I wonder whether we can approach this theme through
discussing another theme, which is that of escape. It is clear that Gregor's life is one
of unsatisfying and unfulfilled drudgery. We are presented with a central protagonist
who wishes to escape the dreariness of his existence, and at first, becoming transformed
allows him to do that. Gregor is able to stay in his room and crawl around, something he
seems to initially find enjoyable. And yet, as time goes on, this is something else that
he seems to find problems with, and so he craves the ultimate "escape." Perhaps it is
only in his death that he is truly free.
Consider how his
death is described in the short story:
He soon discovered that he could no longer budge
at all. He was not surprised, it even struck him as unnatural that he had ever succeeded
in moving on these skinny little legs. Otherwise he felt relatively comfortable. His
entire body was aching but it seemed to him as if the pains were gradually fading and
would ultimately vanish altogether. He recalled his family with tenderness and love. His
conviction that he would have to disappear was, if possible, even firmer than his
sister's.
Death is something
that Gregor wishes and desires, and he sees it as a release - from pain and above all
from the miserable existence that he has lead - both in his transformed state and
before.
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