The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

verminous-of the nature of or resembling vermin.

of, pertaining to, or caused by vermin: verminous diseases.

infested with vermin, especially parasitic vermin:

commercial duties-The functions which are associated with production, finance, marketing, personnel and accounting are termed as commercial function.
obstacles-a thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress
flank-The side of a person's or animal's body between the ribs and the hip.


 After reading Kafka's Metamorphosis I had this feeling of pity for Gregor and a great disappointment in his parents. Gregor wakes up one day as a bug, based on the story and its hint into the past of Gregor's life I feel him turning into a bug is the final realization that even as a human he was treated as nothing more than a bug. A worker bee for his parents as they owed a debt to his boss. Gregor has been in the military and served his country and yet his parents seem to care only about the money he brings in to support them. In the story it specifically says "Those had been beautiful days, and they had never come back afterwards, at least not with the same splendour, in spite of the fact that Gregor later earned so much money that he was in a position to bear the expenses of the entire family, costs which he, in fact, did bear. They had become quite accustomed to it, both the family and Gregor as well. They took the money with thanks, and he happily surrendered it, but a special warmth was no longer present" As Gregor is accustomed to giving his money over to his parents and they happily take it, the time is still describes as the past. Those days when they had been given Gregor's money were beautiful days that had never come back. Now that he really is a bug he is useless, his parents greed and need for him to provide and work literally caused the final change of Gregor into how he is perceived as a human.