According to the psychodynamic perspective, why is the status of Grete's and Gregor's relationship important to the plot of Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis?

• A. It serves as a symbol of economic hardship and the family's financial dependence on Gregor.
• B. It reflects underlying unconscious conflicts and shifting family dynamics that drive Gregor's psychological transformation.
• C. It highlights the role of biological factors in Gregor's physical metamorphosis.
• D. It demonstrates the impact of external social pressures on Gregor's ability to maintain employment.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the psychodynamic perspective, which focuses on unconscious motives, internal conflicts, and family dynamics influencing behavior and psychological states.
2. Step 2: Analyze the relationship between Grete and Gregor in the story, noting how their interactions and changing attitudes reflect deeper emotional and psychological tensions within the family.
3. Step 3: Recognize that from a psychodynamic viewpoint, these shifting family dynamics and unconscious conflicts are crucial because they influence Gregor's mental and emotional state, contributing to his psychological transformation.
4. Step 4: Connect the symbolic meaning of their relationship to the plot, seeing it as a representation of internal struggles rather than just external factors like economic hardship or biological changes.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the importance of Grete and Gregor's relationship lies in how it reveals the unconscious conflicts and family dynamics that drive the narrative and Gregor's psychological changes.