He approaches a cockroach in only one respect: his coloration is brown. That is all. Apart from this he has a tremendous convex belly divided into segments and a hard rounded back suggestive of wing cases. In beetles these cases conceal flimsy little wings that can be expanded and then may carry the beetle for miles and miles in a blundering flight. Curiously enough, Gregor the beetle never found out that he had wings under the hard covering of his back. {This is a very nice observation on my part to be treasured all your lives. Some Gregors, some Joes and Janes, do not know that they have wings.}
In this passage, Nabokov draws a comparison between a character named Gregor and a beetle, highlighting their shared brown coloration. However, he emphasizes that Gregor's physical attributes extend beyond this similarity, describing his body as having a convex belly and a hard back. The beetle's wings, hidden beneath its protective casing, symbolize untapped potential that Gregor remains oblivious to, indicating a disconnect between appearance and capability.
The observation suggests that just like some individuals in society, referred to as Gregors or Joes and Janes, may be unaware of their own strengths or abilities. Nabokov seems to imply that if people recognized their potential, akin to discovering hidden wings, they could soar beyond their current limitations. This reflection on self-awareness invites readers to contemplate their own latent qualities and possibilities for growth.