The Metamorphosis (Novella) ni Franz Kafka (K.D., Sheila) Simula sa ika-27 ng Agosto 2012

[Sheila]

Bantam Classic: "When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin." With this startling, bizarre, yet surprisingly funny first sentence, Kafka begins his masterpiece, The Metamorphosis. It is the story of a young man who, transformed overnight into a giant beetlelike insect, becomes an object of disgrace to his family, an outsider in his own home, a quintessentially alienated man.

Start Date: August 13, Monday
End Date: August 17, Friday (to allow for life happenings)

Suggested reading plan: One chapter a day (there are only 3 chapters, 17-18 pages each)

Why I want to read this: It's my intro to Kafka---I want to be ready for The Castle.

Read with us: )

[K.D.]

Thanks, Shiela. Let's read this in 3-7 days.

Kafka's most famous work is The Trial.

[Bennard]

If I can find a copy before the mentioned date, I will join.:)

[Sheila]

K.D.: Sure, let's allot two days per chapter.

Bennard: Thanks for considering to join. The novella is more available than the two Kafka novels. I got mine from national.

[K.D.]

I saw copies of this at NBS Robinson's Galleria.

[Ranee]

nabasa ko na ito. makikigulo lang sa gilid.

[K.D.]

Malaya ka naming tatatanggapin sa iyong pakikigulo, kaibigang Ranee. Mas marami, mas mainam.

[K.D.]

Shiela:

So sorry. I had a backache for two weeks. It was only yesterday when I thought I was okay lifting the bed in my attempt to search a copy of METAMORPHOSIS by Kafka and TESS THE D'UBERVILLES by Hardy. I found them both!

We can start these books on:

Monday, Aug 27 for METAMORPHOSIS
Monday, Sept 3 for TESS

If okay with you, please change the dates and I am off to go. Sorry for the delay.

[Cary]

I was actually planning to read this..makikigulo na lang

[K.D.]

Day 1

Gregor Samsa wakes up and finds that he has transformed into a big bug ha! ha! I heard about this story before but I did not pay attention. However, as I read the book this morning, it was a nice compelling read. According to the blurb at the back of the book, this opening scene is akin to the sudden turning points in our lives. For example, when a doctor says to a patient that he has cancer. That would be like turning suddenly into a bug, right?

My book is Metamorphosis and Other Stories. So, I will be reading the whole book after we are done with the main story/novella.

[Ranee]

it had something to do with "not being comfortable in your own skin" din KD.

[K.D.]

Ah, okay. Thanks, Ranee.

[K.D.]

Day 2

George Samsa does not want to open the door. The funny thing is that he even tries to sleep on his side because that's the position that can put him to sleep hehe.

Now his family members (mother, father and sister) are knocking by his door: Kuya, gising na!

[Sheila]

K.D., I like how you related the 'metamorphosis' to a very real and equally scary prospect, which is being diagnosed with cancer. Can't help thinking that this could have inspired the creator of the TV show Breaking Bad, but I doubt if he reads Kafka.

This is the story where the question 'What could you possibly do?' is the overarching theme and it's interesting to reflect if you have similar experiences as Gregor. It's a terrible test for one's acceptance of the realities.

[Ranee]

what if you are George Samsa? how would you react?
one, literally as a cockroach and two, figuratively, as a person diagnosed with cancer or that feeling of indifference?

on a different note, there had been other books that tackled the same treatment to the character. (the change of appearance ekek) the most usual are the princes and princesses' transformation to either a nutcracker/ swan/ frog/ beast. we even have our own version, the alamat. Alamat ng pinya, mangga, dama de noche to name a few. Although, these are treated as punishments, our alamat versions, come to think of it are to some extent is about indifference (when i was younger, there was a time I did not like to eat mangga, wondered if it were really a kid and I would eat it)

[K.D.]

I wasn't able to read last night. I got fixed on Pentimento and Capote hehe. Mamaya siguro. :)

Ranee, I DON'T KNOW. I find the opening scene really funny. Bug! Of all the things that he could have changed into. That's why I thought that it was akin to having a cancer (the one that I dread the most. Sabihin mo na siguro na puputulin ang paa ko, puwede pa. Wag lang cancer) hehe.

[Ranee]

the first time I read this, sabi ko,"yak, ipis!"
but after reading about Franz Kafka, ipis does makes sense.

But please do read on, and then think about the social strata of Kafka's time then see the similar patterns of the society of our time.

[K.D.]

Shiela, sorry. This got deprioritized over Roth. I will resume reading tonight and hopefully finish this weekend. I have JSF (Jonathan Safran Foer) and Tess next week hehe. Busi-bisihang nilalang. :)

[Sheila]

K.D., ok lang. I want to finish reading Mansfield today so that I can re-read Kafka this weekend. Then Tess on Monday. I'm sad Roth is no longer on sale in NBS (all branches). But I have Atwood and Huxley to keep me reading next month.

[K.D.]

