The Metamorphosis

Kafka's famous novella is a quick and lively read, able to be consumed in a single sitting. A story about a man who awakens one morning to find himself morphed into a giant insect and the reaction of his family and other acquaintances. It is a tragic story, a story of what happens when someone no longer conforms to societal expectations and finds himself an outsider in a world where he used to belong. It's also an interesting study in the changes that have occurred in literature over the past century. Any editor or creative writing instructor today would refuse to accept this classic work because it doesn't fit the "rules" of writing. Perhaps that should be a lesson to those who would impose arbitrary rules; Kafka has written a masterpiece.

I just finished Franz Kafka’s seminal novella, The Metamorphosis. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the story of Gregor, waking to find himself transformed into an insect; and I was pleasantly surprised. Not only does it go through the struggles of this mysterious change for Gregor, but the intense effect it has on his parents and sister. This is a quick read, a little strange, very dark but thought provoking at the same time. A lot of people get dragged into reading this book for high-school (mainly in America) and as a result may end up hating this book. But there really is a lot of literary merit to this book, and I can see why people are made to study it.

Metamorphosis is a novella written by Franz Kafka. It's a tragic parable about a man who wakes up as an insect and the subsequent exclusion from society and eventually, his family.
This is so wonderfully written and paced and the message, so strong in its dark tones, is very balanced with the narrative, making it a pleasure to read.
In trying to find a similar work, I can think only of Orwell's "Animal Farm", with its strong message also perfectly intertwined with it's narrative. The difference is I find Kafka's writing style more alluring, more poignant.

I opened it, planning to read only a bit of the beginning and ended up reading all of it without getting up from the chair.
I suspect I'll be reading this many more times.

great novella. Amazing how you can develop such empathy for an insect!

A very realistic story about a completely unrealistic event. I love how Kafka describes an absurd occurrence like it's a very natural thing and nothing to be surprised at, and how he gives a completely realistic account of the consequences and behaviour of the people involved.

A story that is short enough to read in a couple of hours, yet interesting and bizarre enough to stay with you for a lifetime. Amount gained from reading is incredible when compared to the short amount of time it takes to read.

I was disgusted and riveted.

Pretty crazy book. Guy turns into giant cockroach, nearly tears his family apart, grosses out readers across the world.

“When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin.” Ya gotta love that opening line. Who hasn’t felt acute alienation from the world? That one is an outcast and is isolated to the point of being despised and ugly? Gregor the bug is Kafka the artist and Kafka the man. And Kafka was troubled: “If there were not these ghastly sleepless nights, I would not write at all. But in this way I am always conscious of my dark solitary confinement.” And: “Art for the artist is only suffering through which he releases himself for further suffering.”Gregor has difficulty living up to the expectations of his father, has a tyrant for a boss, and feels guilt and shame. Published in 1915, these are modern, existential thoughts as Gregor/Kafka attempts to cope with what seems like a suffocating, absurd world. It’s a little sad that Kafka was so tortured that these thoughts were in his head; I wonder what his domineering father thought when he read this book, and if he felt ashamed.Despite all of that great angst and the creativity that went into the concept of a man turning into a bug, I had only a lukewarm reaction to the book, and for me it’s downhill after that first line. It is an important book and one that you should probably read once in your life, but I also think it’s a bit over-analyzed. In the edition I have, for example, there a 12 page introduction, the 55 page text, and then 135 pages of notes, analysis, and letters. Don’t get me wrong, I normally love that type of thing, Norton Critical Editions and all of that, but here the commentary often seems “off” in the sense of being over-thought.

My understanding of the grand metaphor at play here is Kafka's feelings of alienation in his being absorbed by the creative act of writing. Thanks to this use of metaphor rather than a literal telling, this story could represent anyone's abruptly becoming their family's black sheep (or 'monstrous vermin', rather) for any reason - a new religious or philosophical conviction, a homosexual who comes out of the closet, or any other event that causes a sudden rift between oneself and one's family, to the extent the people you love and live with feel like they scarcely know you anymore. The stages are there: their initial reaction of horror and the shutting down of communication, grudgingly giving way to the family's sense of duty to acknowledge even its strangest family member, and then ... I'd imagine there's a few different paths after that. Maybe they can reconcile and accept, or maybe not.From Gregor's perspective there's the problem of his no longer being able to communicate with his family in return. He can no longer explain his wants or desires in any language they will understand because he has become entirely alien to them, and so he discovers his own ebbing of empathy for their perspective as well, like a memory in the act of being forgotten. This might be a good classic for adolescents, who so often feel isolated or misunderstood by their family (assuming it's properly introduced.) I read it while ill, an event that tends to skew one's priorities and values and so gave me my own way of relating - the sick invalid who temporarily lacks the same cares as his family around him, shut up in his room and not to be disturbed. Some parts were darkly humorous, but I can't say I found it comforting.

