Metamorphosis by Kafka

Well, a book about a man who turns into a giant bug! How do you define yourself when you are in that predicament? Is he a bug? Is he still a person? In his mind, he is still a person although his humanity is slowly slipping through his fingers. However, to his family he is a monster. They no longer see their son or their brother; he is a monstrosity that does nothing but add stress to the household. In my opinion, the most defining moment for Gregor was when he decided to sacrifice his own limited life for the well being of his family. Grete, his sister, repeatedly stated that it would be better for all of them if he would just die so they could get on with their lives. And so he did. Whether or not that makes him a hero, sacrificial lamb, or just a burden being lifted one thing remains; Gregor is selfless. It takes a pretty strong person to fight for the last shreds of their humanity and identity, but it takes a whole lot more to let it go in order to better someone else's life.