The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka- The most disturbing book in literature?
Imagine this- you wake up and find out that somehow, you’ve been turned into an insect and your first thought isn’t “what’s happening to me”, but rather “how do I get to work”.
That’s the exact opening premise of Franz Kafka’s book, “The Metamorphosis”, which was originally published in 1915 but has recently gained high popularity in online circles and amongst general readers.
So, lets see what this story is actually about, what themes it explores, whether this is a good book to add to your reading list, and why it’s still popular more than a hundred years after it first reached bookstores.
Spoiler-Free Summary
“The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka is a story of a travelling salesman called Gregor Samsa, who seems to somehow have turned into an insect overnight.
The entire story is a contained narrative of Gregor Samsa’s life confined in his home with his family after the incident. The entire narrative revolves around the effects of this bizarre event on his own life and that of his family members-his mother, father, and sister.
However, after the immediate shock of being turned into a human-sized anthropod, the story explores the aftermath of this predicament- how his life has changed completely, how his priorities seem to differ as even his mental worldview slowly shrinks down to his restricted dwellings, and most importantly, how his relationship with his own loved ones changes and evolves. It shows the shift in family dynamics once a key member is unable to perform their natural role.
What the transformation really means
One of the more deliberately vague and widely discussed aspects right from the beginning of the book is the fact that we never really know how or why Gregor’s metamorphosis actually happens, which illustrates an important thematic cornerstone of the book that is quite necessary to know before reading it.
As the book progresses, the focus isn’t on what actually happened overnight and what the transformation exactly is, but rather the impact of Gregor’s incapacity to perform his duties to the family- the very premise is that Gregor’s entire life revolves around providing for his family as the breadwinner and deal with the family’s financial burdens and debts. Even as he first finds himself acting strangely as he wakes up, his ongoing inner thoughts are that of his job and his finances.
This makes it clear that “The Metamorphosis” uses the transformation into the insect not as a literal supernatural or science fiction device, but as a symbolic representation of Gregor’s predicament. There are many interpretations for this that work in their own way- for example, many regard that the cockroach symbolises the dehumanising effect of current economic systems and overwork on a person, or the alienation of Gregor from the rest of his family.
My personal interpretation is that the metamorphosis symbolises the happening of an accident or an illness that brings a major change in the life of the main provider and those dependent on them. This kind of change is such that it leaves them unable to perform their role, and quite frankly I feel that this aligns with how Gregor’s new life is described, which is analogous to that of someone going through a sickness or having been injured in any way.
The real “Metamorphosis” in the story
The title itself, “The Metamorphosis” on first sight seems to refer to the literal metamorphosis, however, as one reads the book there is arguably another “metamorphosis” going on throughout that’s a lot more subtle in nature.
The changing relationship between Gregor and his mother, father, and sister is actually the real metamorphosis. Their perception of him seems to change across the story, whether it be for the better or for the worse. In fact, these characters are as central to the story as Gregor himself, showcasing parallels to probable changes that happen in real life situations as well when the main earning member is unable to provide and becomes partially or fully reliant for one reason or another on their family- how the family shares their responsibility of Gregor and how the financial situation becomes reliant on multiple members rather than a singular provider.
Conclusion + Is this the right book for you
“The Metamorphosis”, for me has to be one of the most enjoyable classic books I’ve read recently, and it isn’t quite demanding; standing at around 70-80 pages in most editions. So if you’re new to classics or want to read something that’s not as demanding, this book is definitely something you’ll enjoy. If you enjoy or are willing to explore books revolving around philosophy, existentialism and sociology, I’d definitely recommend it to you.
Kafka’s writing style, personally, I something I really enjoyed in this specific book as it depicts events that can be shown as outright terrifying or even tragic without making it seem overtly grave ad at the same time, not alienating the reader from the characters entirely. It somehow puts you in a spot where you can process the story and the meanings behind it without either diminishing the effect of the other.
Overall, as a reader I can give the book a definite
9/10
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