A book review on the classic “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka.
“The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka is a heart-wrenching tale of a young man named Gregor who worked so hard for the welfare of his family. One morning he woke up and saw that he was no longer a man but metamorphosed into a vermin probably a roach. He wanted so much to continue working to help his family but his present state prevented him to do so. His metamorphosis proved to be a huge adjustment for him and his family. Later, he experienced alienation from them. Until, he lost his desire to live and perished.
Metamorphosis is an allegory to Gregor's struggle. Gregor's uncommon sacrifices to provide for his family's needs forced him to lead a life similar to that of a bug long before the transformation actually occurred. Gregor's transformation first occurred within and it manifested physically when he metamorphosed into a vermin.
We could see Gregor complaining at the start of the story. He thought that his transformation into a giant insect was a nightmare that he could simply wish away. So he shifted his thoughts to things that matter to him. We could see here that despite his present condition, Gregor's thoughts still centered on his work so he could support his family.
Gregor willingly sacrificed his welfare for his family but when he transformed into a giant insect he became a burden to them. Gregor therefore no longer serves any purpose for his parents. He was treated as a commodity. He was exploited to be able to support their expensive lifestyle. Yet, in the end, Gregor did not even get the respect and care he so richly deserved.
Equally disturbing is the last paragraph of the story. After Gregor died and the family was finally able to resume normal life, they turned their attention to Grete whom they have overlooked during their struggles. Since the parents had no use for Gregor anymore, they now focus their attention on his younger sister. Despite Gregor's terrible fate, the parents still find it in them to prioritize their whims by exploiting their daughter.
The Metamorphosis could be intended by the author to be satirical indictment of the bourgeois society and its demands. Or it could be Gregor's feelings of alienation and unspoken needs. These unspoken desires were probably crushed by authority and the boredom of the daily grind as attested by Gregor's sad fate. Whatever reasons are behind Gregor's metamorphosis, it all boils down to the fact that it occurred because he allowed himself to deteriorate. This in turn reduced him to a state at par with the insects robbing him of his unique traits and identity as a human being.
