Death in "Die Verwandlung"

[Laporis]

So for my "Expressionist German Literarure" Subject for university I must make an essay about Kafka and Annemarie Schwazenbach! And I choose the theme of death.

Now as I was reading some essays about Kafka I came to the point where I asked myself if Gregor's death was truly necessary? And isn't the metamorphosis a kind of death to the Human World?

I am affraid of thinking too much about this and ending up making up some stupid theories that my teacher will then refuse, but isn't the metamorphosis a kind of death? The same way Gregor is, when the book begins, no longer a human, he can't go to work, the family can't go out, and he's sort of dead and alive at the same time. Probably the same standard life killed him, yet he is not comprehended when he is turned into an animal. The metamorphosis might also be a dream, which might even symbolize Gregors inner "wunsche" of death and escape.

If you think I am being too much phylosofical please say :(
thanks :)

[hypatia_]

i agree. the second the family discovered his transformation, they no longer considered him to be gregor. that is as deathly as death itself, when no one considers you yourself anymore!

as for gregor's death being truly necessary, i guess it depends on the human nature of him and his family. his death as the cockroach occurs when the family is debating whether or not to get rid of him, so if he hadn't died, what would have happened?

a) he would have felt sorry for his burden on them, and left
b) they would have tired of his burden, and gotten rid of him
c) they would have realized he still was their son, and done something to make the situation more bearable

i think gregor's demonstration of his conviction and love for his family points towards A, unless the transformation from human to fully roach would have prevented this.