When was metamorphosis set

Gregor always rides the five o'clock train to work. But when he notices that the clock says nearly quarter to seven, he realizes that he must have slept through the alarm and that he has no chance of getting to work on time.

He goes into a panic. The office assistant, who tattles to the boss about everything, no doubt has already reported Gregor late. Gregor could call in sick, but the boss would be suspicious. After all, Gregor has not been sick in fifteen years. When the clock strikes quarter to seven, his mother knocks gently at the door, which is locked, to remind him of the time. When he calls out that he is getting up, his voice is squeaky.

Moments later, his father and sister ask him whether anything is wrong. Gregor attributes the squeakiness in his voice to a cold.

Yes, he must have caught a cold. Getting out of bed proves enormously difficult. He does not yet know how to work his legs properly. He tries rolling but fails to make progress.

The clock strikes seven. He swings his body this way and that and begins rocking. At ten after seven, he hears the doorbell ring—someone from work, he thinks. After the maid answers the door, he hears the visitor speak. It is the chief clerk. Why, he wondered, did he have to work for a company that checked so closely on its employees? Suddenly, with all his force, he rolls out of bed and falls to the floor on his back.

There is a thump. His sister and father both call to him, informing him of the presence of the chief clerk. His father and mother make excuses, saying Gregor is ill. His father makes it a point to tell the chief clerk that his son is entirely devoted to his work.

That is all he thinks about. Gregor says he will come to the door in a moment. However, when he doesn't appear, the chief clerk accuses him of failing to carry out his business responsibilities.

Then he insinuates that the reason for his failure to appear at work has to do with money that the employer entrusted to Gregor. Finally, he says Gregor's job could be in jeopardy because his sales have not measured up to expectations.

Gregor responds, saying he has had an attack of dizziness but is all right now and will catch the eight o'clock train to work. He tells the chief clerk not to wait for him. Gregor manages to rise, then falls back into a chair.

He really wants to open the door; he wants to see the reaction of everyone to his appearance. It would give him an excuse for not going to work. Meanwhile, everyone outside is shocked at the sound of his voice. His mother and his sister, Grete, think he is very ill. The father shouts for someone to get a locksmith. Gregor feels a little better now that the others know something is wrong and want to help. With enormous effort, Gregor rises, holds onto the door, and turns its key with his jaws he has no teeth , unlocking the door.

Gregor does not leave the room but simply looks out. He sees the cleaned breakfast dishes, the wall photograph of himself as an army lieutenant, and the open doors of the entrance hall and the apartment.

Gregor says, "I'll get dressed straight away now, pack up my samples and set off. Will you please just let me leave? To the chief clerk, he says, "You can see that I'm not stubborn and I like to do my job; being a commercial traveller is arduous but without travelling I couldn't earn my living. New Title Request. Web PinkMonkey. Further Distribution Is Strictly Prohibited. The events take place entirely in the Samsa home where Gregor lives with his teenage sister Grete, his timid mother, and his surly and resentful father.

With the exception of three scenes where Gregor escapes to the hallway, every other moment takes place in his bedroom until his death. Gregor is left to sit in his room alone and eventually rots away to death inside of his room. This setting creates a theme of isolation as Gregor is physically isolated from his family and from human society in general.

He is either largely ignored or directly mistreated by all who come in contact with him throughout the story. Perhaps this symbolized the oppression Gregor feels from society and his family in particular. Gregor might feel a lack of freedom as he lives right in the middle of his family and does not have his own place to stay.

Additionally, throughout Mitchell Tomazin he book Gregor is often seen staring out the window to give himself the feeling of freedom that he lacks in his ordinary life. In various parts of the novel, Gregor keeps looking out the windows. He contemplates his situation and feels anxious about his family.

There are multiple ways in which to interpret this symbol. Gregor likes peeking at his family through the door. It is the only time he can peacefully look at them without raising any adverse reaction. At some point, the family has to get rid of their cook and servant girl to cut expenses. The change of workforce in the house illustrates financial struggles that worsened after Gregor became an insect.

At the end of the novella, the setting plays a notable role. There, in solitude, Gregor dies thinking about his family. By analyzing the location, the reader can gain additional knowledge about the book. The fact that the family changes the flat represents a significant change in their life.

What is the setting of The Metamorphosis? We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. If you continue, we will assume that you agree to our Cookies Policy.