I was inspired to read Kafka by listening to and unexpectedly enjoying 'Kafka the Musical' on BBC Radio 4. I downloaded the David Wyllie translation of 'The Metamorphosis' onto my Kindle for free from Project Gutenberg, and I'm very glad I did. The situation - man wakes up to find himself transformed into a giant beetle - must have seemed even more bizarre one hundred years ago than in these strange times; but from this unlikely premise, and in the space of a modest novella, Kafka provides a wealth of satirical comedy and pathos. The selfless and ultimately tragic hero Gregor Samsa leaves an indelible impression on the reader. The great sadness of the story lies in the fact that his family seem more concerned with the indelible stains left by his spoor on the bedroom wall. If, like me, you are late in coming to this great story I recommend you put it at the top of your to-read pile.

Not the kind of story I usually read, but it kept my interest. I found this story to be funny in places, and a little sad.Gregor Samsa "woke up one morning from unsettling dreams" and "found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin". This is how the story starts, with its climax. The rest of the story goes on to tell about Gregor's new life as a bug, and how he and his family react.I am glad I read this story.

Strange, not quite what I expected. I felt so sorry for poor Gregor - so selfless and yet, unappreciated by his family as a person. Then despised and seen as a burden once he can't support them all. I was disappointed that his parents and sister could so quickly forget that he was their son and brother and sole provider for years. Especially since he was beholden to the company he worked for only because of his parents' debt. Although Gregor didn't grasp how little his family thought of him through most of the story, I was glad he didn't or his feelings would have been even more hurt.I don't like bugs, especially roaches, so parts of the story grossed me out. But is was well worth the read!

“This was my first time reading Franz Kafka’s ‘The Metamorphosis’. My particular course of study did not encompass works of a philosophical nature, so this is new to me. For those of you that have not read The Metamorphosis, I don’t want to get into too much detail, as I think it would spoil the impact that the book would have on you from the get go. Further to that, try not to Google it or read too much about it prior to picking it up- I promise you, the result will definitely be thought provoking, at the very least. In fact, I read that Kafka insisted that the main subject matter not be printed on the cover of the book- so as not to spoil the effect.After I finished reading it I wasn’t really sure what I thought about it but after having a couple of days to ponder it- I’ve decided that I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed Kafka’s writing style; it was very simplistic and straight forward. Another aspect of the story that I liked was that the climax was at the beginning of the novel and the story develops from there. The protagonist’s reaction to ‘the metamorphosis’ itself was interesting to me, in the sense that there was no apparent alarm there and ‘the metamorphosis’ was seen in the most pragmatic terms, all things considering. I think ‘Metamorphosis’ was Kafka’s view of human nature, how we tend to deny or bury unpleasantness and excuse our bad behaviour, especially with the support of others within our group or circle that happen to be guilty of the same bad behaviour and how society will come to terms, and even to accept injustices done to others. I think also, it could be symbolic of Kafka’s own family experience? It’s a quick little novella that would take you no time at all to read

A classic read - I really didn't know what to expect, but I'm glad I read it. Clever and unique.

Loved it. I can't really put it any better than that. I grabbed it as a public domain ebook and read the thing on my lunch break. Darkly humorous, absurd yet relatable, and almost painfully mundane.

What a great story! Kafka's symbolism is absolutely fantastic. A master. I hope to read more of his work soon.

Very interesting first half, wondering what would happen next, but the ending was not a satisfying resolution for me.

