Agustins points are quite valid. Also, when Kafka was ill later in his life it was his sister that cared for him throughout his illness. Although in the book the sister loses interest, in real life his sister stood by him until he died. I believe its a story of how Kafka seen his life playing out. The family mirrors Kafka's own real life family, A mom, dad, brother and sister all living together. Their attitudes are from Gregore(Kafka) view. A violent father, a reserved but silently caring mom, and a loving, caring and friendly sister who is the last to give up hope for her brother. The story ask the question, a lot of uncomfortable questions. What would happen in a capitalistic society if you where the "bread winner" then can no longer provide? What if this is because you went through "something?" What if that "something" was so strange no one could help? What if no one wanted to help? Kafka takes it to the point where "What if it was best for you to curl into a ball and die?" That's the goal i seen him working towards in the writing, Its also worth noting the the life of his family improves after Gregore's death. The writing is a true product of severe depression. However, it is an important piece of literature because the realistic aspect of the story the the death of one man supporting 3 people and himself may not financially ruin them but allow them to prosper in a way that would not have been possible without that persons death truly shows that no matter how important your life or your work may be to you and so many people, losing you may be the best thing to ever happen to so may people that you care about. With that said, Who's life has any meaning? Who's life is important? Is life important? A great piece of extensional should raise all these questions; often with uncomfortable answers. That's a lot to digest, but to answer your question about the meaning of the book its worth noting this isn't a fable with a wise lesson in some virtue to take from it. Kafka was basically going for your life is meaningless, my life is meaningless, and sometimes the best thing you can do is curl into a ball and die so that others can be free of your burden. His goal was to make you experience this "better off dead" scenario through the protagonist. Maybe so the reader feels his pain, maybe because he was a twist individual, maybe because he thought it was an unexplored plot and that what writers do. Your guess is as good as anyone else. Its also worth noting that one can argue(and many others have) the the "moral" is that capitalism is bad and creates empty, dull, meaningless relationships that all revolve around money. Family and coworkers is all the social interactions Gegore has and they all just want him to work and provide for them. Once he can not do that he is useless to them. If your looking for a moral this is the closest thing you're going to find.
What would happen in a capitalistic society if you where the "bread winner" then can no longer provide? What if this is because you went through "something?" What if that "something" was so strange no one could help? What if no one wanted to help?
Kafka takes it to the point where "What if it was best for you to curl into a ball and die?" That's the goal i seen him working towards in the writing, Its also worth noting the the life of his family improves after Gregore's death.
The writing is a true product of severe depression. However, it is an important piece of literature because the realistic aspect of the story the the death of one man supporting 3 people and himself may not financially ruin them but allow them to prosper in a way that would not have been possible without that persons death truly shows that no matter how important your life or your work may be to you and so many people, losing you may be the best thing to ever happen to so may people that you care about.
With that said, Who's life has any meaning? Who's life is important? Is life important?
A great piece of extensional should raise all these questions; often with uncomfortable answers.
That's a lot to digest, but to answer your question about the meaning of the book its worth noting this isn't a fable with a wise lesson in some virtue to take from it. Kafka was basically going for your life is meaningless, my life is meaningless, and sometimes the best thing you can do is curl into a ball and die so that others can be free of your burden. His goal was to make you experience this "better off dead" scenario through the protagonist. Maybe so the reader feels his pain, maybe because he was a twist individual, maybe because he thought it was an unexplored plot and that what writers do. Your guess is as good as anyone else.
Its also worth noting that one can argue(and many others have) the the "moral" is that capitalism is bad and creates empty, dull, meaningless relationships that all revolve around money. Family and coworkers is all the social interactions Gegore has and they all just want him to work and provide for them. Once he can not do that he is useless to them. If your looking for a moral this is the closest thing you're going to find.