Kafka's `Die Verwandlung' is the story of Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman who awakened one morning to find himself transformed into a `monstrous vermin'. Gregor was unable to communicate with his family, although he could understand what they said perfectly and the story shows the diversity of his family's reactions. The story is narrated in the 3rd person but we see glimpses of the event through Gregor's eyes and consequently can empathise with him to a certain extent.

Grete, Gregor's sister, was initially the most sympathetic to Gregor's situation. The evening following the transformation, she was thoughtful enough to supply Gregor with food and although he rejected the first meal, she carried on supplying him with food, learned what it was that he liked and cleaned up after him even though she found the sight of him repulsive. Eventually though this relationship broke down when she gave up...