The major theme of the book was how Gregor's treatment by others changed after changing into a human-sized bug. The book itself was a metaphor for the dehumanizing effect of being looked upon like a bug, vermin, or parasite. While I don't recall if the book specifically pointed it out, in popular art he's depicted as a cockroach.
I mean, he only ever interacts with his immediate family and no, the species is never specified because it's not really a concrete fantasy setting as much as a protracted nightmare.
The reading I've always gotten is Samsa was already a bug, even when he was human. His first thought after becoming a bug is if he'll catch the train to work on time even though he should have other priorities. He's already been dehumanized and in fact he found some solace in being a bug. He made friends with the housekeeper who gave him milk, his family started working again, his sister would play the violin.
The major theme of the book was how Gregor's treatment by others changed after changing into a human-sized bug. The book itself was a metaphor for the dehumanizing effect of being looked upon like a bug, vermin, or parasite. While I don't recall if the book specifically pointed it out, in popular art he's depicted as a cockroach.
I mean, he only ever interacts with his immediate family and no, the species is never specified because it's not really a concrete fantasy setting as much as a protracted nightmare.
The reading I've always gotten is Samsa was already a bug, even when he was human. His first thought after becoming a bug is if he'll catch the train to work on time even though he should have other priorities. He's already been dehumanized and in fact he found some solace in being a bug. He made friends with the housekeeper who gave him milk, his family started working again, his sister would play the violin.