Prior to Gregor's
transformation into a bug, his father had nearly been an invalid. He was "exhausted and
buried in bed" when Gregor had been out, traveling around for his job, and making money at
business. When Gregor would arrive home, he would find his father in a "sleeping
gown," ensconced in his arm chair, only able to raise his arm to express happiness. When
Gregor and his mother would take the old man for a walk, his father would always lag behind
them, using his walking stick, bundled in his coat and going so slowly. This was when he was not
working.
Now that he is working again, Gregor's father has a smart blue
uniform adorned with golden buttons. He holds his head up now, sticking his chin out
"prominently," and the look in his eyes is "freshly penetrating and alert."
Even his once messy white hair is combed neatly now into a "carefully exact shining
part." He is clearly taking a new sense of pride in himselfas his hygiene and appearance is
so improvedand his uniform, which is a symbol of his employment, seems to have restored him to
some measure of health and wellness that he has not possessed in recent years when he was not
working. Newly employed, Gregor's father has a sense of self, of confidence, of purpose, again.
He even doses off in his chair while wearing his uniform, as though he does not want to take it
off, because it has given him this renewed sense of significance in the
world.
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