The Metamorphosis in Never too Late to Read Classics

Apr 18, 2016 Sara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: classics

Hard to really say I "liked" this story, although it was a short and easy read. Kafka's penchant for absurdity is presented at its height in this story of Gregor Samsa, a salesman, who awakens changed overnight into a huge insect. No one questions how this happens or why, only what effect it will have on their circumstances. Any sympathy the family feel for Gregor dissipates almost immediately and he becomes a burden to the family that he has singlehandedly provided for up until the change. I mu ...more

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Jan 20, 2023 Delirious Disquisitions rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, literature-required-reading

I quite like this edition of Metamorphosis despite the very ugly cover. Apart from the main text, it also has notes on the translation, excerpts from some of Kafka's contemporary writers that might have inspired his work, some letters from Kafka (I especially adore the ones he wrote to his fiance), and some critical essays. This edition is very beginner friendly and does well enough to provide the reader with some context and starting research material, although I do wish footnotes were included I quite like this edition of Metamorphosis despite the very ugly cover. Apart from the main text, it also has notes on the translation, excerpts from some of Kafka's contemporary writers that might have inspired his work, some letters from Kafka (I especially adore the ones he wrote to his fiance), and some critical essays. This edition is very beginner friendly and does well enough to provide the reader with some context and starting research material, although I do wish footnotes were included for the actual text.

Reading Metamorphosis was an incredibly sad experience and one that I wasn't quite prepared for. It is the story of a man, Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one day to find that he’s turned into an insect of some sort. In the midst of his growing horror at the absurdity of the situation Gregor attempts to re-configure his life as he is transformed from the primary breadwinner to an invalid who is entirely dependent on his family for sustenance. As time goes on, Gregor becomes an object of disgrace to his family, an outsider in his own home, a quintessentially alienated man.

Metamorphosis is a harrowing—though absurdly comic—meditation on human feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and isolation. Gregor is the embodiment of Eldest Child and I might have projected a lot of myself onto him. He struggles to handle the financial burdens of his family, working as a salesman in an increasingly capitalistic society. In the midst of the horror and confusion of his physical transformation, Gregor is also driven by guilt and anxiety at his inability to work and be a “productive member of society” and the gradual alienation of his family as he quickly turns from an object of sympathy to a burden.

Despite the seemingly absurd and humorous nature of story, Metamorphosis is a rumination on much heavier themes such as alienation, the disconnect between mind and body, the stark reality of capitalism, alienation/ forced isolation from society, loss of identity, disability and the limits of sympathy, the yearning for freedom in escapism, etc. As we see the world through Gregor’s discombobulated perspective, we are witness to his spiraling anxiety, his fear and confusion at his inability to communicate with his family, his anguish at their growing resentment towards him and eventual cruel treatment leading to forced starvation, isolation, and neglect. The vague and sometimes contradictory descriptions of the house, where much of the action takes place, and the surroundings add to the sense of claustrophobia, anxiety, and unease.

It is quite incredible how much of what Kafka has written still resonates with readers today. Everything from his journal entries to his letter display a kind of vulnerability and doubt that are still very much relatable. I wasn’t quite in the right headspace reading this when I did, but if nothing else, it has convinced me to read more of Kafka's letters and diaries. I've actually grown quite fond of him.

5 stars for these wretched feelings.
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I just found this to be so incredibly sad. Gregor is the embodiment of the Oldest Child Syndrome and I might have projected a lot of myself onto him. 4 stars for these wretched feelings. P.s. I need to find time to read up on some of the critical essays on this. ...more

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Mar 19, 2020 Shirley (stampartiste) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: challenge-bingo-2020, read-classics

Oh wow! First of all, Kafka's writing style was flawless. I read A Hunger Artist by him last year, and it was pretty disturbing. But The Metamorphosis was such a disturbing story on so many levels: (view spoiler) ...more

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Aug 19, 2020 Radwa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, horror, adult, magical-realism, classics, translations, around-the-world, dark-and-gothic

English review below.
Around the World project: Czech Republic.

