Autumn 2007: The dawn of a new school year brings 44 students together to explore unknown territory--English I Pre-IB. Together, they discuss themes of distant worlds and techniques of masters in certain crafts to ensure the survival of their colony. They build a trusting community through reading ancient texts and by documenting their own expeditions. Here stand their struggles, comtemplations, nuances, and legacies--both individual and collective. Read, respect and reflect!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Insanity Plea?
Some readers of The Matamorphosis have proposed that Gregor is actually insane and only believes that he has transformed into an insect. Evaluate this interpretation by providing specific evidence in the text that substantiates this claim.
I believe that Gregor's "metamorphosis" is actually his desperate cry for help in a world where he feels no one cares. He is the only one who works in his family, and he is working to pay off his family's debt, so this is a substantial amount of stress placed on Gregor. His entire family expects him to provide for them. This repetitive stress every day could have caused Gregor to subconciously believe that he had become an insect, in order to take a break from the daily drudgery of work. His reaction also suggests that his entire metamorphosis is manufactured by Gregor himself. The fact that he exibits no further reaction than the thought he might miss his train to work is evidence that Gregor created his entire situation in his mind.
I also agree strongly with aeneas. I just believe that people can only hold so much until they just become so unaware with everyday life processes. I think that Gregor's build up of internal stress has piled up so much that he has no more to hold in. His stress is expressed in a matter that his mind is just creating imaginary dreams that Gregor almost wishes were to be true. He suggests that turning into a bug would almost be the only way of not carrying out his daily hassle that only struggle him in life. I really believe that he has just tipped and now after everything, he just can't hold anymore to the point where he thinks he is something than he really is. This is almost as if he wishes it to be true, just to run away from his ordinary daily routine.
I genuinely agree with both Aeneas and Hermes: that he felt that his reveries and imaginations were the only ways to escape from the horridness of his daily rituals. That he scarcely controlled anything in his existence but the situations in his head. His father was what pressured him to get the profession in the first place. If it was not for his responsibilities to his relatives he most likely would not have been where he was then. He survived off of everyone else’s expectations instead of his own; he lived austerely for the anticipated because that was all what he was worn to and knew of. I felt bad for the guy that the worst nightmare he could have had was falling off his routine (missing the bus). That he looked for an escape in being a bug and not going to his employment as a traveling salesman. It is apparent that the fixation he sought most; was a life of his own and not one that his father or any other family member could direct.
I agree as well with aeneas , that this metamorphosis is actually a mental breakdown. This shows he needs help, and the stress is taking over. It is obvious that he can't handle having to carry his whole family, and having to deal with a job he is bored about and doesnt like, but is stuck in a situation because he needs to do the best for his family. In chapter 1, it had said that Gregor had never had a sick day before, which clearly proves he pushes himself too far and at this point, his body is finally taking a break.
Good point, Aeneas--stress does manifest itself in different forms! Everyone, especially Siren, point out that Gregor lives by everyone else's expectations or feelings rather than his own. Even now and in this insect form he isn't sure how to react on his own. How sad!
I agree with basically everyone who has posted so far. I believe it could all be in his head. He does have a lot of stress just like Aeneas said. With all the responsibility on his shoulders. But at the same time he is looked down upon by his dad. Most likely often feeling like a pest. When you think of pests you may think of insects. So i think that maybe it is a nightmare going on in his head that his dreams are comparing the life of everyone around him; as well as how he views himself in day to day life. He is projecting his pain and his misery into a realistic situation. His misery is reflecting elsewhere. And may be creating problems with insanity not just dreams projecting the image on an insect to himself. Because again with his father treating him so badly and making him feel like a pest he may now only see himself as what he thinks a pest is, an insect.
I believe that Gregor's so called Metamorphosis is not an actual physical change, its a way for him to express that he feels like an outcast and different from the rest of the people in his family. I believe he is also envisioning himself as a bug because he wants to show that he wishes to not be himself, maybe because being him seems to be too hard or strenuous. He is the provider of the family and it seems like no one but his sister really appreciates him. So, in that case it could also be a cry for attention, because he wants to be recognized by his family.
It is quite possible that Gregor's "metamorphasis" is simply in his imagination. He feels extreme pressures from his parents to exceed at work to support his family. The continuous stress of waking up at the break of dawn everyday for work could have possibly caused him to think of himself as an insect in order to avoid thinking about his daily stresses. While it is still uncertain if Gregor has truly transformed into an insect, it is clear that due to the dailey stresses he feels with his family, he is mentally unstable.
I also agree with the previous posts. Gregor was in a position of much stress. He was carrying his family’s weight because he was the only one who worked. He did not only have over powering responsibilities at home but also at work. His job would only accept his 100% best. You can tell how strict they are because Gregor is late one day and his boss shows up at his house. I believe that because Gregor’s life is so stressful and overwhelming that he needed to find a way to escape… Even if it meant going through a metamorphosis and becoming a giant bug.
