Brown Bear Facts Behavior, Diet, Habitat, and More

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is the most widely distributed bear in the world. It is found in North America and Eurasia. There are several subspecies of the brown bear, including the grizzly bear and kodiak bear. The brown bears closest relative is the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). Fast Facts: Brown Bear Scientific Name: Ursus arctosCommon Name: Brown bearBasic Animal Group: MammalSize: 5-8 feetWeight: 700 poundsLifespan: 25 yearsDiet: OmnivoreHabitat: Northern HemispherePopulation: Over 100,000Conservation Status: Least Concern Description One way to identify a brown bear is by the hump at the top of its shoulder. The hump is made of muscle and helps the bear dig a den. No other extant species of bear has this hump. Adult bears have short tails and sharp teeth with curved lower canines. Their skulls are heavy and concave. Brown bears claws are large, curved, and blunt. Their claws are straighter and longer than those of black bears. Unlike the black bear, which readily climbs trees, the brown bear climbs less frequently due to its weight and claw structure. Brown bear claws are adapted for digging, not for climbing trees. PhilipCacka / Getty Images You might guess from their name that brown bears are brown. However, these bears can be brown, red, tan, cream, bicolored, or nearly black. Sometimes the tips of their fur are colored. Fur length varies according to the season. In the summer, their fur is shorter. In the winter, some brown bears fur can reach 4 to 5 inches in length. Brown bear size is highly variable, depending both on subspecies and food availability. Males are about 30% larger than females. An average-sized bear might range from 5 to 8 feet in length and weigh 700 pounds, however, much smaller and much larger specimens occur. On average, polar bears are larger than brown bears, but a large grizzly and a polar bear are comparable. Habitat and Distribution The brown bears range includes northern North America and Eurasia, including the United States, Canada, Russia, China, Central Asia, Scandinavia, Romania, Caucasus, and Anatolia. At one time, it was also found throughout Europe, in northern Africa, and as far south as Mexico in North America. Range of the brown bear in 2010. Hannu Brown bears inhabit a wide range of environments. They have been recorded living at altitudes ranging from sea level to 5000 m (16000 ft). They inhabit temperature forests, preferring semi-open regions, but also live on the tundra, prairies, and estuaries. Diet Although brown bears have a reputation as fierce carnivores, they actually obtain as much as 90% of their calories from vegetation. Bears are omnivorous and naturally curious about eating nearly any creature. Their preferred food is anything abundant and easy to obtain, which varies according to the season. Their diet includes grass, berries, roots, carrion, meat, fish, insects, nuts, flowers, fungi, moss, and even pine cones. Bears that live near people may prey on pets and livestock and scavenge for human food. Brown bears eat up to 90 pounds of food per day in autumn and weigh twice as much as when they emerge from their dens in the spring. Adult brown bears face few predators. Depending where they live, they may be attacked by tigers or other bears. Brown bears dominate gray wolves, cougars, black bears, and even polar bears. Large herbivores rarely threaten the bears, but may fatally wound one in self-defense or protecting calves. Behavior Most adult brown bears are crepuscular, with peak activity in the early morning and evening. Young bears may be active during the day, while bears living near humans tend to be nocturnal. Adult bears tend to be solitary, except for females with cubs or gatherings at fishing spots. While a bear may roam over a huge range, it tends not to be territorial. Bears double their weight from the spring going into winter. Each bear selects a protected spot as a den for the winter months. Sometimes bears will dig out a den, but they will use a cave, hollow log, or tree roots. While brown bears become lethargic in the winter, they do not truly hibernate and can be easily woken if disturbed. Reproduction and Offspring Female bears become sexually mature between 4 and 8 years of age and come into heat once every three or four years. Males typically begin mating a year older than females, when they are large enough to compete with other males. Both males and females take multiple mates during the mating season, which runs from mid-May to June. Fertilized eggs remain in the females uterus for six months, implanting in her uterus while she is dormant during the winter. Cubs are born eight weeks after implantation, while the female is sleeping. The average litter is 1 to 3 cubs, although as many as 6 cubs may be born. Cubs nurse on their mothers milk until she emerges from her den in spring. They remain with her for about two and a half years. Males do not aid in rearing. They will engage in infanticide of another bears cubs, presumably to bring females into heat. Females often successfully defend cubs from males, but may be killed in the conflict. In the wild, the average brown bear life expectancy is around 25 years. Hybrids Genetic analysis of bears revealed different bear species have hybridized throughout history. In the modern era, rare grizzly-polar bear hybrids have been observed in the wild as well as captivity. The hybrid is known as a grolar bear, pizzly bear, or nanulak. Conservation Status The range of the brown bear has diminished and local extinctions have occurred, but the species as a whole remains classified as least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The global population appears stable, shrinking in some areas while growing in others. Threats to the species include hunting, poaching, other human-related mortality, and habitat fragmentation. Sources Farley, S. D. and C. T. Robbins. Lactation, hibernation, and mass dynamics of American black bears and grizzly bears. Canadian Journal of Zoology. 