The Meowmorphosis (19 page)

Authors: Franz Kafka

BOOK: The Meowmorphosis

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3. Is your manager an ass?

4. Gregor’s sister Grete devotedly cares for him until she decides he doesn’t appreciate it enough, at which point she grows sullen and decides she wants nothing more to do with him. Do you think she is mature enough to have a pet?

5. Gregor portrays his father as a lazy grumbler who needs to be rescued from financial misfortune by his intelligent, hardworking, professional son. Gregor also lives in abject terror of his father and will obey his every whim. What is wrong with this picture?

6. Gregor seems to have a great deal of trouble making decisions and sticking to them. It takes him half of
Chapter 1
just to get out of bed; it’s never clear whether he loves his sister deeply or is profoundly resentful of her; and, once he escapes the apartment, he delivers an entire soliloquy about appreciating his newfound freedom before ultimately turning around and going right back home again. Do you think Kafka is presenting insights into Gregor’s character as a tormented individual or commenting on the basic psychology of cats as a species?

7. When Gregor meets the other cats of Prague, it doesn’t take them long to sniff out the fact that he is a cowardly wretch who refuses to take responsibility for his own life. Do you think
humans are able to sniff out the same thing? How do you think you smell?

8. Gregor Samsa has some issues, doesn’t he?

9. Franz Kafka had some issues, didn’t he?

10. Dreams play a major role in this story from the very first line. Do you think Kafka intended us to read the entire story as a dream from which Gregor has not woken up? If so, do you think Christopher Nolan might be available to direct the movie?

JOURNEY TO REGENCY ENGLAND—LAND OF THE UNDEAD!