Gregor is not a cockroach?
In The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, we infer that Gregor Samsa turned into a cockroach, according to "Franz Kafka It's a Wonderful Life", and the "Samsa and Seuss" podcast. Although the book does not mention the fact that Gregor turned into a cockroach, or any specific type of insect, we can assume that if we replaced the word "insect" with "cockroach", the book would not change, and we can understand that Gregor is a cockroach. Cockroaches do not usually fly, they have a life span of 1 year, and they can climb on walls.
But is Gregor actually a cockroach? The original German text in the first sentence stated that Gregor turned into an ungeheures Ungeziefer (giant insect, literally "monstrous vermin"). Translations for Ungeziefer include "cockroach", "dung beetle", and "beetle". Interestingly, when the cleaning lady was calling out to Gregor, she used the word Miskafer or "dung beetle". We do not see Gregor hanging around in his own feces, but beetles and cockroaches are different species because cockroaches have wings. We do not see any mentions of Gregor having wings, and if he did, then he would've flown out of the house a lot time ago.
In conclusion, there is stronger evidence that Gregor turned into a "regular" beetle, rather than a cockroach. What do you guys think of this?
But is Gregor actually a cockroach? The original German text in the first sentence stated that Gregor turned into an ungeheures Ungeziefer (giant insect, literally "monstrous vermin"). Translations for Ungeziefer include "cockroach", "dung beetle", and "beetle". Interestingly, when the cleaning lady was calling out to Gregor, she used the word Miskafer or "dung beetle". We do not see Gregor hanging around in his own feces, but beetles and cockroaches are different species because cockroaches have wings. We do not see any mentions of Gregor having wings, and if he did, then he would've flown out of the house a lot time ago.
In conclusion, there is stronger evidence that Gregor turned into a "regular" beetle, rather than a cockroach. What do you guys think of this?
DISCLAIMER: I do not know much about bugs, nor German.
ReplyDeleteI think that in this case, the type of bug does not matter as much as the feeling that the bug provokes. For an ant, though tiny, we might have some respect. Beetle is not a particularly loaded word for us. But cockroach sticks with us because it's an insect we have no respect for, only disgust for. I feel that translations like "locust" too, would evoke a similar effect. Roaches, it seems to us, don't do anything productive. They're the disgusting things that you kill as fast as possible when they appear in your locker, that feel like they ooze dirt and disease.
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, I don’t think that the type of insect matters all too much to the plot. However, if I had to take a guess at what insect Gregor was, I’d assume it would be a cockroach. On a side note, some beetles do have reinforced wings as some cockroaches don’t have wings so I don’t think it's so black and white (bug bio coming back to haunt me post exam lol). Given the versatility of the description of the insect, I wonder if Kafka really had one insect he wanted us to recognize. Maybe it’s more meant to be left to the imagination
ReplyDeleteI read and commented a blog post about this topic not too long ago that talked about the physical description of Gregor at the beginning of the story. Though after reading your blog post, another question arises. The copy of the Metamorphosis we read was a German to English translation of the book, and I wonder if this translation affects the way we interpret the description of what kind of insect Gregor has transformed into. Is the insect Gregor actually transforms into clearer in the German version?
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting. Perhaps that the idea of the insect isn't very important. Or, beetles to Germans are viewed the same way cockroaches are viewed by us. I wonder if Kafka really has one insect in mind, rather than making a monstrous insect in general. I just read Asante's post where he talked about how the insect Gregor turned into was more like a beetle too. However, there he also pointed out that Kafka could be making an imaginary insect as not everything lined up. Perhaps that adds to the fear of the family, seeing an enlarged insect that can't be pin downed to one type.
ReplyDeleteI feel there still is a possibility Gregor is a cockroach due to two factors. Firstly, some cockroaches have the ability to fly, but less can maneuver themselves effectively in the air. Even if Gregor's species of cockroach had this ability, there was no knowing if Gregor knew of this and even if he did, if he could have flown effectively. Remembering how long it took Gregor to adapt to his numerous legs, learning how to fly with no prior experience would have been a very complex task and surely would have warranted a part of the novel if it weren't for the second factor: Gregor's back (where the "wings" are usually located) had been demolished by his father's apple barrage. This surely would have crippled his structure and to make it even worse one of the projectiles was lodged in his back, slowly killing Gregor as he was unable to heal from the wound. You pose a good argument, and it may be right, but I don't think Gregor's specific species of insect effects how we view him as a character in the novel.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the type of insect Gregor is changes the narrative of the story in any significant way. I think that if Kafka wanted us to imagine Gregor as a certain type of insect, he would have included that detail. I think the fact that we don't know what type of insect Gregor is makes his transformation more frightening. The knowledge of what type of insect Gregor is can be reassuring, in a sense. For instance, I would feel a lot more relieved if I saw a bug I could easily identify as a cockroach or beetle as opposed to some mystery bug that I have no idea if it can sting me or not.
ReplyDelete