After Gregor
Samsa suffers an amazing transformation into a giant beetle-like insect, he becomes a pariah in
his own home where he has thought himself the sole support. He worries about his family, but no
one will speak to him directly. Nonetheless, he often overhears his family discussing their
financial matters. On the first day after his transformation, Gregor hears his father go to his
strongbox and take something from it. Then he hears his father explain the family's financial
situation to his mother and his sister now that Gregor is not supporting the family as he has
been.
Although his business collapsed five years ago, the father, Gregor
overhears, has managed to save some money. This is the first "pleasant news" that
Gregor has heard since his transformation. However, the eagerness with which Gregor once began
his work and advanced himself so that all in his family could put the financial disaster behind
them and the long and many hours that he worked hard to succeed for his family's sake are
mitigated when he learns that the money that he has brought home (he kept very little) has never
been completely used and a "tidy sum remains."
When he learns of
his father's having saved money, Gregor is actually relieved by the knowledge that he has been
freed of his financial obligation to his family. However, now he is held captive by his
transformation because he can go nowhere.
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