The Problems Behind Metamorphosis

[Cameron]

Kafka’s short story, The Metamorphosis begins with a terrible plot, “One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin.” The reader must wonder how a human managed to transform into a cockroach. This seems too unrealistic, considering the how realistic the rest of the plot is. I did not enjoy this novella because Gregor’s character was treated with no respect or dignity and there are unnecessary descriptions to such a simple plot.
From the beginning of the story, Gregor, who was at one point a decent young man, lives a crummy life. Gregor works endlessly to provide for his family, "What a strenuous career it is that I've chosen! Travelling day in and day out. Doing business like this takes much more effort than doing your own business at home.” In addition to this, he hates his job and wants to leave it, “If I didn't have my parents to think about I'd have given in my notice a long time ago, I'd have gone up to the boss and told him just what I think, tell him everything I would, let him know just what I feel. He'd fall right off his desk!” He loves his sister and wants her to go to a music conservatory, which he can’t afford. However, by the end of the story his sister is ready to kill him, “"We have to try and get rid of it." Despite all that Gregor did for this family, they all don’t care for his safety.
Secondly, there are a lot of unnecessary points in the story. In all honesty, this story could be completed in a paragraph. This story contains a very simple plot, but Kafka insists that the reader know every detail and thought of each character. For example, notice how much attention Kafka gives for something that is not essential to the plot, “With a kind of stubbornness, Gregor's father refused to take his uniform off even at home; while his nightgown hung unused on its peg Gregor's father would slumber where he was, fully dressed, as if always ready to serve and expecting to hear the voice of his superior even here.” All of this background information is unnecessary.
In conclusion, although The Metamorphosis was not all terrible, it could have better with more respect to Gregor’s character and the removal of needless information. Kafka reveals the human nature behind getting rid of those we do not need. It also reveals how a person will change as a result of money.

[Som]

Not really, although I feel offended when someone says the plot is 'terrible'. Seriously?! Most Kafka works swirls around metaphors when in comes to psychological, social, political innuendos in human conditions. It's not a straightforward young adult book with an absurd plot. haha

It is a masterpiece.

Basically, The metamorphosis were from both sides, from Gregor's downfall (clinically depressed, symbolically a worthless bug) to rise of Samsa family and their strength.

I reviewed it a while back; to show you a glimpse of what was it really about and why Kafka is one of the legends.

My Original review:

There are not many novellas like this one. It's the one you heavily interpret, not simply follow the plot as it is. It's highly psychoanalytically symbolic, with a perplexed view on absence of communication with a flavor of capitalism. I have yet to read Kafka's other couple of books but this, man o man, this, in my prognosis, undeniably his best work !

Well, it started off as a amusing dark comedy, which was fun for few pages. Thought it'll all be a settling mist after Gregor's next wake. But it didn't turn out to be the way I wasn't actually hoping (er what now?). It took turns for dark yet obvious twist; its abysmal existentialism slammed my fever cells gradually. From the deep dark ignored fluid of being 'there' in the zone of self loathing, was no longer a secret, became more of a suffocating reflection. It was out there on the table as a shamelessly exposed taboo. The allegories were without capes. I guess it must have meant to show the readers what their societal value is and what's their value of being themselves without the essence of just 'being'..

The book crawls, gnarls, haunts, surprises, saddens all too in a dying sloth's attire. The closure wasn't the case, of why it's highly popular, it's of its very nature of redirecting our deep dark value of nothingness; it's that very nature of 'Metamorphsis', transmuting to every diminishing element of being helplessly depressed, self oppressed, while adhering to the state of 'blank'. What the society thought, what the rest of Samsa family did, were all part of the abstact synthesis, involuntarily reactionary. So obvious yet uncanny. (From Gregor's perspective)

In lieu of lack of communication, it substantiated the individual value of relations; the response of family elements and the self analysis of clinging on to the last straw of expectation. In a reverse theory, the Samsa family's rise of being self sufficient and happy is the lighter (yang of yin!) 'metamorphosis'. Which is supposed to be the primary one. (...)

“Was he an animal, that music could move him so? He felt as if the way to the unknown nourishment he longed for were coming to light.”
― Franz Kafka, The Metamorphosis

[Som]

To add, I value opinions and respect most of those when they are debatable, sane and don't cross certain boundaries; but 'claiming' the plot is 'terrible' is like dissing every existential philosophers, poets and even saying Shakespeare was a pseudo-intellectual. So I hope you were just trolling.
*moving on*

[Chris]

"This story contains a very simple plot"

Did you just use the word "simple" when describing a Kafka novel?

Ever hear the term "Kafkaesque?"

I think you've missed the point of his work.

[Gerd]

Christ wrote: "Did you just use the word "simple" when describing a Kafka novel?"

Well, he does have a point there.
Strip Kafka's work of metaphor and symbolism, use plain language to say what he has got to say and you find a rather simple story underlying it all.

[Chris]

Yes, if you strip Kafka of what makes him Kafka it does become simple.

[Caroline]

Well, this is a confusing post. From your first paragraph, I gathered that you've completely missed the point of this story. The second goes in the right direction, the third trails off again, and the last two lines are spot on.

Yes, Kafka is simple if you read it without thinking. I can imagine that if you ignore the symbolism and hidden layers in Kafka's work, you're left with a simple story that isn't very enjoyable at all. But you don't read Kafka for the simple story. You read Kafka because you want to give your brain something to chew on.

[Gerd]

Christ wrote: "Yes, if you strip Kafka of what makes him Kafka it does become simple."

See, even you use the word simple. :D

[Mike]

I just want to add a small note to the discussion. Metamorphosis is especially notable. Every time I read it, I find something new. The characters are so real, so multifaceted, to a point that you try to put yourself in their shoes and you keep arguing with yourself. And the most real human of them all is the insect...