Probably the first thing you learn when you start a creative writing program is that you never ever start a novel with: "When I woke up this morning ...". Kafka's Metamorphosis starts with essentially that, but not in first person perspective. A clerk/office worker/ salesman wakes up one morning transformed into a bug. Most likely a cockroach, but whichever insect he transformed into isn't mentioned, and isn't important. His entire life Gregor Samsa has worked hard to support his mother, father and younger sister. He diligently accepts any task his office assigns to him and he does not spend a single penny of his earnings on himself. His first thought after waking up isn't: what the hell just happened to me, instead his first source of panic is the fact that he can't take care of his family anymore and that he can't fulfill his assigned social role. From the beginning of the novel the main character's reaction gives the text a humorous overtone, which does slowly dissipates as you get towards the ending. During the reading of the novel I felt that Kafka teases those who pick up the book to come up with possible conclusions, none of which are as depressing or as surprising as the one actually featured.The Metamorphosis is a novel that many scholars have studied for a long time and for which they have given many explanations and analyses. Granted the short story is written as a tease for intellectuals. But I'm not sure the text warrants this. One glaring piece of evidence comes from the edition of the book I read, in which scholars argue that the main character's name Gregor Samsa is an anagram for Kafka. In the same edition we find an account of Kafka in dialog with a friend who asked him about this idea upon which the great author responded: don't be absurd that's utter nonsense.Some argue that the novel is a form of social criticism in which Kafka magnifies roles and stereotypes to show the absurd expectations of the cultural atmosphere at the time. Gregor is a hard worker who does not question the tyranny and unrealistic expectations of his family and colleagues, a battle he can not win. For his blindness he is punished by being transformed into the physical incarnation of his family's already existing scorn. His eventual lot is to succumb to his unquestioned acceptance of his role and live out the lifeline laid out for vermin.

We all undergo transformations throughout our lives which changes our perspective, our behavior and the way we see others. It can also radically change the ways in which our friends, family and acquaintances see us. This Kafka novella takes this premise to the extreme, and asks what would happen if one were to transform into the most hideous thing possible- a giant repulsive bug. One could substitute almost anything for the bug analogy and the story would seem just as relevant. This is a remarkable experiment in creative fiction that has not aged one bit.

Better than I remembered. Gregor transformed from a miserable drone working for an unappreciative family and an unappreciative employer into a miserable bug who is forced to hide in his room from his family. This family, little by little, transforms themselves into actual living creatures. All get jobs, all "come out" of their shells (bad pun), all improve. Only Gregor declines and dies, never once feeling any resentment toward those who transformed him from a person into a bug by their parasitic dependence. Fantastic story, incredible matter-of-fact narration.

I loved this! It was heart-breaking, but still good, nonetheless. I love how it starts out with Gregor waking up as a "bug" and then just mildly taking notice, more concerned about how he needs to get up because he is late for work. I also love how Kafka doesn't try to explain how Gregor woke up this way; he just takes the idea and runs with it. Absolutely wonderful.

A man wakes up one day to find he has been changed into a large insect/beetle. The story follows his efforts to deal with this, and his family's reaction to the change. But it's not just a story about a man turning into a beetle, it's a clever way of writing about how a family would deal with the main breadwinner in the house becoming unable to work, and also on a wider scope, the way a family (and the world at large) reacts to someone who is disabled, or terminally ill. It could also be an analogy for how a family treats a member of the family who is now old and needs to be cared for. The man who is now a beetle, is forced to live in his room, shut away from the world, for fear that he will frighten anyone who enters the house. The man who once provided for the family, and thought of them above himself, has now become a burden on them, as they are now short of money, and have to find employment. The once able and hard-working man, transformed into a beetle, is now rejected, and his family blame him for their financial situation and the fact that they cannot move to a smaller house, because they need to have a room to keep him in.The descriptive quality of the writing is excellent, and although it is a sad and gruesome tale, it is also very funny in parts; I couldn't help laughing out loud a couple of times.The main thing that struck me, was that even though this story is nearly 100 years old, it is still totally relevant to today's world (and I'm not sure that's something we should be proud of).

