The Metamorphosis Identity Quotes Page 1
Citations follow this format: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph). We used Stanley Corngold's translation.
| Quote #1 On the wall directly opposite hung a photograph of Gregor from his army days in a lieutenant's uniform, his hand on his sword, a carefree smile on his lips, demanding respect for his bearing and rank. (1.26) |
Here we have Gregor in happier, human days. The photograph makes it seem as though the uniform itself invests Gregor with power, giving him that devil-may-care attitude. So it's no surprise that Gregor is almost deflated when he takes on the more abject form of a miserable bug (see Quote #10 in "Transformation").
| Quote #2 Perhaps, however, the romantic enthusiasm of girls her age, which seeks to indulge itself at every opportunity, played a part, by tempting her to make Gregor's situation even more terrifying in order that she might do even more for him. (2.22) |
Like the other members of the family, Grete is unwilling to ascribe to Gregor the ability to understand what she says and the ability to communicate in non-verbal ways. The novella here suggests that Grete's unwillingness stems from her "romantic enthusiasm," her desire to star in her very own fairy-tale, with Gregor as the horrible monster.
| Quote #3 [His mother] caught sight of the gigantic brown blotch on the flowered wallpaper, and before it really dawned on her that what she saw was Gregor, cried in a hoarse, bawling voice: "Oh, God, Oh, God!" (2.26) |
Gregor's "brown blotch" of a body is in stark contrast to the military portrait we discussed in Quote #1. Gregor's mother's response shows that to her, Gregor is a big brown stain first, her son second. She can't say anything to Gregor; all she can do is exclaim.
