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...