73 (12): 2216−2222, 1995. doi:10.1139/z95-262Hensel, R. J.; Troyer, W. A. Erickson, A. W. Reproduction in the female brown bear. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 33: 357–365, 1969. doi:10.2307/3799836McLellan, B. N.; Proctor, M. F.; Huber, D.; Michel, S. Ursus arctos. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, 2017.Servheen, C., Herrero, S., Peyton, B., Pelletier, K., Moll, K., Moll, J. (Eds.).  Bears: status survey and conservation action plan (Vol. 44)  . Gland: IUCN, 1999.Wozencraft, W.C. Ursus arctos. In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 588–589, 2005. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.

Cosmetic Animal Testing - 2215 Words

Skye Meadows English 101 4/1/2012 Cosmetic Animal Testing: Scientifically and Unethically Inaccurate Animal testing is still done by cosmetic companies even though it is unethical and scientifically inaccurate. The various tests carried out on animals is not a guarantee for using cosmetics on our skin since animals react differently to certain chemicals as compared to humans. Cosmetics companies kill millions of animals every year in pursuit of profit. The animals that suffer and die in these laboratories range from rabbits to mice. According to companies that perform such tests, they are done to establish the safety of products and ingredients. However, no law requires that cosmetics products be tested on animals. The Food and Drug†¦show more content†¦Laboratory animals that escape outright physical pain and discomfort are almost always subjected to isolation, depression and anxiety. In fact the worst evil we inflict upon animals condemned to scientific research may be the act of removing them from the natural habitat, or breeding them in captivity, and then placing them in the artificial environment of a laboratory cage, where they have no hope of having the kind of life nature intended for them. Animal skin and organs are not the same as human skin and organs; therefore, cosmetic testing on animal skin and organs is irrelevant to human skin and organs. Animals have different biological systems than humans do therefore the tests cannot be as accurate. Not only is animal testing inhumane it is inaccurate. Animal tests do not predict antidotes for product toxicity and do not keep toxic substances off the market and do not accurately measure human health hazards. They only determine that the product is toxic to the animal it was tested on. Animals have different biological systems than humans do therefore the tests cannot be as accurate. Animal skin and organs are not the same as human skin and organs; therefore, cosmetic testing on animal skin and organs are irrelevant to human skin and organs. Scientists and Doctors have taken some brain cells and blood cells from a Human that was HIV positive and directly injected them into a Chimpanzees brain. They found out that theShow Mor eRelatedAnimal Testing For Cosmetic Products Essay2037 Words   |  9 Pagesbans on animal testing for cosmetic products in several countries, including India, Israel, Norway, the European union and mostly recently, New Zealand, the United states, Canada, and Australia are among the countries who have yet to ban this ethically wrong practice and allow it to occur. Animal testing can be dated back to the ancient times of the Greeks and Romans, but many people still believe that the old-fashioned practice of animal testing for cosmetics died years ago. Typically, animal testsRead MoreCosmetic Testing On Animals And Animals1632 Words   |  7 Pages000,000 animals are killed annually throughout the United States (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). In America alone, over 11,000 research facilities partake in experimenting with cosmetic chemicals on animals (Collins). The number of animals used for cosmetic testing is alarming. Animals and humans differ from one another biol ogically in many significant ways. Statistics display irrefutably that cosmetic chemical preclinical testing on animals are unreliable. Animal testing is not onlyRead MoreAnimal Testing For The Sake Of Cosmetics2007 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Å"According to the view that an animal s moral claim is equivalent to a moral right, any action that fails to treat the animal as a being with inherent worth would violate that animal s right and is thus morally objectionable (Gruen).