The Metamorphosis Family Quotes

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph). We used Stanley Corngold's translation.

Quote #1

With a hostile expression his father clenched his fist, as if to drive Gregor back into his room […] (1.25)

Mr. Samsa hardly comes out a sympathetic character here. His reaction to Gregor's condition is hostility, rather than patience or empathy.

Quote #2

No plea of Gregor's helped, no plea was even understood; however humbly he might turn his head, his father merely stamped his feet more forcefully […] he drove Gregor on, as if there were no obstacle […] his father gave him a hard shove, which was truly his salvation, and bleeding profusely, he flew far into his room. (1.30)

Again, Mr. Samsa's behavior toward Gregor is brutal. Instead of trying to understand Gregor, he's more intent on punishing Gregor.

Quote #3

[H]e felt very proud that he had been able to provide such a life in so nice an apartment for his parents and his sister. But what now if all the peace, the comfort, the contentment were to come to a horrible end? (2.3)

In this passage, Gregor contemplates life as it was before his transformation when he was the sole breadwinner for the family. Now that he's a bug, the other members of the family lose both the financial and emotional security associated with his earnings.