how does the meaning of the picture of the woman in furs change over the course of the story?

Although it is unclear what meaning the picture of the woman in furs initially held for Gregor, as the story progresses the picture takes on a meaning totally unrelated to its content.

Full Answer

What does the picture of the woman in furs symbolize?

Mentioned right at the outset of the story, the picture of the woman in furs serves as a symbol of Gregor’s former humanity.

Why did Gregor have a picture of a woman wearing fur?

Exactly why the picture, which shows a woman wearing a fur hat, a fur boa, and a thick fur muff that covers her arms, originally attracted Gregor is never made clear (though it could be that it embodied Gregor’s desires—the presumably attractive woman may be sexually alluring while the furs she wears could signal wealth to Gregor).

Why does Grete cover the picture of the woman in fur?

Grete, however, considers herself the expert on Gregor and overrules the mother’s objections. While Grete and the mother talk in the living room, Gregor, panicked at the thought of losing all the remnants of his human life, climbs the wall and covers the picture of the woman in furs to prevent it from being taken away.

How does Gregor’s body change throughout the novel?

In essence, he continues to think with a human mind, but because his body is no longer human, he is unable at first to reconcile these two parts of himself. As Gregor becomes accustomed to his new body, his mind begins to change in accordance with his physical needs and desires. Yet he’s never able to fully bring his mind and body into harmony.

What does the picture of the woman in furs symbolize?

Mentioned right at the outset of the story, the picture of the woman in furs serves as a symbol of Gregor's former humanity.

Why does Gregor cling to the picture of the woman in furs?

Why does Gregor risk so much to save the picture of the woman in fur? Gregor wants to save the picture because it represents him. He made the frame by hand, and the picture of the woman in it symbolically represents Gregor's situation.

What is the picture hanging on Gregor's wall?

Describe Gregor's room. What is the picture hanging on the wall? It's a dull and normal room but small. A picture of a woman in furs that he tore out of a magazine and framed hangs on his wall.

How is imagery used in The Metamorphosis?

Franz Kafka's use of imagery in Metamorphosis shows the struggles and joys with such a transformation. His display of emotions allows readers to peek into the Samsa household to see and hear what is going on. Transforming into a beetle may not be so bad after all.

How does Gregor first react to his transformation what does it reveal about him as a character?

What does it reveal about him as a character? Gregor calmly wonders what has happened to him then attempts to fall back asleep. His calm demeanor indicates that he accepts the unfortunate events of his life and instead of dwelling on them immediately deals with the consequences.

What does Gregor's transformation symbolize?

The entire Metamorphosis is an allegory about Gregor changing into a vermin, symbolize that he wanted to free himself from his family obligation. “As Gregor Samsa awoke from unsettling dreams one morning, he found himself transformed in his bed into a monstrous vermin” (Kafka 7).

What does the picture on the wall symbolize?

In the book, the meaning behind the fur-dressed woman's picture in Gregor's room is sexual or romantic desire. It symbolizes the lack of fulfilling love in Gregor's life.

What is the woman in the framed picture wearing?

What is the woman in the framed picture wearing? What do you think is its significance? The woman is "fitted out with a fur hat and a fur boa" and is covering her arms in a fur muff. It is like she is wearing a second skin, that of another animal, the way Gregor awakes to be in another skin of a vermin.

How is Gregor wounded What symbolic significance might the object that wounds him have?

Gregor was wounded after his father through an apple into his back and left it in there to rot. The apple seems to hold a parallel to the apple in the story of Adam and Eve, just like how the apple in Adam and Eve drives a wedge between them and God, the apple drives a wedge between Gregor and his family.

What is the most important symbol in The Metamorphosis?

One of the most crucial symbols in The Metamorphosis is the portrait of the lady in the muff. It is a complex symbol, so there are several ways to interpret the picture. This wall portrait was cut out of a magazine and put into a frame by Gregor before the events of the book.

What is Metamorphosis explain?

metamorphosis, in biology, striking change of form or structure in an individual after hatching or birth. Hormones called molting and juvenile hormones, which are not species specific, apparently regulate the changes.

What do the doors and windows symbolize in The Metamorphosis?

Yet, while the door provides a window into his family's livelihood, it is still a barrier, an obstacle. Gregor has no control over its movements. He, as a beetle, must succumb to the actions of others. If they welcome him, the door is open; if not, it's closed.

What does the picture of the woman in furs represent?

Mentioned right at the outset of the story, the picture of the woman in furs serves as a symbol of Gregor’s former humanity. Exactly why the picture, which shows a woman wearing a fur hat, a fur boa, and a thick fur muff that covers her arms, originally attracted Gregor is never made clear (though it could be that it embodied Gregor’s desires—the ...

What does Gregor notice about the father's uniform?

This shift is most evident through Gregor’s description of the father’s uniform, which gives the father an air of dignity: Gregor notices the “smart blue uniform with gold buttons,” and thinks the father looks to be “in fine shape,” suggesting the father’s self-respect has been restored, and with it Gregor’s respect for him.

