Metamorphosis
By Franz Kafka
- Release Date: 1924-06-03
- Genre: Fiction & Literature
Description
The Metamorphosis (German: Die Verwandlung, also sometimes translated as The Transformation) is a novella by Franz Kafka, first published in 1915. It has been cited as one of the seminal works of fiction of the 20th century and is studied in colleges and universities across the Western world. The story begins with a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, waking to find himself transformed (metamorphosed) into a large, monstrous insect-like creature. The cause of Samsa's transformation is never revealed, and Kafka never did give an explanation. The rest of Kafka's novella deals with Gregor's attempts to adjust to his new condition as he deals with being burdensome to his parents and sister, who are repulsed by the horrible, verminous creature Gregor has become.
Reviews
A scan of humanity
5By Andrea CarrilloIt’s easy to be good when rewarded. Not as much when your goodness is directed to a mindless beetle. Also poses the question, are we only deserving when useful to society? The clear answer can be seen in how Gregor family’s feelings transform from concern to hatred.Quick Read
5By 1290731908743Amazing story and can be read through very quickly!DECENT 4
4By Brian LeClairI really like this type of book. Kafka was able to create a captivating story and anxious atmosphere with very few wasted thoughts. He told enough to make the reader feel the character's pain, but leaved so much space for the reader to fill in the blanks. The story is streamlined and the emotions are powerful.5 stars
5By MoonSiren23“ Was he an animal if music could captivate him so? It seemed to him that he was being shown the way to the unknown nourishment he had been yearning for” It starts out a funny story a man named Gregor wakes up and realizes he’s turned into a giant insect. An absolute unit if you will. His first thought is being late to work. He has been working himself to death and believes this a side effect. Worrying about being late for work is understandably relatable especially because his family is relying on his support. Months go by and as he becomes of little use to anyone anymore they stop caring about him. As he lies sick and dying in his dirty hovel of a room listening to his family move on with their lives. It makes me incredibly sad. Too many times does this happen to people. As Gregor’s family further isolate him and alienate him he becomes more animal than man. They even go as far to mortally wound him. An interesting story on how much human interaction, pressure, societal pressures and obligation can truly weigh a person down.Tragic
5By eli5849A tragic tale that truly shows how a man is treated when he is no longer of any use.Some changes are irreversible.
5By niloyseniorThe book is one I should have read earlier. It teaches us that some changes are permanent, and there’s nothing you can do to reverse them. The sooner you realize, accept, and decide to move on, the better it is for you.Third Reading
5By wordbank frankThird reading of this marvelous little story.Good
5By thedreamer31Very wonderful and emotional book. RIP Franz Kafka1
4By tufvngreminds me of silent hill 2 not because they are necessarily similar but if you’ve seen both i think you get it🤤
5By (o^<^)something about gregor…One of a kind
4By sauidzeeeI picked up this book because I wanted something quick to read, but I am left totally empty after finishing this novel. A unique story that encapsulates the readers mind into inquiry and all consuming sadness. I often questioned how it would end and though I predicted it, I was still left devastated.um uh pjsekai samsa silly
5By bug :33i love the song and also the book uh is good its sad but its interesting ^_^Metamorphosis
2By mynamesnotmaryMannnn I really wanted to like this book, but I found myself absolutely trudging through it. The entire time I was feeling like okay c’mon wrap it up. It’s an elusive and a poetic play on the struggles of who’s someone being nursed, and someone doing the nursing (family dynamic). A story I can’t entirely relate to or have the means to care about (at least in this drawn out format). Shoulda coulda woulda recommended it as a short story. Yeeshzamuza
5By oasayza-za-zamuza <3 (Nightcord at 25:00 reference)Metamorphosis
5By toothpostVery disturbing.me too gregor
3By wiish i neverrrhow he died....so disappointedMan to animal – was he ever indeed a man?
3By LeonF63Perhaps you read this story as a teenager in high school as part of your college-bound reading list. I certainly did, remembering two things: a cockroach and an apple slice. The rest of the details had alluded to me until I re-read this as an adult. One morning, Gregor Samsa, awake from uneasy dreams, found himself transformed into a gigantic insect in his bed. Things only get worse from there. As you may imagine, the family is not thrilled with the appearance of a giant insect in one of the bedrooms. Fear, hesitation, and confusion are all present. What is the family to do? Kill it, feed it, maybe drive it outside and away from home. Gregor becomes a member to hide so that he doesn’t disgrace his family or cause a situation that decreases the family’s stature in their social circles. His inability to communicate with his family makes him an outsider in his own home; his life offers no joy or direction, and he is an alienated man.Better than bugs life
5By Dr. 7 SchwartzA very relatable storyDisturbing and Beautiful
5By stoneflyfishKafka writes the strangest of stories. Stories that never seen to provide tremendous peaks in drama but slow and bothersome narrative.