† This quote relates to a serious matter in that the use of animals in the testing of cosmetics is inhumane. Animal testing for the sake of cosmetics is a cruel, unethical and an unnecessary method of practice. There is debate among the companies in this practice (asRead MoreAnimal Testing On Cosmetics : Its Not Necessary1620 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"100,000-200,000 animals suffer and die just for cosmetics every year around the world.†(Humanesociety.org). Majority of these innocent animals ends up dying for no absolute reason at all also. Animal testing in cosmetics is a problem all around the world, but especially in the US. These animals need our help. Animal testing on cosmetics is nothing new in the US; animals have been getting tested on since the beginning of time. What’s different about cosmetics testing is that it’s not necessary. There’sRead MoreAnimal Testing : Cosmetic Manufacturers1375 Words   |  6 PagesMany products that we use on a daily routine have been part of animal testing. Throughout the years this has become a problem that millions of people have been raising awareness for and trying to find a solution to end this cruel act. But is this enough? One of the most notorious users of animal testing is cosmetic manufacturers. Throughout the year s many cosmetic companies have been trying to transition into using cruelty-free products. For example, Marla Donato from the Chicago Tribune statesRead MoreEssay on Cosmetics Testing on Animals , Is It Necessary?547 Words   |  3 PagesWhy should animals have to die, just for humans to have cosmetics? It is understandable if you want to cover up a scar on your face, but to just wear makeup because you think you need it, or because you feel like you cannot live without it, is ridiculous. Animals should not be dyeing for our insecurities on how we look, or on how society judges us. If society sees someone who is not Barbie or Ken perfect they judge us, so we put makeup on, it is not right for society to do that. Because of theirRead MoreAnimal Testing in Cosmetics Essay1033 Words   |  5 Pageshousehold items such as lotions, shampoos and cosmetics aren’t very expensive and are within reach for the public, yet the public is not knowledgeable of the fact that the products that they use everyday are put through a series of tests which involve the use of harmless animals. Several large commercial companies do not make products for animals; they decide that using thes e harmless creatures for the testing of their products, could be cause to be harmful to animals still go forward with these types ofRead More Cosmetic Testing on Animal Essay702 Words   |  3 Pages Cosmetic Testing on Animals Every year, millions of animals suffer and die in painful tests to determine the safety of cosmetics. Substances such as eye shadow and soap are tested on rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, dogs, and other animals, despite the fact that the test results don’t help prevent or treat human illness or injury. Cosmetics are not required to be tested on animals and since non-animal alternatives exist, it’s hard to understand why some companies still continue to conduct theseRead MoreThe Evils of Cosmetic Animal Testing Essay2159 Words   |  9 PagesA lot of people buy cosmetic products being ignorant to the fact that, that one product has killed a lot of animals. How would you like being sprayed with poisonous liquids, taking poisonous eye drops?, or being fed toxic substances? Cosmetic factories have been doing these inhumane things and more to innocent animals for years. According to PETA, every year, millions of animals are poisoned and killed in barbaric tests that were crudely developed as long ago as the 1920s to evaluate the toxicityRead MoreAnimal Testing For Cosmetics Essay1886 Words   |  8 PagesAnimal Testing (Cosmetics and Medicine) Animal testing for cosmetics and medicine should be banned. Everyday thousands of animals are being tortured for science. The experiments that are performed on these poor animals are very inhumane. Scientists have a choice to make, they can choose to use animals and torture them or they can use alternatives like artificial skin from humans and/or animals to see how they react. For example, In â€Å"The 5 Worst Animal Experiments Happening Right Now† the author

Customer Support Management-Free-Samples-Myassignmenthelp.com

Question: Write a Short Experiential piece on Customer Support. Answer: Name and type of the organization Some time back I had an awful experience at XYZ boutique. The boutique is one of Australias leading fashion stores dealing with the latest dresses, shoes, tops, and much more. Communication method The communication method used by the sales assistant was unfriendly. The sales assistant lacked interpersonal skills and solid communication. Her body language also communicated to me that she was not willing to help. She looked bored and uninterested. She should have been more confident and cheerful. The problem It is often expected that people need to browse or window shop prior to making any purchase decision. In fact, most business owners see this as recommendable and acceptable (Rawson, Duncan Jones, 2013). After all, the purchase journey is a long process which requires the buyers to gather the relevant inspiration and data before spending their hard-earned cash. Consequently, that is why shops exist, to showcase services and products to the customers and increase profits