Question

In Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, turns into a giant insect. He clings to the framed photograph of the woman in fur when his sister and mother start removing furniture from his room. What might Gregor’s action most clearly symbolize?

Answer 1

Gregor's actions likely displays how he clings to his humanity after his transformation. I might not be right, but this is what I think is what his actions symbolize.

Answer 2

Gregor clings to the picture of the woman wearing a fur coat when his mother and sister are cleaning his room because he wants to hold his previous life. Gregor is not happy about being an insect, so he would like to become a human being again. Human beings may feel settled if he can keep his belongings. This is a human charactesistic; insects will never keep any object. Therefore, the picture symbolizes Gregor's human trace.