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Metamorphosis and Other Stories (Penguin Modern Classics) by Franz Kafka
- GenresFictionShort Stories
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About the author
Franz Kafka
3,258 books37.9k followersPrague-born writer Franz Kafka wrote in German, and his stories, such as "
The Metamorphosis
" (1916), and posthumously published novels, including
The Trial
(1925), concern troubled individuals in a nightmarishly impersonal world.
Jewish middle-class family of this major fiction writer of the 20th century spoke German. People consider his unique body of much incomplete writing, mainly published posthumously, among the most influential in European literature.
His stories include "The Metamorphosis" (1912) and " In the Penal Colony " (1914), whereas his posthumous novels include The Trial (1925), The Castle (1926) and Amerika (1927).
Despite first language, Kafka also spoke fluent Czech. Later, Kafka acquired some knowledge of the French language and culture from Flaubert, one of his favorite authors.
Kafka first studied chemistry at the Charles-Ferdinand University of Prague but after two weeks switched to law. This study offered a range of career possibilities, which pleased his father, and required a longer course of study that gave Kafka time to take classes in German studies and art history. At the university, he joined a student club, named Lese- und Redehalle der Deutschen Studenten, which organized literary events, readings, and other activities. In the end of his first year of studies, he met Max Brod, a close friend of his throughout his life, together with the journalist Felix Weltsch, who also studied law. Kafka obtained the degree of doctor of law on 18 June 1906 and performed an obligatory year of unpaid service as law clerk for the civil and criminal courts.
Writing of Kafka attracted little attention before his death. During his lifetime, he published only a few short stories and never finished any of his novels except the very short "The Metamorphosis." Kafka wrote to Max Brod, his friend and literary executor: "Dearest Max, my last request: Everything I leave behind me ... in the way of diaries, manuscripts, letters (my own and others'), sketches, and so on, [is] to be burned unread." Brod told Kafka that he intended not to honor these wishes, but Kafka, so knowing, nevertheless consequently gave these directions specifically to Brod, who, so reasoning, overrode these wishes. Brod in fact oversaw the publication of most of work of Kafka in his possession; these works quickly began to attract attention and high critical regard.
Max Brod encountered significant difficulty in compiling notebooks of Kafka into any chronological order as Kafka started writing in the middle of notebooks, from the last towards the first, et cetera.
Kafka wrote all his published works in German except several letters in Czech to Milena Jesenská.
Jewish middle-class family of this major fiction writer of the 20th century spoke German. People consider his unique body of much incomplete writing, mainly published posthumously, among the most influential in European literature.
His stories include "The Metamorphosis" (1912) and " In the Penal Colony " (1914), whereas his posthumous novels include The Trial (1925), The Castle (1926) and Amerika (1927).
Despite first language, Kafka also spoke fluent Czech. Later, Kafka acquired some knowledge of the French language and culture from Flaubert, one of his favorite authors.
Kafka first studied chemistry at the Charles-Ferdinand University of Prague but after two weeks switched to law. This study offered a range of career possibilities, which pleased his father, and required a longer course of study that gave Kafka time to take classes in German studies and art history. At the university, he joined a student club, named Lese- und Redehalle der Deutschen Studenten, which organized literary events, readings, and other activities. In the end of his first year of studies, he met Max Brod, a close friend of his throughout his life, together with the journalist Felix Weltsch, who also studied law. Kafka obtained the degree of doctor of law on 18 June 1906 and performed an obligatory year of unpaid service as law clerk for the civil and criminal courts.
Writing of Kafka attracted little attention before his death. During his lifetime, he published only a few short stories and never finished any of his novels except the very short "The Metamorphosis." Kafka wrote to Max Brod, his friend and literary executor: "Dearest Max, my last request: Everything I leave behind me ... in the way of diaries, manuscripts, letters (my own and others'), sketches, and so on, [is] to be burned unread." Brod told Kafka that he intended not to honor these wishes, but Kafka, so knowing, nevertheless consequently gave these directions specifically to Brod, who, so reasoning, overrode these wishes. Brod in fact oversaw the publication of most of work of Kafka in his possession; these works quickly began to attract attention and high critical regard.
Max Brod encountered significant difficulty in compiling notebooks of Kafka into any chronological order as Kafka started writing in the middle of notebooks, from the last towards the first, et cetera.
Kafka wrote all his published works in German except several letters in Czech to Milena Jesenská.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 11, 2024
dragged myself through this one but metamorphosis was worth it
July 28, 2025
"Metaporphosis" and "In the penal colony" hooked me like few other stories have.
October 20, 2024
This collection has been translated from German by Michael Hofmann.
Knowing that Metamorphosis is considered a classic, knowing the acclaim this piece of work has garnered over the years, knowing the weight of Kafka's reputation in the literary and philosophical world, means that this story carries with it heavy baggage.
Advancing on 'Metamorphosis' for the first time without researching any summaries, synopses, notes or spoilers- was, in my opinion, the best way to experience it unspoiled. So this is what I did. Of course, you come across pop-art type depictions and posters of what looks like an overgrowing cockroach or beetle-esque beast in a room, but without any indication of what this could represent you can still explore the story without those depictions affecting or influencing your views or opinions about it before you have read it.
Now, the story itself.