in the long run (Zhao, Lu, Zhang Chau, 2012). However, a staff member at XYZ boutique had a different opinion on this subject. In fact, I was offered a not quite apologetic response upon raising a complaint. This is how the scenario unfolded; I was searching for a classic and fashionable outfit for an upcoming event. Given the importance of the event, my dressing had to be on point. Therefore, I decided to take a look at what XYZ had to offer since a friend had previously recommended the store. Initially, the staff was friendly and willing to offer assistance. However, after some time, the sales assistant became pushy and hesitant to answer my questions. She came to a conclusion that I was not there to buy. This is not what I expected from a world class brand with over 170 outlets globally. For a moment, I thought this was a prank that I would occasionally expect to get from siblings and friends, but not from a sales assistant. The fact that the sales assistant was wrong is not debatable. I had every intention of purchasing the outfit but immediately left the boutique after the awful treatment. After a few days, I launched a complaint to the head office via email. In the real sense, many would guess that I got an apology from the XYZ boutique management. However, this was not the case. The response email indicated that the shop targets straight to the point customers and the assistants at the boutique are the best at what they do. Additionally, the response indicated that I was indeed an idler who had no intention of purchasing and suggested that there are other shops that would appease my taste. In the United States alone, poor customer support costs 84 billion annually (Kumar, Umashankar, Kim, Bhagwat, 2014). On the other side, good customer service is competency, personalization, convenience, and responsiveness. This was not the case at XYZ boutique. The sales assistant was quick to judge, incompetent, and unresponsive. Statistics show that 90% of customers are willing to pay more in order to get the desired customer service (Kumar et al, 2014). Moreover, 70% of customers would be willing to purchase more if their complaints are solved (Kumar et al, 2014). It is evident that the XYZ boutique management did not handle their customers appropriately and was unwilling to resolve complaints. Their response clearly indicated that I was just an idler in their shop with no purchase motive. Proposal for resolution The case was not resolved. It was wrong for the sales assistant to read my mind, regardless of how good she may be. Some of the qualities of a good sales assistant include patience and respect (Ryu, Lee Gon Kim, 2012). This being said, the sales assistants should be patient with their customers and respect them at the same time. The sales assistant should have let me make my purchase decision at my own pace. The response given by the manager after I launched the complaint indicated that the XYZ boutique management had no respect for its customers. It was wrong for the manager to condone the attacks made by his staff. Evidently, the store manager did not understand my point of view. It was not his job to judge my motive or willingness to purchase. He should have read the complaint keenly and identify a way to resolve the issue. Also, the employees may not have been well trained. The boutique should put some of its resources for reinforcement and training. The training should put more emphasis on the importance of being patient and respecting customers (Lemon Verhoef, 2016). Sales assistants can be effective in their jobs if they are equipped with the appropriate tools and objectives. The management should be keener on the type of personality they employ in their businesses. Business success cannot be achieved with self-centered and apathetic employees. The wrong employees should be sent packing immediately; it sends a warning message to other reckless employees (Martin, Mortimer Andrews, 2015). This is how the manager should have handled the situation. Condoning reckless employees only leads to more losses and eventual business failure. References Rawson, A., Duncan, E., Jones, C. (2013). The truth about customer experience.Harvard Business Review,91(9), 90-98. Ryu, K., Lee, H. R., Gon Kim, W. (2012). The influence of the quality of the physical environment, food, and service on restaurant image, customer perceived value, customer satisfaction, and behavioral intentions.International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management,24(2), 200-223. Zhao, L., Lu, Y., Zhang, L., Chau, P. Y. (2012). Assessing the effects of service quality and justice on customer satisfaction and the continuance intention of mobile value-added services: An empirical test of a multidimensional model.Decision support systems,52(3), 645-656. Kumar, V., Umashankar, N., Kim, K. H., Bhagwat, Y. (2014). Assessing the influence of economic and customer experience factors on service purchase behaviors.Marketing Science,33(5), 673-692. Lemon, K. N., Verhoef, P. C. (2016, November). Understanding customer experience throughout the customer journey. American Marketing Association. Martin, J., Mortimer, G., Andrews, L. (2015). Re-examining online customer experience to include purchase frequency and perceived risk.Journal of retailing and consumer services,25, 81-95.

