English Literature

Many works of literature explore the complex psychological problems if its characters.  The problems often touch other characters in the book, just like psychological problems touch family members in real life.  Simply put, readers enjoy understanding the dynamics of these family relationships as they relate to characters in novels, plays and short stories.      Metamorphosis by Czechoslovakian Franz Kafka is a novella written in the early 20th century about a financially burdened man who must provide for his parents and sister.  When he is suddenly afflicted by being transformed into a giant insect, the family roles change along with their relationships.  The family suffers financial burdens, maintain unrealistic expectations placed upon one of the central characters, and endures psychological suffering as well.  Consequentially, Gregors sister Grete ultimately plays a major role in the direction that these psychological problems take, to her own near demise.
    Gregor clearly has problems.  He has suddenly awakened to find himself transformed into a giant bug.   While this is a physical ailment to say the least, Gregors psychological problems seem to have started even before his change in appearance.  Gregor, as the adult son, has been bearing the financial burden for his mother, father and sister for a number of years.  This burden has led him to a sales job in which he must rise early, spend long hours on the road, and work physical and mentally hard for his paycheck, part of which must go to repay a debt incurred by his own father. He has been feeling mentally overburdened by this job for years, as his entire family seem to expect being solely supported by him. 
Gregors sudden physical change more dramatically changes his family situation. After his conversion to a giant cockroach, Gregor experiences, in a different way, alienation and disorientation.  He is repulsive to his family, especially is father he is physically sickening to his mother and his ability to relate and even communicate with them deteriorates markedly. 
He suddenly cannot make any money.  He suddenly even cannot appear to his family, at first, or guests.  His position declines from family leader to, well, disgusting insect.  As a result, Gregor slowly fades into a sad state of alienation and depression.  
His sister Grete, with whom Gregor has always been close, should, and for a while does,  provide some kind of hope for her brothers  painful circumstance.  Grete loves Gregor.  She is the first to recognize that something is wrong with him even before he exposes himself in his new form.  She cries in her room when he first refuses to come out, knowing that something must be wrong this indicates a strong connection with her brother who understands that Grete has a dream to be a violinist.  Gregor has frequently considered offering to pay for violin lessons, but he never got around to doing it before his transformation.
After his disability becomes known to his family, Grete volunteers to be his caretaker.  Despite her initial fear, she approaches him in his room and immediately is able to sense what he needs and wants  But he never could have guessed what his sister, out of the goodness of her heart, in fact, did. To test his taste, she brought him an entire selection, all spread out on an old newspaper (Kafka).   In fact, she takes on the responsibility with gusto, seemingly to repay him for the support he has previous offered her and reveling in the fact that she can do something that her parents cannot emotionally handle.  She seems proud of her role and presents her self as a type of expert for his care.  It seems that Gregors demise gives her strength and purpose in life when she previously had none. 
As everyone knows, relationships among family members are rarely static.  Over time, priorities and personal goals change to Gregors dismay, this happens to Grete.  Grete seems to gradually lose interest in her newfound role as caretaker.  As the daily monotony of her duties, combined with her hours working as a salesgirl outside their home, become apparent, she also become resentful of having to care for Gregor and clean his room.  The glory of her job has worn off, and the mundane reality has set in.  She reverts back to feeling worthless and continues her dreams of becoming a violinist without much hope.  Her resentment is apparent when she intentionally leaves messes in his room and when her conversations become shorter and more clipped.  She seems torn between her love for her brother and her love for her mother  her mothers health has become adversely affected by Gregors condition. 
Her epiphany occurs when she plays her violin to entertain some renters, and Gregor slips into the room.  The renters flee and threaten a lawsuit.  At his point, Grete realizes that her brothers physical deformity and psychological difficulties will cause the familys downfall despite her efforts. 
Ultimately, Grete must make a painful decision in order to save herself and her family. 
She must choose, basically, between her mother and her brother.  Her resentment has built, but the threat of lawsuit shows her the reality of their situation. She rationalizes her decision to recommend getting rid of Gregor  her mother is failing, and they have lost yet another source of income.  Further, because they have tried to take care of him and failed, they will not be under reproach. 
Grete has to voice, now, what the family has felt for a long time. She notes to her parents, It has to go, cried the sister. That is the only way, father. You must try to get rid of the idea that this is Gregor. The fact that we have believed this for so long, that is truly our real misfortune. But how can it be Gregor If it were Gregor, he would have long ago realized that a communal life among human beings is not possible with such a creature and would have gone away voluntarily. Then we would not have a brother, but we could go on living and honour his memory. But this animal plagues us (Kafka).  This deals the final blow to Gregar, already infected due to an apple attack from this father, and he succumbs to his alienation.
The conclusion of this story is sadly realistic, and most readers will react in a sad and pitying manner.   No matter how hard a family member tries to help another unstable family member, ultimately this effort will backfire, especially if the sibling is forced to give up a dream or sacrifice her own life. The responsibility does not fall squarely on any one persons shoulders. 
Morally and ethically, siblings are not responsible for the care of their psychologically disturbed family members.  Caring for a psychologically distressed individual is difficult, but morally, a sibling is not responsible.  Who is  The answer is very difficult.  Ultimately, the responsibility must fall in the greater proportion on the individual him or herself.