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The Metamorphosis Mr. Samsa Quotes

Mr. Samsa

Quote 1

"If he could understand us," his father repeated and by closing his eyes, absorbed the impossibility of the idea, "then maybe we could come to an agreement with him." (3.24)

While the story is ruthlessly ironic toward Gregor, it's equally ruthless in its treatment of the other characters. This passage beautifully stages Mr. Samsa's unwillingness to believe that Gregor can understand the others. There's no evidence to support Mr. Samsa's claim; he just assumes that it's impossible. The fact that this belief is irrational is emphasized by the fact that the story tells us he "absorbed" the idea – he didn't arrive at the conclusion through a process of logical thought.