This is a really interesting question. Although we are
only presented with Gregor when he has been transformed, and so we never see him before
he experiences his metamorphosis, we can infer quite a bit through the text about his
previous life.
Note how in the text it appears that Gregor
had very little social life - he had no friends from work or elsewhere and he definitely
did not have any lovers. Likewise, it is clear that, apart form his sister, he does not
have close relationships with his mother and father. Even the relationship with his
sister seems to be based on a false assumption, for it turns out that she betrays him.
He clearly follows a life characterised by isolation and loneliness even before his
transformation. The metamorphosis therefore only exacerbates these characteristics
because he cannot communicate and he is kept in his room, locked away from the rest of
humanity.
Another aspect that we can identify as being
similar is the way that Gregor's life was all about working in a job that he hated for
the benefit of his family. When he is transformed, Gregor can hear others and discover
their wants, but they are unable to find out what he wants. This is ironic, for Gregor's
life seems to have been all about meeting the needs of others whilst his own are
forgotten.
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