The Metamorphosis

I found this story to be so strange. I see Gregor as a victim of his family’s dependency and a victim of the demanding world. Eventually, I think Gregor is pushed to his limit; he is drained, and he can give no more. I understand that, before his transformation, he chose to remain loyal to his family, and he carried the burden of his father’s debt because he cares for his family. Still, happiness doesn’t seem to factor into this story at all. To me, I see the characters are people who just exist. For Gregor, life was about taking care of his responsibilities and caring for his family. His existence was centered on his job. I think he just existed. He was like a well oiled machine; he functioned without emotion or thoughts. He was not human.
Even though Gregor’s change seems to make him more of a human than before his “metamorphosis,” I probably wouldn’t argue that Gregor finds happiness. He is so contained within his own world, and if he could find a way to escape his confinement, I do believe he could find happiness. Even the story takes place almost completely within Gregor’s home. The setting and the characters are contained within the flat, and life beyond the walls of the home seems so far away. I think happiness cannot even be considered until Gregor breaks free of his confinement.
Ironically, I think Gregor’s family finds happiness after Gregor dies. They go for a walk, and they all seem to feel lighter, as if a great burden has been lifted from their shoulders. I think the family’s reliance and dependence on Gregor withheld them. They chose to burden Gregor with responsibility, and I think they chose to contain themselves. However, once Gregor is gone, they are finally free of their dependence on him, and they can happily live their lives.