Self-sacrifice

In class last Thursday, there was debate on whether Gregor was sacrificed and if so, for whom? In my opinion, Gregor eventually rots away in his room to relieve his family of the duty, tension, and strain that is put upon them by boarding an insect. His death is met with more celebration and rejoice than mourning for the end of the burden that Gregor, their son, had put upon them. While Gregor lived in the house, each family member had to take on a job, be extremely wary of entering Gregor’s bedroom, and rent out a portion of the house to a group of three men. Just as Jesus had sacrificed his Earthly body to forgive mankind’s sins, Gregor sacrificed himself to ensure a better life for his family.

"Just from each other's glance and almost without knowing it they agreed that it would soon be time to find a good man for her. And, as if in confirmation of their new dreams and good intentions, as soon as they reached their destination Grete was the first to get up and stretch out her young body.” This marks a pivotal moment in the novella in which, through Gregor’s sacrifice, allowed his family to travel to the country, move to smaller quarters, and save money. All this without worrying about a giant insect living in the adjacent room.

Sacrifice: to surrender or give up, or permit injury or disadvantage to, for the sake of something else. In the last scene of the novella, Gregor’s family debates ending Gregor for the sake of improving their own lives, without consideration for his. Their argument was that Gregor would have wanted it this way. No matter the reason for Gregor’s death, his family sacrificed the insect, with rooting flesh and broken legs to improve their own lives.