            Throughout time, the great reads occasionally change and morph from one generation to the next, one century to another; however, some works of literature have withstood the test of time with miraculous vigor.  One of these exceedingly antiqued pieces is The Metamorphosis, a bizarre web spun for us by Franz Kafka.  Although originally concieved in Austria-Hungary nearly a century ago, The Metamorphosis has been affecting lives and, through them, history, all this time.  As long as readers continue to recognize the timeless truth revealed in The Metamorphosis about both humanity and life, people will continue to ponder over it and assign a meaning of their own.There is much debate over the purpose of Gregor's transformation in Kafka's abstract masterpiece and despite the ambiguity (and universality) of such a piece, many critics claim a self appointed truth.  However, as a reader, difficulty becomes stressed upon the necessity to form unique and valued opinions even when alternative realities presented without question bombard said reader at every turn.  The sheer obscurity of The Metamorphosis alone is enough to topple anyone's perspective of the difference between dreams and reality, and yet even that is made abundantly clear by the second paragraph of Kafka's slim novella: "It was no dream" (Kafka 3). Although Kafka’s intent may seem clear, settling down with the idea that perhaps The Metamorphosis lives in a setting with it's own standard of universal normalcies causes discomfort.  Alas, Kafka provides no explanation for Gregor's unexpected transformation, and rather strands the reader after sentence one.  "When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed. . .into a monstrous vermin" (Kafka 3).  Unlike the typical style of writing, Kafka introduces the climax of his masterpiece in the first sentence of the novella and leaves the rest of the story to gradual degeneration.  Not to say that Kafka's writing is, in any way, less superior throughout the rest of The Metamorphosis, but rather that the highest point in the plot is Gregor’s transformation from human to bug; nothing from the remainder of the novella tops that.  But the point remains that finding an anchoring idea from The Metamorphosis is challenging; the conflict between knowledge and reality remain extraordinarily pertinent but are left for the reader to decide based on their own standards.In order to decipher any meaning from The Metamorphosis, the reader must first question the reality and knowledge of the Samsa household.  In our realm of reality, waking up as a bug is considered an impossibility, yet when Gregor is first revealed to his family they appear to recognize him as their son and brother.   It is clear that although Gregor states that he is a dung-beetle, the family recognizes him as the person they have always known: "Let me go to Gregor, he is my unfortunate boy!"  (Kafka 31).  In the novella's closing commentary, Luke states that Kafka succeeded in creating a bitter reality in The Metamorphosis by reminding his readers that the responses of those around Gregor "are always psychologically 'true'" (Corngold 67).  One could draw from this that there is a possibility that Gregor has not gone through any transformation at all and is merely suffering from a series of delusions.  Binion repeatedly validates this idea, stating that "It all falls within the narrative convention, corresponding as it does to the hero's ironic attitude toward his own symptoms" (Corngold 64).  However, the theory of delusion also has its gaps.  If one were to assume that no real transformation has occurred, and perhaps suspect another alternative –for example, Gregor's metamorphosis as a metaphor for sickness– then one would have to deal with the parts of text that treat Gregor in distinctly animalistic ways.  Not only is Gregor literally sleeping under a couch, but the Samsa family simply does not treat Gregor like a human. Upon Gregor's first appearance from his room, his father has the sole intention of causing harm to Gregor; "...and stamping his feet, started brandishing the cane and the newspaper to drive Gregor back into his room" (Kafka 18).  This act of violence suggests that Gregor does not merely believe himself to be a bug, but rather has gone through a physical transformation.  But it is not just the father who treats Gregor with cruelty.  Although the women of the house do not commit crimes of such brutality, they still occur.  Midway through the novella, Gregor accuses all three family members of ceasing communication with him: "...not a soul had addressed a word directly to him" (Kafka 33).  Gregor says this, and other similar ideas, with bitterness toward his family for his new found treatment.  But surely if Gregor is merely sick, the family would do all that they could to comfort him, and yet they do not.  Gregor's narrative also supports this conclusion of Gregor's remaining sanity; not only does Gregor describe his bug-like characteristics, but also his daily activities which all indicate that his transformation is literal and real.  After a short adjustment period, Gregor is eating garbage, climbing on walls and supporting a festering apple in his "armored" back. So why then -one must ask themself- has Gregor gone from a Family Supporting Salesman to a Dung-Beetle in the course of a night?  This question has troubled many scholars even if the Samsa's are not particularly bothered by it.  Reader responses vary with individual perspectives, however the main ideas revolve around analyzing The Metamorphosis as either a tale of religious interpretation, or that of Kafka's autobiography.  Weinberg views The Metamorphosis in religious perimeters but also considers Gregor's transformation as incredibly negative, which he supports with the original translation of the German word used to describe Gregor, namely "an unclean animal not suited for sacrifice" (Corngold 66).  It should also be noted that although Gregor does his best to make his existence as an insect painless for his household, he is slowly banned from all contact with the other members of his family.  Weinbergh also mentions that he sees the religious references as "a literary play with the religious connotations of [Kafka's] images" (Corngold 63).  And after studying Kafka's diary entries from the time, Corngold adds that "Kafka's deepest concern in 1912 is for literature and not for religion..." (Corngold 63).  Holland however was able to find numerous biblical references in his reading of The Metamorphosis: "The description of Gregor's boss has breadth enough to apply not just to a petty office tyrant, but even to an Old Testament God...  Read this way, the debt that Gregor assumed for his parents and must pay resembles original sin"  (Corngold 73).  Although this interpretation is extreme for some readers, Holland does bring up a fair point that, like Christ, Gregor gives up his life and could arguably be dying for the sins of others.After studying Kafka's diary entries for himself, Sokel provided perhaps the strongest evidence that The Metamorphosis was meant as a biography: "The position of Gregor's room is, by the way, an exact duplicate of the position of Franz Kafka's room in the apartment of Herr Hermann Kafka..." Sokel goes on to quote an excerpt from Kafka's diary in 1912 that states, "When I lay on the sofa [I hear] the loud talking in the room on either side of me, by the women on the left, by the men on the right..." (Corngold 69).  The members of both Kafka's and Gregor's families communicate through his room "as if [he] were not a human being at all or in any case not an adult, a situation which actually becomes a reality with his transformation" (Corngold 69).    And so it becomes increasingly apparent that perhaps Kafka was merely depicting his own life and his self image through The Metamorphosis: his family relations, self-value, and the way he views his role in the family.  If that is the case, then it is easy to conclude  how demeaned one in that position might feel in relation to their family.  The extreme lack of affection and respect (particularly demonstrated by his father) causes great pain to both Gregor and Franz Kafka.  But more similarities between Kafka's life and The Metamorphosis exist, as Dalmau Castanon points out: "Gregor's 'slight dull pain' is one of several signs pointing to a concealed symptomatology of tuberculosis within The Metamorphosis" (Corngold 71) and it is noted through historical references that Franz Kafka had already been afflicted with tuberculosis in 1912 which would eventually kill him. The debate continues over right and wrong, but with a well-rounded understanding, one can easily communicate and sympathize with one another's opinions.  Religion, family, and Kafka himself all play a role in deciphering The Metamorphosis, but ultimately there is no grand conclusion, no final answer.  Until a time has come that we can all hold different opinions in peace, I'm afraid that we must stick to the Reader's Response theory of analytical critique, after all, The Metamorphosis means nothing to me if I had never assigned it meaning. 

