On page 89, of Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, the author describes the situation where Gregor's mother has just fainted and the father has come home from work. This passage emphasizes the change in the family hierarchy. There are two main parts to this excerpt: the first is Gregor's memory of his father before his metamorphosis and the second afterwards. At first, Gregor does not recognize his father as he come in; his memory of his father is described in one long sentence. Gregory describes his father as tired and weary, rarely going out or doing much of anything. The next sentence, however, describes the new father, one who has stepped into his patriarchal role in the family. The use of diction in these two lines are crucial; each word contrasts the two images of Gregor's father. Before Gregor's metamorphosis, the father is portrayed as continually needing support from those around him; he wears his bathrobe, shuffles around with the help of his cane, and has tangled white hair. As the father entrances the room now, though, he is exactly the opposite. Wearing his bank attendant uniform, he advances on the bug with a determination and a straight back. Instead of staying in all the time, he works daily and his hair is finely combed. Before the bug situation had occurred, Gregor had been the one supporting his family and taking care of the problems. Now, however, the father has accepted his duty and takes care of the family, dealing with any threats to their well-being. This focus on the father throughout the passage highlights on the emotions of Gregor at this point. Written from the point of view of the son, the focus on the father shows how helpless and overwhelmed Gregor feels at the moment, unprepared for the change in his father. As Gregor feels out of place in his family, this also reveals the father return to being the head of the house. This passage exposes the change in family hierarchy, as the father takes control of the situation and asserts himself as patriarch. This change in the family, while being what most would call normal, turns Gregor's world upside-down.
Revise:
After Gregor's metamorphosis, his family changes its hierarchy- the father comes home from work and takes care of the family, instead of Gregor himself. Gregor fails to recognize this until one day his father approaches him directly with his new self. The contrast between Gregor's memory of his father before his metamorphosis and the man his father is afterward reveals the change in Gregor's family and the place the son takes:
"Truly, this was not the father he had imagined to himself... The man who used to lie wearily sunk in bed whenever Gregor set out a business trip... Now he was standing there straight as a stick, dressed in a smart blue uniform with gold buttons... from under his bushy eyebrows his black eyes darted fresh and penetrating glances; his formerly tangled whit hair had been combed flat on either side of a shining and carefully exact parting... his hands in his trouser pockets, advanced with a grim visage toward Gregor" (Kafka, 89).
At first, Gregor does not recognize his father as he come in; his memory of his father is described in one long sentence. Gregory describes his father as "a man who used to lie wearily sunk in bed" (89), rarely going out or doing much of anything. The next sentence, however, describes the new father, one who has stepped into his patriarchal role in the family. The use of diction in these two lines are crucial; each word contrasts the two images of Gregor's father. Before Gregor's metamorphosis, the father is portrayed as continually needing support from those around him; he wears his bathrobe, "shuffling" around with the "help of his crooked-handled cane" (89), and has " tangled white hair" (89). As the father enters the room now, though, he is exactly the opposite. Wearing his bank attendant uniform, he "advances" on the bug "straight as a stick" (89) with determination. Instead of staying in all the time, he works daily and his hair is finely combed. Before the transformation into a beetle had occurred, Gregor had been the one supporting his family and taking care of the problems. Now, however, the father has accepted his duty and takes care of the family, dealing with any threats to their well-being. This focus on the father throughout the passage highlights the emotions of Gregor at this point. Written from the point of view of the son, the focus on the father shows how helpless and overwhelmed Gregor feels at the moment, unprepared for the change in his father. As Gregor feels out of place in his family, this also reveals the father's return to being the head of the house. This passage exposes the change in family hierarchy, as the father takes control of the situation and asserts himself as patriarch. Now Gregor is the submissive one: perhaps even a threat to his family, he does what his father says. Gregor no longer takes care of his family; the father begins to work and supply the money. This change in the family, while being what most would call normal, turns Gregor's world upside-down.
Revise:
After Gregor's metamorphosis, his family changes its hierarchy- the father comes home from work and takes care of the family, instead of Gregor himself. Gregor fails to recognize this until one day his father approaches him directly with his new self. The contrast between Gregor's memory of his father before his metamorphosis and the man his father is afterward reveals the change in Gregor's family and the place the son takes:
"Truly, this was not the father he had imagined to himself... The man who used to lie wearily sunk in bed whenever Gregor set out a business trip... Now he was standing there straight as a stick, dressed in a smart blue uniform with gold buttons... from under his bushy eyebrows his black eyes darted fresh and penetrating glances; his formerly tangled whit hair had been combed flat on either side of a shining and carefully exact parting... his hands in his trouser pockets, advanced with a grim visage toward Gregor" (Kafka, 89).
At first, Gregor does not recognize his father as he come in; his memory of his father is described in one long sentence. Gregory describes his father as "a man who used to lie wearily sunk in bed" (89), rarely going out or doing much of anything. The next sentence, however, describes the new father, one who has stepped into his patriarchal role in the family. The use of diction in these two lines are crucial; each word contrasts the two images of Gregor's father. Before Gregor's metamorphosis, the father is portrayed as continually needing support from those around him; he wears his bathrobe, "shuffling" around with the "help of his crooked-handled cane" (89), and has " tangled white hair" (89). As the father enters the room now, though, he is exactly the opposite. Wearing his bank attendant uniform, he "advances" on the bug "straight as a stick" (89) with determination. Instead of staying in all the time, he works daily and his hair is finely combed. Before the transformation into a beetle had occurred, Gregor had been the one supporting his family and taking care of the problems. Now, however, the father has accepted his duty and takes care of the family, dealing with any threats to their well-being. This focus on the father throughout the passage highlights the emotions of Gregor at this point. Written from the point of view of the son, the focus on the father shows how helpless and overwhelmed Gregor feels at the moment, unprepared for the change in his father. As Gregor feels out of place in his family, this also reveals the father's return to being the head of the house. This passage exposes the change in family hierarchy, as the father takes control of the situation and asserts himself as patriarch. Now Gregor is the submissive one: perhaps even a threat to his family, he does what his father says. Gregor no longer takes care of his family; the father begins to work and supply the money. This change in the family, while being what most would call normal, turns Gregor's world upside-down.
Adrienne, Please check the work for misused words. I recommend you simplify your first two sentences for better clarity-be direct. Your structure is right on, and your analysis is good, though I would have liked more discussion on the irony of the situation as it pertains to the father.~Ms. M
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