The Metamorphosis Essay Example

The Metamorphosis Essay . Groups of three identified in the book: The number three plays a considerable role in the story. The story is divided into three parts. There are three doors to Gregor’s room. His family consists of three people. Three servants appear in the course of the story. Three lodgers have three beards. Three Samsas write three letters. The clock chimes three times. Gregor appears 3 times outside his room. Three women imitate Mr. Samsa as he thanks the Lord. Three family members had to work after Gregor’s metamorphosis 2. In the book, The Metamorphosis, Grete’s behavior changes dramatically as she becomes cold hearted and uncaring. In the beginning of the story Gregor’s younger sister is the only one who seems to understand that Gregor is suffering and she â€Å"weeps in her bedroom. † She demonstrates that she cares about her brother by bringing him his favorite food â€Å"milk. † She is the only one in the family who is courageous to enter Gregor’s room to clean it. However, by the end of the book she is so exhausted by her job that she does not even bother to look in to his room. Grete has come to detest her brother to such an extreme that he refers to him as if he were an animal and exclaims, â€Å"we must get rid of it,† so she rejoices when she finds out about his death. We will write a custom essay sample on The Metamorphosis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Metamorphosis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Metamorphosis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In the end of the story, her parents â€Å"see their daughter become more and more vivacious [for] she had blossomed into a lovely and shapely girl. † Her parents view her as the link that will help them resolve their financial burdens by marrying a rich man. The servant (Ana) becomes so terrified with Gregor’s appearance that she resolves to quit her job as does the cook. The â€Å"plead mercifully to be dismissed,† and demonstrate gratification when they are allowed to leave. They both leave a bigger burden for the family creating a metamorphosis in the role that the family plays in their own house. Their absence obligates the women in the family to perform difficult tasks. Another change occurs in Mr. Samsa and Mrs. Samsa. The family who was accustomed to a lifestyle that was envied by lower class individuals is taken away from them as all three family members have to sacrifice their possessions to survive. The father who used to â€Å"lay on the couch† and â€Å"read his newspaper† has to go back to work. The mother who was enjoying her luxurious life sacrifices her pride as she is forced to sew individual’s underwear. The parents who are supposed to be enjoying their lderly years in accommodation must now input all of their strength in order to provide the family with enough money just to â€Å"pass by. † 3. Through the peculiar events in the story the author helps the reader understand that capitalism harbor work-related obsessions and increases rates of stress related diseases. After Gregor becomes a bug the mother and the sister become the main providers for the family. Gregor’s parents owned a big debt, and he used all of his strength to become the best worker and would devote all of his time in accomplishing the demands from his job. However one day, exhausted from all his work he discovers that he has become an insect and he feels trapped because he ran too hard to meet the demands of business. The author is trying to explain how capitalism imprisons people driving them to become individuals that scurry on the ground and eat whatever is available. His irreversible illness leads to his death, but his family continues to be affected by capitalism. They become heartless individuals who place more emphasis on money than on helping Gregor. They become so cold hearted that they do not demonstrate that they love each other anymore. Instead of mourning Gregor’s death they view it as a blessing from the heavens because he is just a reminder of the consequences of capitalism. The sister â€Å"found a job as a salesgirl† and the mother â€Å"would be sewing fine lingerie for a fashion boutique† while still being responsible for maintaining a spotless home. So, the cycle continues as the family’s priority is meeting their financial needs. Therefore, capitalism drives people to become obsessed with their work, separates family, affects the daily activities including the eating habits, and creates unrecognizable creatures trapped in the claws of their work. . The story can be viewed as an attack on political and personal tyranny through the description of the Chief (Gregor’s boss). Gregors boss at work is the great symbol of everything wrong with tyranny. He sits behind his desk, talking down to his employees. Gregor knows that if he calls in sick for the first time in five years, his chief would come in person to call him lazy. The Chief Clerk is the Chiefs mouthpiece. He himself arrives at Gregors house when the former is late to work and thus throws the entire