The Metamorphosis

by Franz Kafka

“Why don’t I keep sleeping for a little while longer and forget all this foolishness?”

temporary and constantly changing human interactions, which never come from the heart.

he did not forget to keep reminding himself periodically of the fact that calm—indeed the calmest—reflection might be much better than confused decisions.

they were startled, then Gregor would no longer be burdened by responsibility and could be calm.

Earlier, when the door had been barred, they had all wanted to come in to him; now, when he had opened one door and when the others had obviously been opened during the day, no one came any more, and now the keys were stuck in the locks on the outside.

It was, on the contrary, a requirement of family duty to suppress one’s aversion and to endure—nothing else, just endure.

In this overworked and exhausted family who had time any longer to worry about Gregor more than was absolutely necessary?