refuse to attend to him, Grete steps up and assumes a motherly role to him. She delivers him food and “To find out his likes and dislikes, she brought him a wide assortment of things… in addition to this she put down some water” (Kafka 24). Even with all of her assistance, Gregor never displays any sign of improving, ergo Grete abandons him. Grete emerges from her former role as an introvert into a woman who is commanding and just plain abusive. She becomes exasperated with seeing Gregor when she does not consider him to be human any longer. He is a reminder of the sibling she has lost. When Gregor infuriates the family by emerging from his room, he hears Grete say, “…we have to try to get rid of it. We’ve done everything humanly possible to take care of it and to put up with it” (Kafka 51). Grete is exhausted with caring for Gregor, because he does not seem to be recovering. Because Mr. and Mrs. Samsa shy away from being responsible of Gregor, it causes Grete to bear it. Her decision that “…it has to go” (Kafka 52) leads to Gregor’s final breath. He takes his life, because his last hope at a human relationship has

Open Document