family into disorder. When Gregor does not unlock his room, the Chief Clerk ells Gregor, in front of the family, that he is under suspicion of having stolen money and that his work is very unsatisfactory, though this isnt true. The story also attacks personal tyranny because according to the author when a man controls himself and drives himself too hard the man becomes imprisoned. In the story Gregor feels like he â€Å"c[ould] not move† because he had been trapped by his activities to such an extent that he had become like a bug. He crawled from place to place to accomplish his tasks, but he never worried about the things that distinguish humans from animals. He felt that it was more important to make a sale and bring money for his family than to increase the bond among family members through love. Therefore, personal tyranny created an animal out of Gregor. 5. The story, The Metamorphosis, is a biblical allusion to Jesus. In the story the main character Gregor transforms into a â€Å"beetle† with â€Å"six legs;† an insignificant insect. When Jesus came to earth he had to abandon his perfect supernatural state to transform into a human body full of imperfections and insignificant in comparison to his perfect previous state. In the story, Gregor becomes despised by his own family members how attempt to kill him. Gregor’s horrifying state serves as a painful reminder to the family of the consequences that come when a person becomes too involved in his job, so they hate him for it. Jesus was despised because he was perfect and humans were reminded of their sinful state, so they could not stand his presence. Gregor’s father roles â€Å"the rotten apple in his back† and â€Å"pushes him into the room. † The bible relates how Jesus’ family was ashamed of him and would make fun of him because they did not believe that he was God’s son. As Jesus’ death approaches his burden increases as he realizes that he has to carry the sins of the world in his back and take them to the cross. In the same manner, Gregor’s believes that he â€Å"is a burden for his family† and his appetite decreases. Both Jesus and Gregor die with an empty stomach, and with great grief. Gregor sacrifices his life to provide his family with â€Å"such a life in such a beautiful department. † Jesus gave his life so that people could live a happier life by getting to know God through him. Like Gregor, Jesus back was whipped by the Roman soldiers who despised him because he claimed that he was the â€Å"King of the Jews. Gregor’s death occurs in â€Å"March† which is the same time that Jesus was crucified on the cross. Gregor dies when the clock â€Å"chimes three times† and according to scripture Jesus died at three p. m. Therefore, the story is an allusion to Jesus life which is represented through t he main character Gregor. 6. Gregor’s transformation represents how everyman is in our society today. Due to human’s desire to expand their economic status they become too involved in their work to the extent in which they neglect their own family members. Gregor like many men places more emphasis in accomplishing job and making his boss happy than in doing anything else. Even though he â€Å"hates traveling, worrying, and meeting temporary acquaintances that never become more than that† he believes that his job has come to represent who he is. His identity is no longer Gregor, but salesman. Today, many individuals identify themselves through their jobs, rather than expressing who they are as individuals because they have made their jobs their priority. When Gregor becomes an insect he scurries in his room eating â€Å"whatever† he can â€Å"find. † In today’s society there is a big problem with society since many people often eat whatever they find on the road that will be easy and fast to consume, because they do not want to waste precious time to do their jobs. For many people today their job is more important than their health. In the story the chief clerk claims, â€Å"we men of business-fortunately or unfortunately- very often simply have to ignore any slight indisposition since business must be attended to. He expresses how many people feel today that personal illness is unimportant, what is important is that an employee wastes important company money, but business should be attended to at all costs. This is the fundamental crisis that Gregor, as so many human beings in the modern age, must face. This crisis is the conflict between freedom and ones responsibility to oneself on one side, and guilt and the demands posed by society and family on the other. Both sets of values are essential for human beings, but the clash between them is often obscured. Perhaps this conflict is obscured for the best, because there seems to be no way out of it. One cannot be free without guilt, yet one cannot fulfill ones obligation to others and remain true to oneself. 