The Metamorphosis and Other Stories

By Franz Kafka

Book Overview

Only yesterday, Gregor Samsa was a meek salesman, browbeaten by his unappreciative employer and depended on fiercely by his ungrateful family. This morning, Gregor awakens to discover that, overnight, he has been transformed into a monstrous insect. As Gregor frantically tries to conceal his predicament, neither his family nor his unsympathetic employer accept that a terrible metamorphosis has upended his existence. Is Gregor's condition only temporary? Will he eventually revert back to the person he was and resume his normal life? Or might he have to accept that his transformation is only an outward expression of how he--and those in his life--actually see him?

First published in 1915, Kafka's best-known tale has inspired numerous interpretations for more than a century and helped to establish the term "Kafkaesque" as a reference to a bizarre and nightmarish experience. This collection of his short fiction, in a new translation, includes more than 30 of his short stories and sketches, including "In the Penal Colony," "The Stoker," "The Judgment," "A Country Doctor," "A Hunger Artist," and more.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1435172302
• ISBN13: 9781435172302
• Release Date: September 2023
• Publisher: Union Square & Co.
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Terrifying metaphor

Metamorphosis was my first introduction to Kafka and I found his dark humour unsettling yet addictive. Samsa plagued and burdened with poverty and family responsibility, is in the end betrayed by himself and his loved ones in a dramatic turn of events. As a "useful" and able man, he was respected and cared for by his parents and loved by his sister. But after the metamorphosis, his family at first tolerated him, his sister perhaps pitied him, but towards the end, it turned to hate and disgust. They realised Samsa had become a burden and embarassment to the family. A useless vermin stuck to the family walls. Metaphor taken to great heights. Physically and intellectually an insect, but emotionally and spiritually still a man.

compelling: there is something about this story

I have never been able to determine what it is about this story that I find so compelling. I don't have a defeated and alienated outlook, but still I relate to Gregor. More than that, I feel compassion for him. It's such a deeply sad story, and it says so much about the way people can objectify others. His family really uses him for their own selfish comfort, rather than truly loving him for who he is. For some strange reason, though, I find some hope in the story. By telling it, Kafka tells us that people should not be treated this way, or should not be made to feel unloved or insignificant. As with most moral fiction, the story is negative, I believe, for the purpose of effecting change. We don't have to treat others badly, and we don't have to allow ourselves to become alienated and neglected. By recognizing the pain, we can attempt to change this dynamic.Perhaps I'm too optimistic for the spirit of the story, but that's what I see. I've taught this story to my students, and some of them get that, while others find the story annoying. Still, I continue to be compelled to read it and to teach it again.

Ever feel alienated?

This story is one of pure genius. Upon reading the first paragraph I was baffled. The story is pure: it begins with a climax, one it takes a few pages to believe. None of us have ever been exactly in Gregor's position, but everyone can identify with his struggle. Well-written and poignant, this short story deserves a go by everyone. Begin and end the piece with an open mind.

Wow. I haven't read the other stories yet but...

the Metamophosis is INCREDIBLE. It is one of the greatest stories I have ever read. I found it extremely disturbing, especially the ending. After I finished, I was kept awake for an hour or two in bed just thinking about it. A MUST for any reader.

Dark and idiosyncratic

This was my first exposure to Kafka, and was actually in audiobook form, with a masterful narration by George Guidall. It was a very well-rounded collection, including The Metamorphosis, The Stoker, A Country Doctor, and Visit to a Penal Colony. I won't pretend that I understood all of the political/religious symbolism, but was captivated by the dark humor and weird, despairing ambience of these character studies. There isn't a lot of conventional dramatic movement, but the power of these surreal images and bizarre viewpoints sneaks up on you. Kakfa has a narrative voice that is utterly unique. I found that it gained power upon re-reading(hearing), and promptly loaded up cassette one as soon as I reached the end.