droom, only rather too small, lay quiet between the four familiar walls (89).
Gregor does not rail against his fate but rather seems to accept it as his due. The matter-of-fact opening of the story is carried through in Gregor's acceptance of his change. Aside from the change itself, the most disturbing thing in the opening line is the reference to "uneasy dreams."
The regularity of Gregor's life to this moment is indicated by his thoughts concerning how he must be out of bed at a certain time in order to get to work as he has done every day of his life. As he lays in bed now, Gregor seems to sense a change not only in himself but in the way time passes as he ticks off every second, concerned about his inability to get out of bed and get to work. This concern also shows that the change in Gregor is more one of degree than kind. That is, he was
...