Justice for Gregor /// Emma Landry

     I must admit that for a great portion of the story, I was utterly horrified at the "ickiness" of having to come face-to-face with a giant bug in one's own home. Even though I do not have a specific phobia, I experience a lot of disgust toward bugs and cannot stand to share space with pests that can crawl or fly toward me. On a purely human level of a knee-jerk reaction, I relate to the fear that Gregor's family displayed at the very thought of him. Kafka does an incredible job of painting vivid images in order to give a full picture of the grotesque circumstances of the story. At one moment on page 7, the outwardly monstrous image of Gregor's interaction with his mother in which "he could not resist snapping his jaws together a couple of times at the sight of the streaming coffee" plays like that of a scene from a horror movie. However, the most terrifying aspect of this story is that his family never truly pauses in an attempt to have any empathy for their transformed family member. Though his sister halfheartedly brings him food and cleans his room at times, she does not strive to make him feel valued, and she makes no efforts to have a continuing relationship with him. Gregor is not just any unsettling, life-sized bug; he just so happens to be a family member that his father, mother, and sister once accepted.

    This story seems to be pointing out to readers the horrible effects of familial neglect, especially as displayed toward those who have suddenly acquired a disability or who have experienced a long-term condition. The resentment of the family toward helpless Gregor and near glee in the wake of his death, which is clearly viewed as the lifting of a burden, paint a picture of these individuals' ugly natures. Everyone should be treated with basic human dignity as all humans are image-bearers of God. If one views this tale metaphorically, then a sudden change in one's capacity to perform certain tasks and/or to communicate effectively with others should not result in this person, who remains incredibly special and loved by God, to feel dehumanized and worthless. Instead, Gregor was treated in a way that produced these feelings and resulted in him being left to bear his burdens alone. His family's treatment toward him is antithetical to Jesus's loving invitation to, "Come, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Gregor is consistently reminded that his very presence is bothersome, which would surely be a terrible blow to anyone's morale. Though all people deserve basic respect from others caring for their physical hardships, Gregor's treatment at the hands of his family is a particular shame because of the many sacrifices he made over the years to put food on the table and pay the bills. In return, his new state earns him horror, disgust, and neglect. Ultimately, his family suffers from a lack of gratefulness and appreciation for blessings in their lives. After reading this story, I have a very strong conviction of being intentionally patient and loving in the future if I ever become a caretaker for someone with a challenging, terminal condition. It is so important to show people that they are worth it.

 I commented on Emily Otts and Raygan Boster's posts.