Gregor's bedroom has a rather high ceiling and feels very "open" to him now in his insect state, and this makes him quite anxious. Therefore, he attempts to scurry under the couch in his room, and though he does not quite fit under the couch, he feels "very comfortable" there nonetheless. His large, oval body is a bit too wide to get himself completely in place, and he finds that he cannot lift his head while he is wedged under this piece of furniture, but the smallness of the space seems to afford him more peace and comfort than the wide openness of the entire room. Gregor even finds that he is able to sleep more comfortably while wedged under the couch, and he is really only awakened by his own hunger when he dozes there for some time.

This preference for a much smaller, closer space does make sense, given the new physical form that Gregor's body has taken on. He is a giant insect, and insects do seem to prefer smaller, enclosed spaces rather than the big, open spaces of our rooms. One might find insects under furniture, in drawers or cabinets, or tucked into little nooks that seem to make them feel safer as well.