Mr. Samsa abandons his old lifestyle for a more fulfilling one, a decision he realizes Gregor should have made. While Mr. Samsa has fallen victim to physical lethargy, Gregor has succumbed to mental apathy: indecision. But Mr. Samsa decides. His new uniform symbolizes dedication to his work, which Gregor lacked. Unlike Gregor’s own uniform, Mr. Samsa’s may well be surgically attached to his body. He sleeps fully dressed, symbolizing his newfound resoluteness and commitment to his duty. This makes him strangely “peaceful,” which may be attributed to the relief of having decided to turn his life around in time. He refuses with perverse obstinacy “to exchange the chair for his bed,” as the bed symbolizes his old lethargy, and he instead remains “longer at the table,” to assert his newfound authority. The metamorphosis is also a warning for Gregor’s manager. As a businessman, he is likely torn between his work and personal life. Yet, if he fails to decide, something “of the sort that [has] happened to [Gregor]” could “happen to the chief clerk too,” and the manager seems to realize this. After witnessing Gregor’s punishment, he reacts with “a loud ‘Oh,’” not of terror but with the realization that he could incur the same fate. He leaves his work-related belongings - his stick, “along with his hat and overcoat” - behind, having seemingly decided to quit before it is too late. With the arrival of the three boarders, the Samsas become like Gregor, serving the borders as Gregor served his family. But the metamorphosis serves as a warning for them, too, and the Samsas gain the resolve that Gregor lacked. They push the borders out for good, deciding not to let themselves be controlled by
Mr. Samsa abandons his old lifestyle for a more fulfilling one, a decision he realizes Gregor should have made. While Mr. Samsa has fallen victim to physical lethargy, Gregor has succumbed to mental apathy: indecision. But Mr. Samsa decides. His new uniform symbolizes dedication to his work, which Gregor lacked. Unlike Gregor’s own uniform, Mr. Samsa’s may well be surgically attached to his body. He sleeps fully dressed, symbolizing his newfound resoluteness and commitment to his duty. This makes him strangely “peaceful,” which may be attributed to the relief of having decided to turn his life around in time. He refuses with perverse obstinacy “to exchange the chair for his bed,” as the bed symbolizes his old lethargy, and he instead remains “longer at the table,” to assert his newfound authority. The metamorphosis is also a warning for Gregor’s manager. As a businessman, he is likely torn between his work and personal life. Yet, if he fails to decide, something “of the sort that [has] happened to [Gregor]” could “happen to the chief clerk too,” and the manager seems to realize this. After witnessing Gregor’s punishment, he reacts with “a loud ‘Oh,’” not of terror but with the realization that he could incur the same fate. He leaves his work-related belongings - his stick, “along with his hat and overcoat” - behind, having seemingly decided to quit before it is too late. With the arrival of the three boarders, the Samsas become like Gregor, serving the borders as Gregor served his family. But the metamorphosis serves as a warning for them, too, and the Samsas gain the resolve that Gregor lacked. They push the borders out for good, deciding not to let themselves be controlled by