Everyone dies: this is the one undeniable fact of existence. From the moment we take our first breath we are destined to die. People like to debate what the greatest mystery is, some think it’s Mona Lisa’s smile, while others like to believe it’s what is at the far reaches of our universe. It doesn’t really matter though, we live and then we pass through the veil of death into oblivion, everything that happens in the middle is just filler to the end of our stories. When a true existentialist dies, his or her last thoughts are probably along the lines of “That was fun.” or maybe even “I hope I turned the coffee pot off.” Gregor has probably gone through a lot more during his months as a bug than most people do in a lifetime, yet, his last thoughts are among the mundane. “‘What now?’ Gregor asked …show more content…
On the contrary, it struck him as unnatural that he had really been able up to this point to move around with these thin little legs. Besides he felt relatively content. . . . He remembered his family with deep feeling and love. In this business, his own thought that he had to disappear was, if possible, even more decisive than his sister’s. He remained in this state of empty and peaceful reflection until the tower clock struck three o’clock in the morning. From the window he witnessed the beginning of the general dawning outside. Then without willing it, his head sank all the way down, and from his nostrils flowed weakly out his last breath.” (Kafka 89) Gregor reflected on his life for a bit, thinking fondly of his family (looking past the faintings, beatings and betrayal), and knew that it was his time to go. Kafka ended Gregor’s journey with no frills, no heartbreaking display of affection or sadness from Gregor’s family, just stated that he was content and that he accepted his death. We read tales from Shakespeare that lead us to believe that in death there lies tragedy, but would death not be as much of a burden if we simply accepted