To change form – from one
The Metamorphosis thing to another.
Franz Kaftka
Kafka grew up in a middle-class Jewish family, working for an insurance company and living with his parents
most of his life. Many of his unconventional stories were published posthumously against his wishes, and
today the term Kafkaesque is used to describe the bizarre and fantatical.
1. Character List
Gregor Samsa
• protagonist
• a traveling salesperson
• Gregor hates his job – keeps it because of obligations (pay off his father’s debts and care for his
family).
• he transformed into a large bug, spending the rest of his life in that state.
• although hideous and unrecognisable to others, Gregor retains his some of his inner life and
struggles to reconcile his lingering humanity with his physical condition.
The apartment cleaner
• an elderly widow and the Samsa family’s cleaner.
• taken on by the Samsa’s after their regular house cleaner quits because of Gregor.
• She is a blunt, honest woman who faces the reality of Gregor’s state without fear of disgust.
, The office manager
• Gregor’s boss.
• distrustful and overbearing, the office manager insinuates that Gregor has been doing a poor
job at work.
• he flees in terror upon seeing Gregor.
The boarders
• three temporary boarders in the Samsa’s house.
• the boarders value order and cleanliness, and thus become horrified when they discover Gregor.
The house cleaner
• the Samsa’s original house cleaner.
• She is terrified by Gregor and begs the family to fire her.
Grete Samsa
• apart from brother – only other character to be addressed by name – reflecting relative
importance.
• shows pity for Gregor – his mother also exhibits pity for him later.
• becomes Gregor’s primary caretaker.
• as caretaker she serves as Gregor’s only real human contact for most of the story, acting as his
only strong emotional tie to his family – and indeed the rest of humanity.
• undergoes major character development – her own metamorphosis – from a girl into a woman,
her pity for Gregor slowly diminishes.
• at first Grete takes care of her brother out of kindness – later regarding the job as a duty, not
enjoyable anymore, defines her position in family, becomes territorial about caring for Gregor –
not wanting her mother to be involved.
• when she gets a job and provides for the family financially her commitment to Gregor diminishes.
• she resents caring for Gregor decides they need to get rid of him.
The Metamorphosis thing to another.
Franz Kaftka
Kafka grew up in a middle-class Jewish family, working for an insurance company and living with his parents
most of his life. Many of his unconventional stories were published posthumously against his wishes, and
today the term Kafkaesque is used to describe the bizarre and fantatical.
1. Character List
Gregor Samsa
• protagonist
• a traveling salesperson
• Gregor hates his job – keeps it because of obligations (pay off his father’s debts and care for his
family).
• he transformed into a large bug, spending the rest of his life in that state.
• although hideous and unrecognisable to others, Gregor retains his some of his inner life and
struggles to reconcile his lingering humanity with his physical condition.
The apartment cleaner
• an elderly widow and the Samsa family’s cleaner.
• taken on by the Samsa’s after their regular house cleaner quits because of Gregor.
• She is a blunt, honest woman who faces the reality of Gregor’s state without fear of disgust.
, The office manager
• Gregor’s boss.
• distrustful and overbearing, the office manager insinuates that Gregor has been doing a poor
job at work.
• he flees in terror upon seeing Gregor.
The boarders
• three temporary boarders in the Samsa’s house.
• the boarders value order and cleanliness, and thus become horrified when they discover Gregor.
The house cleaner
• the Samsa’s original house cleaner.
• She is terrified by Gregor and begs the family to fire her.
Grete Samsa
• apart from brother – only other character to be addressed by name – reflecting relative
importance.
• shows pity for Gregor – his mother also exhibits pity for him later.
• becomes Gregor’s primary caretaker.
• as caretaker she serves as Gregor’s only real human contact for most of the story, acting as his
only strong emotional tie to his family – and indeed the rest of humanity.
• undergoes major character development – her own metamorphosis – from a girl into a woman,
her pity for Gregor slowly diminishes.
• at first Grete takes care of her brother out of kindness – later regarding the job as a duty, not
enjoyable anymore, defines her position in family, becomes territorial about caring for Gregor –
not wanting her mother to be involved.
• when she gets a job and provides for the family financially her commitment to Gregor diminishes.
• she resents caring for Gregor decides they need to get rid of him.