Metamorphosis is a very sad piece of writing
At times, it became difficult to read due to the sheer sadness.
Kafka is in the moment- there are no enlightening moments or philosophies offered to reassure or placate the reader, no greater wisdom behind the story as it unfolds, there are bigger picture messages, themes, and lessons to be acknowledged, implicit in the text.
This is why 'Metamorphosis' would be an ideal text for analysing and studying by any 'literary' people. It has that quality and offers that scope.
Metamorphosis revealed itself within certain words, tone of language, expressions and descriptions as a story about depression, about disability, physical and mental debilitation in the foreground. Then, it tells you the sad truth about how society handles, deals with, treats those that are suffering with these debilitations. Let Kafka tell you, it isn't with kindness.
Kafka shows you the mirror of society. He captures the hopelessness, the helplessness and the struggles of those in this position. He describes the dehumanisation and outcasting of such people. Of what use are you when you have become this way? When you have lost your purpose and function (ones that society has assigned to you in the first place)?
You become useless, unwanted, disposable.
The main character, Gregor lives this horror out, in a symbolic manner i.e. in the state of changed shape (in this case a bug). But he is apologetic to the end which tells a lot about him being a reaction to others.
Gregor succumbs to the heartbreaking treatment of society but accepts his fate, as though this is what he is deserving of.
Kafka doesn't try to send society a message or greater good, of one to rectify their ways or of one to Gregor's to value themselves more or fight back. Kafka only describes. He is observant and his 'hyper-awareness' is evident in a lot of his other writing too.
Listen to Episode 55 by the Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast for an interesting discussion about this short story.
Knowing that Metamorphosis is considered a classic, knowing the acclaim this piece of work has garnered over the years, knowing the weight of Kafka's reputation in the literary and philosophical world, means that this story carries with it heavy baggage.
Advancing on 'Metamorphosis' for the first time without researching any summaries, synopses, notes or spoilers- was, in my opinion, the best way to experience it unspoiled. So this is what I did. Of course, you come across pop-art type depictions and posters of what looks like an overgrowing cockroach or beetle-esque beast in a room, but without any indication of what this could represent you can still explore the story without those depictions affecting or influencing your views or opinions about it before you have read it.
Now, the story itself.
Metamorphosis is a very sad piece of writing
At times, it became difficult to read due to the sheer sadness.
Kafka is in the moment- there are no enlightening moments or philosophies offered to reassure or placate the reader, no greater wisdom behind the story as it unfolds, there are bigger picture messages, themes, and lessons to be acknowledged, implicit in the text.
This is why 'Metamorphosis' would be an ideal text for analysing and studying by any 'literary' people. It has that quality and offers that scope.
Metamorphosis revealed itself within certain words, tone of language, expressions and descriptions as a story about depression, about disability, physical and mental debilitation in the foreground. Then, it tells you the sad truth about how society handles, deals with, treats those that are suffering with these debilitations. Let Kafka tell you, it isn't with kindness.
Kafka shows you the mirror of society. He captures the hopelessness, the helplessness and the struggles of those in this position. He describes the dehumanisation and outcasting of such people. Of what use are you when you have become this way? When you have lost your purpose and function (ones that society has assigned to you in the first place)?
You become useless, unwanted, disposable.
The main character, Gregor lives this horror out, in a symbolic manner i.e. in the state of changed shape (in this case a bug). But he is apologetic to the end which tells a lot about him being a reaction to others.
Gregor succumbs to the heartbreaking treatment of society but accepts his fate, as though this is what he is deserving of.
Kafka doesn't try to send society a message or greater good, of one to rectify their ways or of one to Gregor's to value themselves more or fight back. Kafka only describes. He is observant and his 'hyper-awareness' is evident in a lot of his other writing too.
Listen to Episode 55 by the Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast for an interesting discussion about this short story.
March 14, 2025
Out of all the stories , I only enjoyed the metamorphosis , country doctor ,a hunger artist and the penal colony.... I especially love how he criticizes different parts of society and human minds throughout these... The description and the stories were also beautifully done but heavily inspired by absurdism and existentialism to the point the endings feel incomplete or empty. He always loves to remind the reader how after each story ended , the environment didn't really get affected and how their lives and ideals didn't matter much in the end!
Good read , easy language but full of symbolism and philosophies so it triggers the mind!
Good read , easy language but full of symbolism and philosophies so it triggers the mind!
April 29, 2025
really liked the Odradek story. I misremembered the thing being called the depredeka and when I googled it russian csgo videos came up.
June 1, 2025
2.5 — controversially and devastatingly i did not enjoy my first read of metamorphosis
August 23, 2025
When I learned more about Kafka's relationship with his father, my overall understanding of these stories was enhanced.
The two stories that stick with me are Metamorphoses, obviously, and the starving artist. I feel the former was symbolic for feeling like an outsider and scapegoated within the family system. The latter being starved of wholesome love as a child and to be an emotionally starved person is all he knows. That's my take.
I look forward to reading more of his work. I am now a fan.
The two stories that stick with me are Metamorphoses, obviously, and the starving artist. I feel the former was symbolic for feeling like an outsider and scapegoated within the family system. The latter being starved of wholesome love as a child and to be an emotionally starved person is all he knows. That's my take.
I look forward to reading more of his work. I am now a fan.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews