Gregor decides to accept the fact he is a human sized bug. Though unwanted, there is nothing that he could do to change his situation. The only action that he can do, and does, is to adjust his attitude about this unbelievable change. Even though Gregor accepts the sudden change, his family members are incapable of making the same kind of psychological adaptation. Symbolically, Gregor’s change from man to a cockroach represents his “judgment on himself by his defeated humanity” (21) because he can’t find a way to leave his job behind, meet his own needs and identity because of his loyalty and obligation to his family. The judgment of Gregor’s family, however, is even more severe and terrible. While they initially try to accept him, his external characteristics prevent their fair treatment of him. They react irrationally, exercising neither justice nor mercy in their response to his condition. They come to a point at which they can no longer connect the new Gregor with the person he once was, and though only his physical characteristics have changed, they view him with disgust and without compassion. While Gregor is the family member who has become literally dehumanized, the psychological and symbolic dehumanization of his mother, father, and Grete are more profound and severe.
A change I saw in my own life is when my parents came down to Guatemala and adopted my brother. He was my best friend, and my parents also wanted to adopt me as well but another family was trying to adopt me. Alex and I were best friends and we still are but the two of us arrived at the orphanage around the same time. As babies I was told that we did everything together. I missed him, even though it was just two years without seeing him, it felt like forever and a day. He was like a brother to me and, ironically, he is my brother! But I would get depressed sometimes, missing him and what we did. Even the ladies that worked at the orphanage would ask me if I was alright or if I was sick but they knew. They knew I missed him. I’m an outgoing person and always will be, but when he left I didn’t speak as much. But I changed again the day when my whole family went down to Guatemala to pick me up and took me home. Man I was reborn!
Andres Mitchell 