Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka

Metamorphosis

By Franz Kafka

  • Release Date: 1924-06-03
  • Genre: Fiction & Literature
Score: 4
4
From 4,446 Ratings

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

  • 5 stars

    5
    By 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

    5
    By eli5849
    A tragic tale that truly shows how a man is treated when he is no longer of any use.
  • Some changes are irreversible.

    5
    By niloysenior
    The 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

    5
    By wordbank frank
    Third reading of this marvelous little story.
  • Good

    5
    By thedreamer31
    Very wonderful and emotional book. RIP Franz Kafka
  • 1

    4
    By tufvng
    reminds me of silent hill 2 not because they are necessarily similar but if you’ve seen both i think you get it
  • 🤤

    5
    By (o^<^)
    something about gregor…
  • One of a kind

    4
    By sauidzeee
    I 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

    5
    By bug :33
    i love the song and also the book uh is good its sad but its interesting ^_^
  • Metamorphosis

    2
    By mynamesnotmary
    Mannnn 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. Yeesh