The Metamorphosis and Other Stories by Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka Museum, Prague

"I cannot make you understand. I can't make anyone understand what is happening inside of me. I cannot even explain it to myself." 

I'll always be fond of anything abstract that lives within literature, so a man transforming into a giant bug overnight was an intriguing concept when I first heard of Kafka’s Metamorphosis. 

One of Kafka’s best-known works, The Metamorphosis explores existentialism, transformation, and identity erosion as Gregor Samsa navigates the physical and psychological torment that accompanies his waking up as an insect. When faced with neglect and disgust from his family (despite being initially looked after by his sister), Gregor is forced to re-evaluate his reputation and sense of self as they rot alongside his newly grotesque form. 

What’s beautiful to me about The Metamorphosis is its versatility. While the English translation is only around 240 pages (the original German version closer to 200), Kafka unearths so much in so few words. Not only does the story invite introspection on life’s absurdity and bureaucratic conformity, it also offers a familiar and intimate perspective on the hardships of catering to family dynamics and expectations. Kafka, rather sharply, prompts the consideration of how our roles in life define us, not only to ourselves but to others around us, and asks the question: when we are incapable of fulfilling the duties that have characterised who we are, what remains of us? 

Additionally, The Metamorphosis is often perceived as an allegory for mental health. Gregor’s paralysing transformation is commonly seen as a metaphor for elements of depression and burnout, which is easy to understand when you consider his struggle to move, let alone survive.

To me, The Metamorphosis encourages kindness, introspection, and the value of empathy (personally, this was my response to the rejection Gregor faced from his family, and most of all his sister). Kafka’s particular critique of bureaucracy, stemming from his father’s insistence on his pursuit of law, makes the novel’s autobiographical elements, particularly those relating to his father, a delicate and emotional reading experience: 

‘Franz Kafka's legal career in Prague was marked by his compulsory clerkship in court, which he viewed as a waste of time. His father's influence was significant, as Kafka felt oppressed by his tyrannical father, who was a materialistic and business-oriented man. This dynamic overshadowed Kafka's literary work and influenced many of his characters' experiences with oppressive bureaucracy and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. Despite his father's tyrannical nature, Kafka's father's influence is evident in many of Kafka's works, often as an overwhelming despotic power.’ 

His other stories I found less impactful, and, having read The Metamorphosis first, felt slightly underwhelming. That being said, I find his absurdist style comforting and catering to the slightly cynical personalities among us. Overall, a gentle, mournful story of humanity, identity, and heartbreak.