Originally for my Panel presentation my group and I were going to talk about Gregor on a Physical basis. His looks in particular. What sort of bug is Gregor? Is he a beetle or a cockroach? These are all questions that have been floating in my head as I read this book. Although there are moments in the book that specifically say "cockroach" but i feel like that isn't true. Gregor isn't a cockroach. Have you ever just sat down with someone and assigned inanimate objects to people (you know who you are :))? For example saying if someone was a fruit what kind of fruit you are? What color they would be if they were a color, well I feel like Gregor is not a cockroach.
I read an article that talked about what Gregor could be but its main point is you shouldn't draw out Gregor and that he isn't any specific insect rather he is a mix of insects but imaginary, like a unicorn. I disagree, i feel as the reader we should draw out Gregor. Draw out his wings, his thorax, head, mandibles, and other insect parts. Maybe he has a horn, maybe he has spikes on his back, what it he's just a big lady bug. The only limitation is your imagination. Personally i always imagined Gregor as a rhinoceros beetle. A rhinoceros beetle is one of those big black beetles with a big horn coming from the top of their head.
What kind of insect do you think Gregor is? Should he be drawn or much like the lochness monster, big foot, or other mystical beasts be left to the imagination?
I think a big part of Kafka's story is that Gregor is a disgusting creature we can't relate to at all. We also aren't supposed to see any feeling or have anyone be able to communicate. Although I do agree it is fun to think what he could be (I mostly imagine an alien with some buglike features. A bunch of eyes and very crunchy).
ReplyDeleteWait, Gregor had wings? Damn it my blog post was arguing that Gregor is not a cockroach because he had wings.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, the type of insect doesn't seem to play a big part in the story. However, the difference between an imaginary insect and a real one might make a bigger difference. In my opinion, knowing what you are looking at is much better than not knowing, even if its bugs.
ReplyDeleteOur entire group did our most recent posts about this article. I think that Gregor should be left up to the imagination, just because it can be much creepier or funnier depending on the reader. Instead of a readable one way book it becomes a book with infinite-ish possibilities.
ReplyDeleteWe both wrote blog posts about what type of insect Gregor may be. I fully agree with the fact that Gregor could be a mix of different insects. When I looked at the picture of Gregor's new insect form on the front of the book, it seemed like he was a mix of the lesser stag beetle and the common ground beetle (based on his antennae shape, leg configuration, and shell shape). Regardless, I do agree that not fully knowing Gregor's form adds to the quality of the story.
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