What does the uniform of the father symbolize?

The Father’s Uniform. The uniform the father wears for his job symbolizes the father’s dignity, as well as Gregor’s shifting feelings of pity and respect for him. Throughout the story, we see the father primarily from Gregor’s point of view.

What does the woman in furs represent in The Metamorphosis?

In The Metamorphosis, the framed picture of the woman in furs represents loneliness and isolation. This lends itself to the story's allegory because... See full answer below.

What is the story of the metamorphosis?

This lesson presents a comprehensive plot summary of Franz Kafka's novella, ''The Metamorphosis.'' The narrative tells the story of a traveling salesman who wakes one morning to find he's transformed into a giant insect.

Why does Gregor cover the picture of the woman?

Gregor feels as though he is being stripped of his possession and in a panic, covers the framed picture of the woman in order to keep it in his possession. He struggles at first when his sister removes his furniture, which linked him to his humanity, but ultimately prefers the comfort of a bare room.

What does Gregor look like in the book?

They were confused, shocked, and frightened. Gregor looks like a bug but he still thinks like a human. He does not know people can not understand him now when he talks.

What does Gregor act like?

Describe Gregor's own attitude and his reaction to his new predicament. He acts like he is sick and that in a few hours of sleep all of his problems are just going to go away. Gregor discovers how easy his new method of mobility is. Nevertheless, he is anxious to get to the office, where he works as a traveling salesman.

What does the family store in Gregor's room?

In order to make room for the boarders, the family starts storing random stuff in Gregor's room, including the trash cans and useless furniture they're unwilling to sell. Gregor amuses himself with moving the stuff around his room, but afterwards he just gets depressed.

What does Samsa dislike about Gregor?

The Samsa's blatant dislike of Gregor's new physical condition is met with feelings of guilt and a need to be loved. He becomes a creature of great disappointment and sullenness, not helped by his parents' obvious resentment towards him.

Why is Gregor's father responsible for his death?

Gregor's father may bear the major responsibility for his death because of injuring him with the apple, but no one in the family is blameless. He is responsible to an extent because he allowed his family, especially his father to use him for money even before he morphed into a bug.

What happens to the main character in The Fly?

In the movie, "The Fly" the main character morphs into a fly after a scientific experiment goes wrong. Like Gregor, the main character in the movie also becomes more fly like than human and eventually dies as a fly. THIS SET IS OFTEN IN FOLDERS WITH... Comma Rules. 15 terms.

How does Gregor's transformation affect his appearance?

Gregor’s transformation completely alters his outward appearance , but it leaves his mind unchanged, creating a discord, or lack of harmony, between his mind and body. When he first gets out of his bed after waking, for instance, he tries to stand upright, even though his body is not suited to being upright. He also thinks of going to work, despite the fact that he can’t by any means do so, and when Grete leaves him the milk at the beginning of Part 2, he is surprised to find he doesn’t like it, even though milk was a favorite drink when he was human. In essence, he continues to think with a human mind, but because his body is no longer human, he is unable at first to reconcile these two parts of himself.

What is the absurd event in Gregor's awakening?

The absurd event is Gregor’s waking up to discover he has turned into a giant insect, and since it’s so far beyond the boundaries of a natural occurrence—it’s not just unlikely to happen, it’s physically impossible —Gregor ’s metamorphosis takes on a supernatural significance.

What is the absurdity of life?

Beginning with its first sentence, The Metamorphosis deals with an absurd, or wildly irrational, event, which in itself suggests that the story operates in a random, chaotic universe.

What does Grete feel about Gregor?

Grete and the mother in particular feel a great deal of sympathy for Gregor after his change, apparently because they suspect some aspect of his humanity remains despite his appearance. This sympathy leads Grete initially to take on the role of Gregor’s caretaker—she even goes so far as to try to discover what food he likes after his change—and it leads the mother to fight with Grete over moving the furniture out of Gregor’s room since she holds out hope that he will return to his human form. Even the father, who shows the least sympathy of the family members toward Gregor and even attacks him twice, never suggests that they kill him or force him out of the house. Instead, he implicitly shows compassion for Gregor by allowing the family to care for him.

What does Gregor see in the night?

Gregor wakes in the evening. He sees that someone has put a bowl of milk and bread in the room. Though milk had been his favorite drink, he finds he cannot stand the taste now. Then he listens for his family, but the apartment is completely quiet.

Why does Grete remove furniture from the room?

Grete sees that Gregor enjoys climbing up the walls and across the ceiling, so she decides to remove the furniture from the room to give him more space. While the father is out, Grete and the mother start taking out furniture.

What happens when Gregor sees the light go off?

Someone cracks the door open but shuts it immediately, and Gregor eventually sees the light go off in the other room. He crawls under a small sofa and drops into a fitful sleep, vowing that he will do everything he can to make his new condition as small a burden on his family as possible.

What does Grete tell Gregor about his father?

Gregor notices that his father has become a new man since getting a job as a bank attendant —he stands straighter and looks cleaner and healthier.