Question Based on Kafka's Novel 'The Metamorphosis'
Moved by the Answer "I Love You No Matter What"
Recently, a trend has emerged where children ask their parents, "What would you do if I became a cockroach?" and share the responses on social networking services (SNS). The various answers from parents have consistently moved people to tears, drawing attention on the 12th.
On the afternoon of the 7th, around 4 PM, "cockroach" appeared on Twitter's real-time trending list. This was because the game of asking parents what they would do if their child became a cockroach spread like a trend.
The trend started when a Twitter user asked his mother, after reading Kafka's novel "The Metamorphosis," "What would you do if you woke up and I had become a cockroach?" His mother replied, "If I knew it was you, I would love you."
Seeing this, netizens began asking their own parents the same question and sharing the answers on online communities.
One netizen said, "If I became a cockroach, my parent said they would first confirm it was me and then make the most beautiful cage in the world and put me in it," adding, "They said they would put a ribbon on me and take me for walks."
Most parents answered that it would not be a problem because of their love. Many said that even if their child transformed into a disgusting form, they would love that form as well. Since a cockroach cannot do much alone, many mentioned they would take care of their child just like when they were young.
Another netizen shared, "Even if I became a cockroach, my father said he would instinctively recognize it right away," and "He said he would always carry the cockroach me close to his heart."
There were also answers like, "Since grown children often cannot be seen every day, if they became as small as a cockroach, they would carry them around daily."
"They want to spend most of their time together, going to work and taking walks."
Another netizen said, "I heard an answer that the parent would search on YouTube for 'how to make a cockroach happy,'" adding, "It’s cute to see parents realistically pondering this question."
One netizen who saw this trend said, "It seems people want to confirm whether a parent's unconditional love remains valid even after they grow up," and "The loving responses that come back in return are touching."
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