7. Toward the end of the story Grete makes a speech which becomes the climax of the novel. She refers to Gregor as if â€Å"it† because she refuses to accept the idea that he is her brother. Grete insists that the â€Å"creature† cannot understand them though the family has never tried to find out. She is certain that Gregor is persecuting them and wants to drive them out of the apartment. She has changed from the tender loving sister that brought him milk to an ambitious young woman who does not care about anything but money and her economic status. Internally she has filled her heart with the desires that are acceptable by society which accepts the degrading of human characteristics through a job. In the end of the story, when the family is discussing their future plans, the parents â€Å"upon seen the daughter becoming more and more vivacious realized almost in unison that lately, despite the sorrows that left her cheeks pale she had blossomed into a lovely and shapely girl t was high time they found a descent husband for her at the end of their ride the daughter was the first to get up stretching her young body. † Grete through her hard work has come to be like the leader in the family. Her desire to strive and her ambition to lead a more prosperous life makes her parents feel that she is the family’s only hope to continue with a life that can be just as comfortable as the previous one. She undergoes a â€Å"metamorphosis† that unlike Gregor’s will benefit the family and accommodate them in a place where they will enjoy a luxurious life, and leave behind the pain and sacrifices they once had in the apartment. . Identify and discuss the possible symbolism involved in the following: a) The Picture In the story Gregor â€Å"clung to his picture, refusing to surrender it. † When his family is taking the furniture out Gregor is trying to remain calm by explaining telling himself that it was not a major concern, yet he feels extremely uncomfortable. When he sees the emptiness of his room he clings to the picture of the woman in furs representing love interest for Gregor and desire to keep something from the lifestyle he once led. He dedicated the best of his years to his job in order to provide his family with the finest lifestyle. In consequence, he is unable to raise his own family and never finds a partner. The way he clings on to the woman in fur represents his desire to be with someone, but never being able to do it. The picture was like Gregor’s escape route that made him forget about his loneliness and he finds comfort through a companion that despite its inability to speak does not flee in terror from his presence. He feels that by holding on to the picture he will have some evidence of the luxurious life that he once had, but is unable to prove due to his appearance. Gregor feels that he is able to keep a piece of his past belongings then his hope of returning to normal will not perish. b) Father’s Uniform The uniform is a symbol of economic order. The father looks â€Å"as if he were ready for service at any moment and even here only at the beck and call of his superior. † Due to the family’s financial condition he has to reincorporate to the work force and has lost his own volition. The fact that he wears his uniform even at home represents that he is a slave to his job even at home. The only part of his uniform that is polished is the brass buttons which represent his absorption into the dehumanizing capitalist system. They stand out in his dirty uniform which symbolizes the degradation of the individual human core behind a job that is admired by society yet demolishes individuals personality. Just as humanity decays behind the demands of an exhausting job the uniform becomes covered with greasy stains behind the shining brass buttons. In the uniform, Mr. Samsa sleeps â€Å"in extreme discomfort yet quite peacefully. † The uniform causes discomfort and loss of individuality. Therefore, the uniform also represents how an individual by ignoring his own humanity and sacrificing himself entirely to the economic order can feel â€Å"at peace† at the cost of no longer being human. c) Gregor’s transformation One of the most insignificant creatures for human beings are the insects. If a person calls another individual â€Å"fly, ant, or insect† it is the same as stating that they are not important. Gregor’s transformation into an insect represents a reflection of his pre-existing feeling of insignificance. Gregor becomes despised by all of the humans that surround him including his family. Insects are repellent and filthy, and are viewed as something for the exterminator to take care of. Gregor’s transformation causes repulsion all around. He is not simply feared and loathed but he actually evokes disgust in others. Therefore, Gregor’s transformation symbolizes the degrading state that comes when an individual becomes too involved in their job they lose their human characteristic; because they are driven by ambition they do not realize what is truly important. His job has demanded so much from him that Gregor is unable to continue working because he has given everything he had to offer. What is left of him is unusable, so everybody despises him. d) Gregor’s Big Boss In the story the big boss is tyrannical and Gregor would gladly have