Love Medicine
Detail of beadwork from an Ojibwe medicine pouch
Monday, December 8, 2008
What kind of bug is Gregor?
In the original text, Kafka uses the word Ungeziefer. Ungeziefer can be translated as cockroach, dung beetle or beetle. The term "dung beetle" or Mistkäfer is used in the original textby the cleaning lady at the end of the story. Ungeziefer denotes a sense of separation: he is unclean and therefore he shall be excluded.
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3 comments:
i don't believe Gregor is roach because in the story he looks back which means he moves his head. Roaches are unable to move their heads so i do not think he can be one. i think being a beetle or dung beetle is the best explanation.
Wow, Rachel, way to do your research.
I always imagined Gregor to be a cockroach. It makes sense because they can fit into tiny spaces, such as win Gregor squeezes under the coach. Some cockroaches even hiss which could be the sound Gregor's family hears when he tries to talks.
Dung beetles only eat dung, but Gregor eats some human food, at least in the beginning.
Though cockroach or dung beetle, Gregor is still a giant bug.
What could Gregor be?
Maybe an ant or a bee?
I think hes (still) a man.
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