Cyril Nadar blog# 3 - The Bug in the Family
The Bug in the Family
September 24, 2025
Over the weekend, I read a fascinating novella named "The Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka. It follows the young character Gregor who woke up one day to find himself as a bug. Gregor is the sole breadwinner for the family: he works very hard to keep his family stable. This role in his family is what shaped his identity. His transformation into a bug stripped him of his ability to go to work, his key role in the family no longer functioning.
What frightened me the most was their reaction of the family: fear, anger, disgust and rejection. The mother faints when she sees Gregor: his father is stunned, slowly turning hostile, and the sister (the worst one) is initially concerned. She gives him food; however she eventually starts to resent Gregor for she had to take on more responsibilities.
We can see throughout the story, a shift in identity in Gregor. Once a the lifeline of the family--keeping them fed and alive--Gregor was now a burden and a disgrace. This book was an unexpected critique on how our identity is closely tied to other people.
The idea of an "identity" is almost misleading; an identity is you, not anyone else. However, that identity is shaped and warped by everyone around us. Kafka helps me understand the influence of the roles I play in people's lives tand how that reflects my identity--whether I am kind, hateful, smart or creative.
Kafka also made me reflect on my role in the family. What even am I to my parents? What if I do not achieve my goals? What if I become a burden in their eyes, just like Gregor. Is the love that a parent gives to their children an act of innocent care? Or is it because of the role that we play in the family structure?
While I was reading your blog, I was also able to connect the book with experiences that happen in modern-day life, such as when a kid "comes out" to their parents to signify a change in their sexuality, and see themselves as part of the LGBTQ+ society. I think how Gregor's parents reacted is also extremely similar to how certain parents would respond if they were to find out that their son was gay, feeling the "fear, anger, disgust, and rejection" you described. Being an "outcast" simply means not conforming to the common roles in society, and as you described, a person's identity should not depend on this. To answer your question, I think that it is a mix of both; the love a parent gives their child is an act of innocent care because of their role in family structure.
ReplyDeleteHi, Cyril. I really enjoyed reading your blog. From what you described about the book, it reminds me of the “Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark” series that I used to read in elementary school. Maybe you’ve read it too? Coming back to your book, though, I wonder if tying our identity to other people should be something to be “critique[d]” on. I think that tying your identity to other people is actually a great thing. Different parts of one’s personality come out with different groups of people (ex. maybe the more familial, calm side at home, but a more rambunctious and playful side with friends). And I think those are subconscious (I at least don’t make a conscious effort to act that differently with either group, but it does happen). My point is that other people clearly affect one’s own personality and identity. Also, (a very dramatic example but it ties into my point) if John Doe is the emperor of the world but the entire planet generally has a very negative view of him, and he continues to think very highly of himself, and isn’t impacted by other opinions or actions, then that would point to signs of something abnormal happening with him. I think it’s human nature to care what others think of you and that shapes how one sees oneself. And personal identity evolves all the time, but I don’t think it’s entirely dependent on one group of people like family. But, I guess in some situations a specific group can significantly impact your sense of identity (like if John Doe was getting severely bullied). But even then, there would still be other factors contributing to their sense of self. If not, and their identity was tied strictly to the bullies, I feel like that all people who are getting severely bullied would eventually kill themselves. But they don’t. Also, I think Kimaya made an interesting point about queer people coming out. But I would have to disagree with her because it’s not a “change” in their sexuality. Sexuality is something you are born with, and coming out to your parents doesn’t signify you “changing” anything about your sexuality simply because you are making it known to people. But I do agree that the reaction of certain parents would be similar to rejection and disgust.
ReplyDeleteHi Cyril! I really enjoyed reading your blog. This novella that you shared is honestly really upsetting to me. I like to think about people very optimistically and seeing a realistic perspective of how when a person loses a role, they are casted out of society is something I will always be afraid of. Describing how the “mother faints”, “father was stunned”, and how the “sister eventually starts to resent Gregor” for something that Gregor was unable to control really frustrates me. The way you illustrated their reactions into distinct, but concrete phrases really helped me, as the audience, to remember this blog through these memorable descriptions of the characters. I also really like how you talked about how “identity is almost misleading” because it is simply true. We as people are connected through language and shared experiences, so it is natural that we overlap in some parts of our identity because of that. We are often positioned into roles like George that defines ourself. However, personally I always try my best to not make my identity dependent on my role and focus on keeping my identity separate, as I want it to be uniquely mine. Thank you for this realistic but necessary wakeup call and how your blog allowed me to reflect on the novella.
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