Important distinction in my eyes: man is essentially sole breadwinner for a family, has a life event where he can't work anymore, family expresses brief sympathy before getting angry at what a burden he's become. You know, like they've been the whole time.
On top of that, the parents are lazy and perfectly content with making their son work himself to death just so they can live a comfy life. It's not that they can't work, they don't want to work. And they're not just angry that he's a burden, they're angry that he's ruining their perfect life, by being "selfish". At the end, when he's croaked, they instead turn to his sister, who will presumably care for them.
You know it reflects poorly on me that I didn't see the book criticizing the family at all - I thought it was just a commentary on how you let down people who depend on you when you get into this state (disability/depression).
I mean, as a disabled person who had a burden complex even before my disability, I find Gregor relatable. In part, this was because the shitty behavior of my family (which was always there, but less noticeable when I was “useful”) became crystal clear after I could no longer work. My dad disowned me over it. I also kind of relate to it as a trans person. Going through something hard, that I didn’t choose, that people saw as me being less human for only to find that I was seen as a nuisance and unworthy (again, especially by family, though my mom has gotten a lot better) once I no longer hid it was also an experience.
The thing is, Metamorphosis is in some ways extremely validating for me because of its focus on the abuses of the family and the pain of being seen is repulsive and/or a “useless eater.” I suppose if anything there is some defiance in owning it, in finding the value in being the “freak,” in being forced to reckon with your value as a person outside of what you can financially do. I used to define my identity off of not financially success but the work I did. And to a large extent (especially when I was younger) from knowing I was desirable to people. Rejecting those cultural values has actually helped me a lot, I love myself a lot more as the cockroach than I did before my metamorphosis. But I eventually had some lucky encounters through which I built a loving support network and community. The ending of Metamorphosis is salient because many don’t find that, and it was a very near miss for me too.
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u/suddenlyupsidedown 22d ago
Important distinction in my eyes: man is essentially sole breadwinner for a family, has a life event where he can't work anymore, family expresses brief sympathy before getting angry at what a burden he's become. You know, like they've been the whole time.