quit his job if it had not been for his parent’s debt. The big boss â€Å"sits behind his desk, talking down to his employees. † He symbolizes the main controllers of capitalism who push humans to work hard until their strength is absolutely gone and then hire other employees to destroy their life in the same manner. Whenever they feel that a person has served their best they begin to threaten them and create false accusations in order to fire them from their jobs. . Kafka is able to make something that is impossible seem plausible by including details in the story that humans can connect with. For example, Gregor’s metamorphosis becomes reasonable through the internal conversation that he has with himself. He says, â€Å"Oh what a strenuous profession I’ve picked! Day in day, day out on the road. Is a lot more stressful than the work in the home office and along with everything else I also have to put up with these agonies of traveling † He expresses his hatred for a job that makes him travel a lot, causes stress on him, and makes him lose awareness of who he truly is. The reader can identify himself with Gregor’s situation since many people today feel that they are insignificant like bugs due to their loss of identity created by a job that they despise. The story also seems rational due to the sequence of events that follow Gregor’s transformation. For example, the mom â€Å"faints† when she is exposed to Gregor’s presence and the father become irate. Society views females as weak and males of bad tempered therefore their reactions seem very plausible to the reader. The fact that the family is worried about financial burdens helps the reader believe that the story is possible as well. The distance that exists among family members also serves as a detail that helps the reader believe that the story can be true. 10. The story, The Metamorphosis, is can be interpreted as biblical allusion to Jesus. There are several episodes that occur throughout the story in which the reader is reminded of Jesus death. For example, when Gregor’s dad roles â€Å"the rotten apple in his back† the story is alluding to the way that Jesus was whipped by the Roman soldiers who despised Jesus. Gregor’s dad repudiates his son’s appearance and attacks him. Mr. Samson represents the people who despised Jesus for being different. Gregor dies when the clock chimes three times, and according to biblical interpretation Jesus dies at three pm. According to the bible Jesus did not eat anything before he died, and Gregor decides to starve himself because he feels that he is a burden to his family. The charwoman â€Å"tried to tickle him† but when she saw that this had no effect she â€Å"poked him. † The way in which the corpse is violated reminds the reader of the way in which Jesus body was mutilated by the Roman soldiers after his death. Gregor’s death occurred in late March, which is the time in which Jesus was executed. Therefore the story can be interpreted by some to be a religious allegory by connecting it to Jesus death. 11. Grete represents and emerging artist who despite the obstacles that are placed before her she able to develop a skill that helps Gregor gain his human characteristics despite his physical condition. In the story when Gregor hears the violin he us touched in a completely new way. Kafka explains, â€Å"Gregor, drawn to the playing, had ventured a bit further out, so that his head was already sticking into the parlor. Only a true musician has the ability to capture the audience’s attention to the extent of having the desire of leaving their comfort zone. Though Gregor is literally an insect he is the only one who understands and feels the redeeming power of art. When he hears the violin his past and his love for his sister come back to him. Art saves him from his apathy remindin g him of what he has been missing his family. Unlike the insect Gregor in whom music bring out the best it is the other in failing to appreciate art, that are something less than human. 12. The economic effect on human relationships explained makes the story universal. Many families throughout the world view the person who provides for their financial needs as a source of income rather than a family member that needs love. In the story Gregor loses his identity because he has become imprisoned by his job. When he is no longer able to work he is neglected and despised. Once the family begins working they also have a difficult time communicating with each other. The evenings became â€Å"usually very hushed† and they would eat dinner â€Å"in silence. Many modern families throughout the world are unable to share dinner and converse with their family members due to demands of their jobs or school work. Some children view their over-working parents as a means for obtaining their materialistic desires rather than their dose of love and care. The exhaustion as a consequence of a dehumanizing job and the belief that people are valuable as long as they earn a salary kee ps anyone who works isolated from others and unable to establish human relations with them.