zing that the situation is hopeless, his father exclaims If he could only understand us, perhaps there would be some way of coming to an agreement (Kafka 89). This understanding the father desires is one that they never allowed Gregor. The family never understood the strain that the current state of affairs was putting on Gregor, and now rather than supporting him when he needs them they desert him. Even his sister begins to resent him, feeding him only occasionally and rarely cleaning his room. The family he gave so much to in return gives him nothing, leaving him in his time of need, alone and despondent. He recognizes that it is time to free his family of the burden of caring for him. Thinking of his family he realized that he must go, and this opinion on this point was even more firm, if possible, than that of his sister (Kafka 92). He dies that night and his family mourns only momentarily before moving on with their life. They decide to go for a ride in the country as if nothing happened, they assert freedom and rebellion that Gregor never asserted in his five years as a dutiful salesman (Eggenschwiler 213). Having responsibility proved to be too much for the family, unlike Gregor who devoted his life to his family. The family distanced themselves from Gregor after the transformation but ultimately, moved closer to the way of life Gregor had been subjected to.The true reality of Gregor and his family can be seen through the resulting condition of the family itself. After his metamorphosis Gregor learned disturbing information of the financial matters of the family. He had always imagined that his father had been unable to save a penny from the ruins of his business; in any case, his father had never said anything to undeceive him (Kafka 47), and he was shocked to learn the family had money. For five years he had struggled and remained a slave to his own family to find out they could have bought his way out of bondage l...
