Absence of Duty

When Gregor transforms into his insect form, he is able to accept it and adjusts his mindset accordingly, His family is unable to adjust to the new set of circumstances and instead abuses him and attack his vulnerabilities. Although he gave up his own needs throughout his life so that he could work more and provide for his family, his love for them is not reciprocated when he needs help. It is interesting that although Gregor is stuck in insect form, he is still capable of experiencing human emotions. Ironically, it seems as though the emotions of his family members are strictly hostile and hardened.

Quite differently, Mersault goes on throughout his life pretty much indifferent to the world around him. While Gregor is portrayed as a selfless character, Mersault is more of a selfish character who focuses on his own needs and rarely reflects on the needs of others. However, quite similiarly, Mersault is put in the clutch of society's reigns. At Mersault's trial, even though he killed an Arab, there are so many deflections attacking his character. It seems like the whole trial centers around 'what type of person he msut be if...' so the type of person that he is is put on trial moreso than the actual crime that he did commit. In a way, the judge isn't doing his job- he's judging his character instead of solely his actions. Likewise, Gregor's family, who should be there to accept and provide for him in time of need, is also not doing their job. Both of these characters roles display how easy it is to forgot throughout their stories what is really the root of the problem. For instance, who is anyone to judge Mersault's mindset? Both of these are so similar to Michael Kohlhaas in a sense that the results of the characters seem to be entwined in a large array of factors that are well beyond their control as beings on earth.