Emily Harris

A Little About Me

As a child I loved reading but when I entered my late teens, this is an interest I neglected. I regret this heavily and am now trying read as many different types of literature texts as I can! Reading is extremely important to both developing and adult brains. We not only learn of new concepts and widen our knowledge but can also be taken away from reality for a short while. However, sometimes the stories we read reflect our modern day troubles, enlightening us with new perspectives.

A Brief Summary

A short novella I read recently was Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”. This story was published in 1915, however, did not receive praise and recognition until many years later. The short tale follows a young man (Gregor) employed as a travelling salesman to provide for and to assist with his family’s debt. One day he awakens to discover he has transformed into a huge insect, hence the name “the metamorphosis”. He is unable to attend work duties, alarming his sales superior and his family. Eventually, when he does manage to vacate his bed and open the door with his newly grown animal-like teeth, the household is horrified by his abhorrent appearance. As each day goes by, they treat him as even more of a monstrous beast than their own beloved son. Eventually, after consuming little food and wounded from his father’s mistreatment of him, Gregor succumbs to his illnesses and dies.

Simple Analysis

The book reflects a lot of details about Kafka’s own life. For instance, Gregor works a job he dislikes for the approval of his father and to put food on the table. This rises their status to a middle class level and they can afford house staff. Similarly, Kafka came from a bourgeoisie background with a strict, authoritarian father. His mother, however, was a mild, quiet woman. Gregor’s mother in the book is portrayed as being the same as she is more concerned about Gregor’s health than his work punctuality. She mostly stays out of the way when Gregor goes through his transformation and rarely enters the room. Moreover, Kafka also studied Law to please his father, even though, what he really desired was to write. Kafka therefore had a disdain for the bureaucracy, which can be seen through the theme of alienation within the novella. Gregor turning into a bug and his family despising him demonstrates how he is outcasted from society. He no longer aligns with middle class standards and is made to feel like a monster, much like the lower class citizens would have been pictured as at the time. This links into the idea that modern life at the time itself was dehumanising. Individuals worked a job they disliked and were miserable. Life was extremely monotonous and meaningless. Kafka wanted to demonstrate this nightmare of the bureaucracy within his works. His style has been deemed “Kafkaesque “, meaning bizarre and bordering with absurdism views and writing.

Another potential theme of “The Metamorphosis” could be mental health. For instance, as the days go by, Gregor becomes more and more insect-like in some aspects. He wishes for the furniture to be removed from his room so as he can climb the walls and ceilings more easily. However, he then regrets this decision as he associates many memories with the objects in his room. This could represent how depression can take over the mind, making sufferer’s worse and worse by day as Gregor is giving in to his ailments. Kafka himself is believed to have suffered a range of mental illnesses with some speculating he had an eating disorder or a schizoid personality. He was heavily displeased with himself and unhappy with his body. This parallels Gregor’s extreme contempt and anguish with his current state. He therefore feels disconnected from society.

My Concluding Thoughts

When I first heard about Kafka’s work, I was very intrigued. The idea of a young man waking up ever so randomly as an insect seemed very disturbing. I am a keen fan of weird and wonderful tales. I began to research the book without spoiling the plot too much for myself. I therefore learned that “The Metamorphosis” had very philosophical and hidden meanings that made the story so iconic. I am extremely glad that I read this particular work of Kafka and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of abnormal and absurd literature.

Even though the story was very short, I felt as if I could empathise with Gregor. Most of us can relate to feeling outcasted from society and battling with personal conflicts. For the beginning part of of the novella, I felt myself hoping Gregor would return to his human self by the end of the book. However, each day, Gregor seems to endure more emotional pain. He becomes a hopeless shell of the man he used to be. Therefore, it was quite a relief when he does pass on and his pain is put to an end. We are led to believe every story should have a happy ending but this is not the reality of life. During the 1910s there was a lot more angst and insecurity within the class system and this unhappy ending represents this never-ending misery. There is a still a lot of upset in the 21st century as young adults are experiencing higher levels of anxiety and insecurity. We all feel alienated from society and confined to follow conventions. This book thus stands the test of time as we are arguably still in a bureaucratic system and bound by certain conventions.

In conclusion, The Metamorphosis may seem like a very unusual concept, however, that is the exact point of the novella. The story is nonsensical just like how Kafka believed life was. This book therefore has many deep inner meanings which may not be obvious to a less avid reader. On the other hand, no matter if you have just got into reading or have digested many texts, this story is worth looking at. It is very short and easy to understand. Thus, can be read within a couple of hours. Despite how short the book is, I am sure the fascinating plot will stick with you!