The Metamorphosis Ch 3 Questions

1. When Gregor was working his parent’s dept off he was thinking about them so why did they exclude him?
They don’t need him anymore. They just used him for extra money. They all could have gotten a job but they didn’t need to because of Gregor. Even after his metamorphosis, they don’t need him because they can work themselves.

5. Why does Gregor feel depression at his family's reaction to him?
Gregor feels depression because he was the one holding the family together. He made the money and in that time period whom ever made the money was the runner of the house. Since he could no longer go to work and make the money he feels that he in letting them down.

6. Does Gregor's family feel sadness at his death? Relief?
I think Gregor’s family feels more relief than sadness. They no longer have to deal with him and thank him for all he has done. Now that Grete is older and can work they don’t need Gregor anymore and since he was family they couldn’t just kick him out. Since he died the family had a big burden lifted off its shoulders.

12. Why does Gregor stop eating?
Gregor stops eating because no one cares for him anymore. He thinks that there is no point in living if you have no one to love, especially family. They have given up on him and in turn, he has given up on them and life.

13. How does this chapter satirize American families today?
This chapter says that families don’t stick together anymore and support each other. A family is supposed to love each other no matter what and even when they are put up against the hardest thing ever, a family member being turned into a bug, they push him away. Kafka is saying that in his society no one sticks together because the Samsa family neglects a family member and then leaves them behind.


14. Why does Grete all of the sudden start playing her violin now?
The Samsa family has guests over for the first time in the novella (the roomers) and her father wants her to play for them. She also hasn’t had anytime since the metamorphosis and Kafka doesn’t mention anything about that past except his job. Gregor also mentions that he wants to send Grete to the Conservatory for music and if she doesn’t play music then there isn’t any proof that he should send her there.

15. If Gregor is a bug, why do his feelings tend to be more humane than when he was a human?
He shows more emotion now because he doesn’t have to deal with his job anymore and he now has time to show his feelings.

19. What is the significance of the violin? Of all the choices of instruments, why does Kafka choose the violin for Grete to play?
The violin was invented way back when so maybe Kafka is portraying Grete as an old fashioned, original girl.

21. Is there significance why the Maid finds Gregor dead and not one of his family members?
Gregor’s family just doesn’t care anymore. If someone in the family found him dead then they would either have to show remorse or not care at all. If they showed remorse than that would kill the whole mood of the story because the mood develops to the point where the family doesn’t care anymore. If the family found Gregor and they showed no remorse than if would show how heartless they are and that just has to be implied and not put out there.

22. The third paragraph from the end of the chapter says that once the 3 family members left, they all went on a walk together and that they "absolutely needed one". Is there a tie between the first and last thought of the family walking?
The walk probably means that life is back to normal for the family.