Grete's decision that Gregor has to "go" leads, in a way, to his death. It is
as if her repudiation of him is the final step in his transformation. When Grete tells her
father that he must "get rid" of the idea that the insect can be Gregor "(and
argues that, if it were Gregor, he would have realized that he could no longer live among humans
and left of his own accord), she is convincing herself of Gregor's subhuman status.
Gregor's reaction to this betrayal is oddly passive. He does not wish to create
problems for his family. He awkwardly retreats into his room, where Grete locks him in. Gregor
finds that he can no longer move; he dies peacefully a few hours later. He seems to have come to
accept his fate.
For the family, Gregor's death, while shocking, paves the
way for the family's improved circumstances. They get rid of their lodgers and decide to move to
a new apartment. Grete, released from having to care for Gregor, discovers that she is
beautiful, and the family looks forward to...
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