Metamorphosis

“Metamorphosis” tells the story of a reluctant albeit hardworking salesman named Gregor Samsa. One morning Gregor finds himself transformed into an ugly vermin. Now place yourself at the position of Gregor and think: How absurd this sounds? How will your family react to this transformation of yours?” How will you react to reaction of your family? How will you show your intentions of friendliness to your family since they are unable to understand you? Will your family and society be ready to take your burden? Financially as well as socially.

All these questions have been addressed by Franz Kafka, a celebrated Czech author who has influenced almost all the writers of twentieth century. Gregor’s family, at first, becomes worried about him on his transformation. They provide him food and do not allow him to get out of his room. However, with the passage of time, family members become indifferent to him mainly because they have to feed him now. Gregor starts to have feelings about identity crisis and being burden upon the people whom he has been feeding since years. He feels isolation and loneliness. 

The rise of capitalism has given birth to the alienation where even a creator does not possess any sensitivity toward his own creation but it becomes a part of market. Such alienation has also insensitivity in blood relations where relations are treated in terms of marketing instead of feelings. Very alienation is greatly felt by Gregor once he is unable to earn for his family. On the other hand, his family becomes ashamed of him.   

The story is a beautifully social commentary on family dynamics. Authority is one of the major themes always addressed very beautifully by Kafka. He himself fell victim to his father’s authoritarian nature which is clearly depicted in his letters to his father. In “Metamorphosis”, he has shown authority of Gregor’s father. Though protagonist’s father loses enough in a business and is a liability on Gregor, yet, as head of the family, he exercises his authority over every family member and especially over Gregor. Greta is Gregor’s loving sister for whom Gregor used to have a great concern, care and affection. She also becomes annoyed at Gregor’s incomprehensible transformation and finally calls him a ‘shame for family’.

Despite of strong disliking his job, Gregor keeps doing it because of his family’s debt. He devotes his whole life for getting rid of that debt. Gregor’s good-for-nothing father ventilates his anger at him after Gregor’s transformation and often reacts as if now Gregor has become a liability over him. Actually here the author presents Gregor as a symbol and wishes to record the emotions of a person who out of a sudden is trapped in a dilemma and unable to take responsibility of life. 

Metamorphosis is a psychological thriller exploring the subthemes suffering, identity, belonging, rejection, guilt, shame, responsibility and burden. A very beautiful novella and treated in equally beautifully by writer, "Metamorphosis" is recommended strongly to all lovers of literature. 

 Title: The Metamorphosis

Author: Franz Kafka

Translator: Susan BerNofsky

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, US

ISBN: 978-0-393-34709-8