تجربتي الأولى مع الكتب الصوتية، وتأكدت أنها مش طريقتي الأمثل للقراءة. رواية غريبة وعجيبة، وأعتقد أن بدايتها وأول جملة فيها والصراع اللي بنشوفه في الجزء الأول كانوا من الحاجات المفضلة لي. سمعت الكتاب صوتي وأعتقد أن ده كان ليه دور في نقل الحالة. الرواية زي ما كتير يعرفوا بتتكلم عن جريجور سامسا اللي بيصحى من نومه في أحد الأيام ويلاقي أنه تحول لحشرة مقززة، وبنشهد في البداية ازاي مش بيتقبل ده وبيكون شغله الشاغل ازاي يلحق ميعاد الشغل من غير English review below.
Around the World project: Czech Republic.

تجربتي الأولى مع الكتب الصوتية، وتأكدت أنها مش طريقتي الأمثل للقراءة. رواية غريبة وعجيبة، وأعتقد أن بدايتها وأول جملة فيها والصراع اللي بنشوفه في الجزء الأول كانوا من الحاجات المفضلة لي. سمعت الكتاب صوتي وأعتقد أن ده كان ليه دور في نقل الحالة. الرواية زي ما كتير يعرفوا بتتكلم عن جريجور سامسا اللي بيصحى من نومه في أحد الأيام ويلاقي أنه تحول لحشرة مقززة، وبنشهد في البداية ازاي مش بيتقبل ده وبيكون شغله الشاغل ازاي يلحق ميعاد الشغل من غير ما حد يشوف هيئته الجديدة الغريبة.

من خلال سامسا، بنتعرف على عائلته من أخته اللي تقريبا تعد سنده الوحيد في العائلة لحد ما تقرر أن معدش له لازمة في البيت، والده اللي كان بيدّعي عدم القدرة على العمل عشان يخلي جريجور هو العائل الرئيسي والوحيد للبيت لـ5 سنوات تقريبا، والأم اللي مقدرتش تتقبل ابنها بعد تحوله. الرواية بتناقش أفكار كتيرة بشكل رمزي زي الانعزال والاكتئاب والهوس بالعمل فيصبح جريجور كمن يتم تشبيهم بدابة تدور في ساقية.

الرواية متفردة من نوعها في أسلوب الكتابة البسيط ولكنه المؤثر في طرح صراعات سامسا الداخلية وأفكاره. المميز في رواية زي دي، أن كل شخص ممكن يستخلص منها فكرة مختلفة، وهي رغم قصرها مؤثرة جدا وبتطرح أفكار كتيرة ملائمة حتى الآن في حياتنا العصرية. فما زلنا بنتكلم عن تأثير العزلة والوحدة على الفرد، وازاي المبالغة في العمل وتحول الشخص إلى مدمن عمل من أسوأ الحاجات اللي ممكن يمر بيها شخص ما.

It's such a strange novel, and I think that its first line and intro and the first part and Gregor's struggle are the best parts for me. This was my 2nd audiobook ever, and though I still think that audio books aren't for me, I think it was suitable for a book like this. The novel as so many people talks about Gregor Samsa who wakes up one day and finds himself has turned into a disgusting insect (a cockroach), and we see how it becomes his main concern how to get to work without anyone seeing his new form.

Through Samsa, we get to know his family from his sister, who's a pivotal character and who helps him till she decides he's no longer worth it, his father who pretended for 5 years that he's not able to work so that Gregor becomes the main breadwinner for the household, and his mother who can't stand the sight of him after transformation. The novel of course discusses a lot of ideas like isolation and loneliness and depression and obsession with work.

It's a unique novel despite its short length, with its simple yet effective writing style which conveys Gregor's inner struggle. What's special about a novel like this, is that everyone could understand in a way and ends up with a different lesson. It also still talks of topics still relevant today, as we still discuss how isolation and becoming a workaholic could affect someone. ...more

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