I will read Mansfield Park within September and will read Northanger Abbey, Persuasion and Sandition prior to F2F10. Dapat matapos na ang lahat ng Austen sa buhay ko.

[Sheila]

K.D.,might I suggest, read Northanger Abbey first, then Persuasion, then save Mansfield before P&P or Sandition (wherever did you get a copy?).

[K.D.]

Back to Metamorphosis

I am done reading that short story. There are nice realizations. Medyo hindi straightforward ang message. Kailangang mag-isip:

1st: I hate Gregor's father, mother and Crete. Sobra silang umasa with Gregor. Tatay is tamad (fat) sluggish laging nakahiga lang. Nanay is asthmatic. Crete is the only one who loves Gregor and so Gregor wants to send her to music school. Kaso naging ipis nga sya hehe.

2nd: So, inalisan nila ng mga gamit ang room kasi nagkakasugat-sugat si Gregor paggapang sa kisame hehe

3rd: The Samsas start to adjust now that their breadwinner has no means to work na. Pinapakain nila naman si Gregor kaso parang nahihirapan ang ipis. Hanggang sa parang mainis na sila at di na halos nila inaalagaan si Gregor.

4th: I hate that scene na sinundot na lang ng stick ni Crete si Gregor at patay na raw kasi flat na ang ipis sa sobrang kapayatan.

5th: Despite this, mahal pa rin ni Gregor ang family.

End: Umalis ang family sa bahay pagkamatay ni Gregor. New life, ika nga.

I pity Gregor Samsa. I hate his family!

Moral: Ewan ko. Iisipin ko pa!

Thank you Shiela. I like the book. Di ko lang alam kung anong moral haha.

I have just read the 2nd story: "The Great Wall of China" then halfway na ako sa "Dog" (or something).

Reactions welcome. Di sya madaling basahin. Paputol-putol kasi mag nae-enjoy ako kay Capote at kay Dinesen (Out of Africa).

FINIS Thank you, buddy Shiela. :)

[K.D.]

PB ko nakikita ang Sandition. Dami pang kopya so bibili na lang ako pag babasahin ko na. Persuasion muna siguro. Yan ang nasa katabi ng bed ko ngayon eh hehe.

[Sheila]

My own take, the metamorphosis had to happen so that Gregor's family can become self-sufficient. Since they depend on Gregor too much, the situation was becoming less ideal to Gregor's misfortune.

In the end, the father, mother, and sister all have jobs and gain a better outlook in the future. But sadly, without Gregor.

The transformation of the family is the message, I think. They had to change and let Gregor rest.

Gregor is not faultless----I think he's partly to blame for becoming a bug. He allowed his family to depend on him when it was becoming impossible and making him miserable.

[K.D.]

Ah okay, ingrata lang kasi sila. Sobrang loyal ni Gregor sa kanila kahit sa work. Di sya naga-absent! Tapos one day, biglang ganoon. Ewan ko. Pero siguro tama nga yon sinabi mo. Thanks, Shiela.

[Sheila]

Gregor spoiled them too----remember the description of their lifestyle?

Can't help relating this to Franzen's The Corrections----only that it was the father who had to die as a result of his affliction, and not the eldest and most successful child. The only difference is that in Franzen's novel, the father is at fault right from the start.

Si Gregor, hindi naman puno ng pamilya pero inasahan naman siya. But to let him die so that his family will change is still tragic for me. Ito na yata yung sinasabi nila na characteristic ng mga European novelists.

[K.D.]

Oo nga. Tsaka may pain kay Gregor bago sya mamatay:

"He thought of his family with tenderness and love."

Parang gusto kong maiyak. Ito yong bago sya mamatay... sa gutom. Kakainis lang talaga ang family nya.

[Sheila]

Resolved my feelings for this short story (hindi ako matahimik = Kafka is one writer that deserves more study).

Wrote my review here.

[K.D.]

Absurd kasi. Yon ang essence ng Kakfa books (so far sa tatlong nabasa ko). Parang sinasabing may mga bagay sa mundo na dumarating na walang dahilan. On the negative side, parang fatalistic attitude din. Bahala na si Batman.

Kafka is a writer that you either love or hate. For me, he's good but not my favorite.

[Ranee]

Sabi nila Kafka is one eccentric writer. His works are not meant to be published, he wanted them burned! hehe.
So ngayon, pinagtatalunan ng live in partner nya noon ng bestfriend at ng family nya ang damyos ng mga works ni Kafka. (ito ay kung tama ang tanda ko sa Wiki)

[K.D.]

Tama! Natatandaan ko yan sa "Diaries" nya.

This is not supposed to be a funny book to make you laugh, Shiela. Pero kasi nga, yon ang dating sa yo, so go! hehe.

[Sheila]

I'm sure I'm wrong about the message. It's a complicated short story. I sense the pressure felt by Gregor, but then, he likes crawling on the walls!

I've mentioned that Kafka didn't give him redemption, but I'm realizing now that it's his humanity that has prevented me from seeing him as an ugly monster.

When he died, I was pained by it, but I didn't feel any regret in knowing him when he was most human.