The last time I checked, people were going bonkers about Kafka and his legacy. Even on reels and TikTok, the reader community has placed Franz Kafka and his work, ‘Metamorphosis,’ at the top of their shelves. The kind of relatability and kinship they feel with the insect that the protagonist—Gregor Samsa—turns into has not failed to resonate with people today.
Often classified as a novella, The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka was published in 1915 and has made an immense impact in the minds of readers as well as literature enthusiasts and scholars. A short read with about 100 pages, it incorporates simple language and explores complex themes of alienation, identity, and existential dread with a focused intensity. It is one of Kafka’s most remarkable works that continues to be recognized well in today’s time.
Franz Kafka (1883–1924), a Czech-born writer, has earned much praise for this work. He is known for delving into aspects like the surreal absurdity in life, existential crisis, isolation, bureaucratic vagueness, and the human struggle for meaning. Despite being relatively unknown during his lifetime, his unique style and thematic concerns have earned him fame posthumously. He is regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, giving birth to the term Kafkaesque used to describe inescapable, absurd, and complex situations.
The Metamorphosis is often put under the banner of existential literature and absurdist novels. But, how it has made so many ripples in the thoughts and hearts of readers, we shall explore through this book review. Please read this article till the end to understand why this literary work is called a ‘masterpiece’…
What is the Plot of The Metamorphosis?
The story in The Metamorphosis centers around the life of Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, who one day wakes up only to find out that he is transforming into a giant insect. This is reflected in his inability to get up from bed or even communicate with his family properly. As soon as the family (Gregor’s mother, father, and sister named Greta) sees him in his transformed state, they are taken aback. This gradually leads the family members to deny the fact that Gregor is the same person and the questions related to his existence crop up quite evidently.
Gregor himself finds it hard to understand if he must accept himself the way he is now or be optimistic that he will be a human again. His role in the family was once of a breadwinner. Therefore, by realizing that he has become a burden on his family, Gregor resorts to his own tragic end. Helpless in the face of destiny, he makes sure that the plight of his family ceases.
What is the length of The Metamorphosis?
The Metamorphosis is one of the shortest classics that you could finish in one read. (PS: even though understanding and fully comprehending the gravity of this work has taken many people years). This 98-page novella has been divided into three parts with the story developing gradually through phases. The language is not too bombastic and the sentences are short. The characters are limited. Most parts involve dialogues from the characters giving an insight into their thoughts. For instance, in Part I, we see Gregor trying to defend his not coming to the workplace at a time. At this point, we also get to understand how his job as a traveling salesman is tiring and yet he is so committed that he does not wish to take a day off if unwell or exhausted.
How is the writing style in The Metamorphosis?
The novella is narrated from a third-person perspective and has a detached and straightforward tone. This stands in contrast to the outlandish happenings in the story. The narrator’s tone neither underestimates the happenings in the story nor does it over exaggerate. The developments are stated as a matter of fact and are far from expressing the narrator’s point of view. Owing to the same aspect, the emotional embellishment is lacking which is rather good because it enables the reader to gauge the absurdity associated with the story. We get to know that Gregor’s situation is fantastical and pretty surreal, however, the story does not lack clarity while following the absurdist criteria. The style is direct yet introspective, doing justice to the exploration of the themes.
Kafka has described the minutest of things through the action, which enables the readers to have a first-hand experience as if standing there themselves. For example, Kafka has made such a detailed description of Gregor’s struggle to get up from the bed that we are almost left in suspense about what is to happen. At the same time, this build-up of these elements allows the reader to go through the same kind of toil that Gregor faces, making us relate to the character from the very beginning. The novella also does not take much time to get to the main scenario. Instead, the foreshadowing starts taking place from the start.
What are the important themes of The Metamorphosis?
Let us understand in a more detailed manner what themes Kafka’s The Metamorphosis explores and how they are portrayed throughout his work:
Alienation
Alienation is one of the most important themes of this novella and it is portrayed through the character of Gregor. His sudden transformation into an insect is reflective of how people gradually start turning back on you once you stop belonging to their league. For example, Gregor, as the son of the house, makes sure that he does everything to keep his family going. He does as laborious a job as a traveling salesman. However, as he transforms into an insect, his family’s love for him slowly fades away. There comes a point where they start rejecting the idea that it is their Gregor only.
