How does Gregor Samsa’s family respond to his transformation in The Metamorphosis?

In Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, the Samsa family’s response to Gregor’s transformation is characterized by initial shock, followed by increasing alienation, resentment, and eventual abandonment.1

Upon first seeing Gregor in his insectile form, his mother collapses, his father cries, and the family confines him to his bedroom. Initially, his sister, Grete, cares for him by bringing food and cleaning his room, but as the family’s financial situation worsens and their desperation grows, their treatment of him becomes increasingly harsh.1

The family eventually views Gregor as a burden and a "monster" rather than a relative. His father actively expresses hostility, at one point throwing apples at Gregor, one of which lodges in his back and causes a festering, crippling wound. Ultimately, Grete insists that they must get rid of the creature, arguing that if it were truly Gregor, he would have left them long ago. Following Gregor’s death, the family feels a sense of relief and hope for the future, quickly moving on with their lives and focusing on their own prospects.1