I really did enjoy "The Metamorphosis." I found it packed a lot of power for a such a short story, but it's so open for interpretation I recommend you read it before you read reviews hinting at what to think of it.On face value 'The Metamorphosis' just seems bizarre, and, like another reviewer said, the more you read and think about the story the more you begin to appreciate it. I have admit I cried- but only a few tears escaped while I was actually reading it. What was odd was that I really cried while I was answering a few questions on it for school (I choose it - so reading it didn't feel like a chore) and began to interpret it for myself.I was touched by Gregor's amazing devotion to his family, and felt as if his metamorphosis was some sort of catalyst for change in his family. I see it as story of sacrifice, a brother and son giving up on his on well-being to benefit the family he loves. The family that cannot overcome his "monsterous" form. It was almost like a fairy tale with an ending both happy and sad. I read most of the story in the hope that Gregor would wake one day to find it was all a dream, I even nurtured a suspicion that the heartless charwomen was some sort of witch which had imprisoned Gregor in this creature's body, and would release one day with a snap of her fingers.I actually read the Minerva edition "Metamorphosis and other stories," so haven't read the essays in this Classics edition (which- as a note... I really don't think there should be a picture on the cover. I agree with Kafka, let the reader decide). But it some ways I don't want to read a whole lot of crictical material. I think Metamorphosis is just so open to interpretation, so whether I'm academically wrong or right, it would be nice for my own thoughts on it not to be fused with others that I may not understand. Post-modernism?

I generally dislike reading translations, but I decided after some deliberation that learning German just to read Kafka was more work than I was willing to put in. This short story seemed like a good entry into this famous writer’s world. From the first sentence, I was surprised, not by the fact that Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, wakes up to find himself transformed into a bug—something I already knew about—but rather by Michael Hofmann’s (the translator of this Penguin edition) choice of words: “When Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from troubled dreams, he found himself changed into a monstrous cockroach in his bed.” As I understand it from the research I’ve done, Kafka used a German word that was much more vague and certainly did not specify what kind of bug Gregor had become. As it happens, cockroaches happen to be the most despicable type of bug while beetles are much more benign to me, this description therefore coloured my entire reading of the story.Before reading the story I thought that the storyline was that Samsa discovers himself transformed into a bug and is completely horrified but then his family, coworkers and strangers aren't the least bit perturbed by his monstrous appearance and he carries on his life “as usual” except he’s a giant bug. I suppose this too would have made a good story—if it hasn’t already—but one quite different from Kafka’s original tale. My erroneous expectations took nothing away from the experience for me and in fact, I found this story could be read on many different levels. For instance, one could easily conclude that this book was a commentary on antisemitism, which was rife in 1915, the year this book was first published, and/or that Kafka was perhaps working out issues of self-hatred or that it was an omen of things to come with the rise of Nazism in the 1930’s when the depiction of Jews as monstrous vermin became ubiquitous in Nazi propaganda. Then again, maybe Kafka didn’t mean to convey anything else than the story itself at face value, which still leaves us with plenty to ponder.An entertaining story with profound impact.