The Metamorphosis by Kafka: A Brief Guide
The Metamorphosis is an absurd and unnerving story that follows the life of Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman, who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into an insect, most likely a cockroach. The novella deals with the monotony of a job-life and the frustration of being jobless in the family.
The book falls in the category of a novella. A novella is shorter than a novel but longer than a short story. The philosophy of existentialism is at the root of this novella as it deals with fundamental questions related to existence and the worth of living. Gregor’s transformation or metamorphosis is symbolic of his uselessness in the family as well as an inhuman existence which is due to the pressure of work. However, the protagonist’s sister Grete feels the responsibility of earning income for the family so that they could clear their debts. Towards the end, even Gregor’s aged father goes out to work and this generates a sense of guilt within Gregor, but he never really redeems himself as the weight of the monotonous world is too heavy for him to bear. Somehow, he cannot become a fully-functioning human being once again. In the end, Gregor’s death due to starvation ironically results in the family feeling lighter than before. This is because, being unable to work, he became a burden on the family as he could not support them nor himself.
The Metamorphosis raises serious questions about the meaning of life and the search for the same. It also shows how society can be harsh and cruel towards a handicapped individual. Therefore, Gregor’s metamorphosis is a metaphor for the inhuman existence in society. The novella also reveals the harsh treatment meted out by a society devoid of understanding and kindness: a society in which performance determines the worth of an indiviudal. It is this constant need to perform and deliver day in and day out which results in Gregor’s potent cry — “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense”.