I think it is very possible that Gregor is actually insane and imagining the entire ordeal. IF someone hadn't already told me the ending of the book, I would have guesses that it was going to be a "Martian Chronicles" type of dream where once Gregor dies, he changes back into a human, because he was the only thing forcing himself to be a bug. I find it very strange how Gregor's family can't stand to look at him as a bug. Especially once they know that it is Gregor, wouldn't they want to help him? That's why the story is so mysterious to me. Maybe Gregor is only imag ining himself as a bug, but tohis family he is much different. p.s. sorry this is late ms. wrede
10 comments:
I believe that Gregor's "metamorphosis" is actually his desperate cry for help in a world where he feels no one cares. He is the only one who works in his family, and he is working to pay off his family's debt, so this is a substantial amount of stress placed on Gregor. His entire family expects him to provide for them. This repetitive stress every day could have caused Gregor to subconciously believe that he had become an insect, in order to take a break from the daily drudgery of work. His reaction also suggests that his entire metamorphosis is manufactured by Gregor himself. The fact that he exibits no further reaction than the thought he might miss his train to work is evidence that Gregor created his entire situation in his mind.
I also agree strongly with aeneas. I just believe that people can only hold so much until they just become so unaware with everyday life processes. I think that Gregor's build up of internal stress has piled up so much that he has no more to hold in. His stress is expressed in a matter that his mind is just creating imaginary dreams that Gregor almost wishes were to be true. He suggests that turning into a bug would almost be the only way of not carrying out his daily hassle that only struggle him in life. I really believe that he has just tipped and now after everything, he just can't hold anymore to the point where he thinks he is something than he really is. This is almost as if he wishes it to be true, just to run away from his ordinary daily routine.
I genuinely agree with both Aeneas and Hermes: that he felt that his reveries and imaginations were the only ways to escape from the horridness of his daily rituals. That he scarcely controlled anything in his existence but the situations in his head. His father was what pressured him to get the profession in the first place. If it was not for his responsibilities to his relatives he most likely would not have been where he was then. He survived off of everyone else’s expectations instead of his own; he lived austerely for the anticipated because that was all what he was worn to and knew of. I felt bad for the guy that the worst nightmare he could have had was falling off his routine (missing the bus). That he looked for an escape in being a bug and not going to his employment as a traveling salesman. It is apparent that the fixation he sought most; was a life of his own and not one that his father or any other family member could direct.
I agree as well with aeneas , that this metamorphosis is actually a mental breakdown. This shows he needs help, and the stress is taking over. It is obvious that he can't handle having to carry his whole family, and having to deal with a job he is bored about and doesnt like, but is stuck in a situation because he needs to do the best for his family. In chapter 1, it had said that Gregor had never had a sick day before, which clearly proves he pushes himself too far and at this point, his body is finally taking a break.
Good point, Aeneas--stress does manifest itself in different forms!
Everyone, especially Siren, point out that Gregor lives by everyone else's expectations or feelings rather than his own. Even now and in this insect form he isn't sure how to react on his own. How sad!
I agree with basically everyone who has posted so far. I believe it could all be in his head. He does have a lot of stress just like Aeneas said. With all the responsibility on his shoulders. But at the same time he is looked down upon by his dad. Most likely often feeling like a pest. When you think of pests you may think of insects. So i think that maybe it is a nightmare going on in his head that his dreams are comparing the life of everyone around him; as well as how he views himself in day to day life. He is projecting his pain and his misery into a realistic situation. His misery is reflecting elsewhere. And may be creating problems with insanity not just dreams projecting the image on an insect to himself. Because again with his father treating him so badly and making him feel like a pest he may now only see himself as what he thinks a pest is, an insect.
I believe that Gregor's so called Metamorphosis is not an actual physical change, its a way for him to express that he feels like an outcast and different from the rest of the people in his family. I believe he is also envisioning himself as a bug because he wants to show that he wishes to not be himself, maybe because being him seems to be too hard or strenuous. He is the provider of the family and it seems like no one but his sister really appreciates him. So, in that case it could also be a cry for attention, because he wants to be recognized by his family.
It is quite possible that Gregor's "metamorphasis" is simply in his imagination. He feels extreme pressures from his parents to exceed at work to support his family. The continuous stress of waking up at the break of dawn everyday for work could have possibly caused him to think of himself as an insect in order to avoid thinking about his daily stresses. While it is still uncertain if Gregor has truly transformed into an insect, it is clear that due to the dailey stresses he feels with his family, he is mentally unstable.
I also agree with the previous posts. Gregor was in a position of much stress. He was carrying his family’s weight because he was the only one who worked. He did not only have over powering responsibilities at home but also at work. His job would only accept his 100% best. You can tell how strict they are because Gregor is late one day and his boss shows up at his house. I believe that because Gregor’s life is so stressful and overwhelming that he needed to find a way to escape… Even if it meant going through a metamorphosis and becoming a giant bug.
I think it is very possible that Gregor is actually insane and imagining the entire ordeal. IF someone hadn't already told me the ending of the book, I would have guesses that it was going to be a "Martian Chronicles" type of dream where once Gregor dies, he changes back into a human, because he was the only thing forcing himself to be a bug. I find it very strange how Gregor's family can't stand to look at him as a bug. Especially once they know that it is Gregor, wouldn't they want to help him? That's why the story is so mysterious to me. Maybe Gregor is only imag ining himself as a bug, but tohis family he is much different.
p.s. sorry this is late ms. wrede
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