After Gregor's death, his family makes prayers of thanksgiving to God. Then, Mr. Samsa evicts the family's three lodgers. Satisfied that they have done well for themselves, Gregor's family spends the day resting and going for a stroll. They each write letters to their respective employers and business clients to excuse themselves from work.
Next, Mr. Samsa decides to fire the family housekeeper that very evening. He tells his wife and daughter that he is interested in making a new beginning for the family. So, he will be focused on discarding or rejecting anything that serves as a reminder of their old life with Gregor.
After this satisfactory speech, the three take the train to the outskirts of the city. All three are in good spirits because their employment prospects are promising. They now realize that they will be able to rent a smaller and less expensive apartment in a better location, now that Gregor is dead. Gregor's parents also make private plans to engage their daughter to a suitable man. Sadly, Gregor's family does not think of him at all. They appear eager to move on with their lives and to forget their previous existence with Gregor.
Gregor's family also never discusses Gregor's strange transformation and his subsequent death. They are wholly focused on the present and show little appetite for introspection. Their behavior demonstrates their lack of empathy for others.
When the Samsa family learns of Gregor's death from the housekeeper, they first confirm it by watching as she moves Gregor's corpse with her foot. Mr. Samsa thanks God, and all three make the sign of the cross. They retreat into the parents' bedroom and cry "a little." When they emerge from the bedroom, Mr. Samsa evicts the three boarders, and the family watches on the landing as the men shuffle away. They decide that they need some time off, and all three write letters of excuse for themselves from work and school. The cleaning lady begins to tell them how she has disposed of Gregor's body, but Mr. Samsa cuts her off. He informs his wife and daughter that he will fire the housekeeper that evening. They take a streetcar into the country and talk about their future. They decide to move to a smaller, nicer flat, and Grete, the daughter, becomes lively. The parents recognize her beauty and promise, and the story ends.
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