The simple thought that the sole provider for her family might not be able to do so causes her a multitude of worry before she even investigates. Gregor, in his transformed state, wonders: “why [is] she crying? Because he isn’t getting up and opening his door to the general manager, because he [is] in danger of losing his position, and because his boss would then start hounding his parents once more about their ancient debt?” (9). The way Kafka writes Gregor’s thoughts, they carry a tone of question. Gregor is questioning his family’s worry, wondering why they question his want to provide for them after he has done so for so long. The elongated sentence structure mentioning all that could go wrong if he does not go to work further supports Kafka’s writing of Grete’s worry and emotion. As a woman, she is expected to be this way, weak and powerless so that she breaks down immediately as she finds out the peril her family may soon face. Grete, here in the beginning of the book, is being portrayed as a helpless innocent teenager, a “child of seventeen whose lifestyle no one [will] begrudge her” (23). Kafka’s purpose in making her character this way is solely that he can later contrast it with the power she gains as her brother’s falls. The modern reader may see it as Grete becoming the man of the house, in a
The simple thought that the sole provider for her family might not be able to do so causes her a multitude of worry before she even investigates. Gregor, in his transformed state, wonders: “why [is] she crying? Because he isn’t getting up and opening his door to the general manager, because he [is] in danger of losing his position, and because his boss would then start hounding his parents once more about their ancient debt?” (9). The way Kafka writes Gregor’s thoughts, they carry a tone of question. Gregor is questioning his family’s worry, wondering why they question his want to provide for them after he has done so for so long. The elongated sentence structure mentioning all that could go wrong if he does not go to work further supports Kafka’s writing of Grete’s worry and emotion. As a woman, she is expected to be this way, weak and powerless so that she breaks down immediately as she finds out the peril her family may soon face. Grete, here in the beginning of the book, is being portrayed as a helpless innocent teenager, a “child of seventeen whose lifestyle no one [will] begrudge her” (23). Kafka’s purpose in making her character this way is solely that he can later contrast it with the power she gains as her brother’s falls. The modern reader may see it as Grete becoming the man of the house, in a