The alienation further deepens when Gregor is left to his own devices and is confined to his room. This is descriptive of how man is a social animal and when he gets sequestered or is made to stay away by circumstances, he feels depressed and confused in life. Despite his attempts to communicate, his family withdraws from him, underscoring how isolation can become more prevalent when one is no longer useful or recognizable to society.
Shifting Identity
Gregor’s shifting identity can be seen in how he transforms from one state of being to another. He, as a man, is very valued because he is earning for the household. However, as soon as he transforms, his value in society is lost. He is belittled into some insect who could be beaten up or left wounded in one place, with no medical aid to help his agony. Throughout the novella, Gregor himself stays confused about whether he will return to who he was or not. His expectations and/or dreams take the back seat as his doomed fate drives his destiny.
He dedicates his youth to providing for the family and being anything but an irresponsible worker. Even when he is helpless as an insect, he feels bad for not being able to provide for his people. As someone who has never taken time off work, he loses his function of going to his workplace every day. This highly contributes to his existential crisis, because his responsibilities were the element that made him who he was. Just because he is unable to fulfill what was once expected from his human self, he feels his motive for life is lost.
One’s Role in Society
The story examines the burdens of familial duty. Gregor couldn’t stop thinking about it even when he was helpless in the face of destiny. The story depicts how Gregor’s family exploits his hard work and when he can no longer support them financially, their care for him diminishes with time. This shows that relationships can be conditional based on utility rather than real connection.
We see Gregor transforming from an asset to a liability. This could also serve as a commentary on the gendered expectations society has of men, especially regarding their role as a provider and protectors. Gregor’s life revolves around work and family, trying to support his family who is under the burden of a loan. However, despite his financial contributions, he is forgotten quite easily. The lack of gratitude portrays that it was just his responsibility as the man of the house to work and feed his people. Corresponding to this is the traditional expectation for men to be the primary breadwinners, which becomes the central aspect of their identity. And if one fails to do so, he is looked down upon.
Dehumanization
Kafka has portrayed the loss of humanity at its best through the interplay of events in The Metamorphosis. Gregor’s family’s rejection of him, the chief clerk’s fixation on his failure, and the unsympathetic behavior of the boarders are all examples of dehumanization. Kafka shows how even though one has blood relations with another, he/she may end up not accepting someone for who they become. We get to know that change is often a very hard thing to accept, especially when it does not happen to you but to someone who might be related to you as a friend, kin, or even just an acquaintance. But, rather than leaving one astray, it is important to be there for someone and show empathy. However, as the tolerance of the Samsa Family is tested beyond an extent, that support or hope for acceptance narrows down to nothing. His loss of human appearance suggests how society can lose sight of humanity when faced with unfamiliar or inconvenient situations.
From Absurdity to Empathy
Although it is very absurd that one day someone just suddenly gets turned into a giant insect, the situation serves as a metaphor for how things could change for you under certain circumstances. Surreal events could take place with anyone. Life is highly unpredictable and absurd. It does not make sense sometimes and we still have no option but to let it be and keep going.
Life is so random that we cannot do anything about it. It is only our actions that we can control. We cannot do anything about what happens to us but we can only choose how to react to it. With Gregor, life turned out to be a tragedy but at the same time, it probably left readers with a sense of empathy. After reading the book, we realized that bad things can happen to anyone, we could only make sure that we do not make the person feel left out or bad about themselves. We could offer support and compassion rather than consider them a burden.
These themes not only reflect Kafka’s existential concerns but also critique social norms. Ultimately, they help the novella to become a timeless exploration of what it means to be a ‘human’.
Final Notes
People looking out for something deep and at the core of human existence would probably like to read The Metamorphosis. The kind of complexities that this work deals with makes it an even more thought-provoking read. It is going to change your perception of what it means to be human in a world full of confusion and indifference. It gives you a bigger picture as to how one could be belittled in a way that he/she means nothing more than an insect. It also opens up your thoughts and philosophical approach towards life.
Jennis Jacob, a passionate literary enthusiast in her 20s, is a writer and poet. With eight years of experience in literature, she is currently a master in English and finds inspiration in Womanist, American, and Indian Partition Literatures. Her works have appeared in anthologies such as ‘Carved Words Of Creative Minds’ and ‘100 Splendid Voices,’ and she is working on upcoming books. Through LitWithASip, she aims to ignite a love for literature and empower individuals to embrace their true selves.
