Metamorphosis

by Frank Kafka

Gregor is a traveling salesman who is used to his daily routine and has been conditioned by society and his reality that being a salesman is the most important aspect of his life. But one day it all changes and Gregor wakes up a new “thing,” he is transformed, thrown out of sync of his normal routine.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Short Stories

67 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2021

Reviews

[Aditi ~ readwaditi · Rating 4 out of 5]

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While reading these classic literature books, I sometimes feel like I am not intelligent enough to like books like these or understand the "bigger meaning" behind these books.
Metamorphosis, while filled with real life meaning told in a metaphorical way, was a good read. But I also feel if it would have been any longer with some more pages in it, I would have not been able to survive it.
The ending particularly was what got me.
The whole book made me feel: How sad it must be to die while thinking how much your family hates you, truly. That they would rather have you dead than being living as an insect (even though it sounds wayward). Aren't you supposed to love someone for who they are really not in the what form they are in front of you? But then again, Kafka always writes the hard truth about life, after all. And humans can never accept something they don't understand.

[gabri777ella ୨୧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would you still love me if I turned into a cockroach?

[Sai · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is just him asking "will u still love me if i was a worm" typa thing

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book overall was a bit confused in the beginning 😵‍💫

[Joshua Turnbull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid short story. Daresay more relevant now than ever. Isolation, duty, and apathy. A very good (if short) insight into how I think many of us would be in this situation.
definitely unusual though

[Kristy Knowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an unusual concept. A man turns into a bug and stays hidden in his room to save his family the disgust of coming into contact with him. Gregor habours new desires such as scuttling over the walls yet refrains so as not to disgust his family further yet at the same time is extremely unhappy when his family goes to remove his furniture (thus making it easier for him to scuttle). Gregor wants his families acceptance, but it never comes. An unusual and quick little read. Parallels drawn could be how people with disabilities are seen and treated by non-disabled people.

[Sqwidink · Rating 5 out of 5]

A disturbing, disgusting little story

[Sofia Lopes · Rating 4 out of 5]

um livro que representa ligações familiares difíceis e a violência psicológica associada.
o único propósito de Gregor é o trabalho para poder permitir à família ter a vida que quiserem e confortavelmente. Quando um dia se transforma num inseto, nem liga muito a isso e continua apenas com a preocupação de ir trabalhar e ganhar dinheiro para a sua família.
pelo contrário a sua família deixa de lhe dar valor absolutamente nenhum, mal tratando-o, ignorando a sua existência, deixando-o isolado e ficando feliz, agradecendo mesmo a Deus após a sua morte. Por poderem finalmente viver sem se preocuparem em darem-lhe as condições mínimas como um quarto limpo e comida.
esta história representa como após não podermos trabalhar ou não termos o valor que as pessoas esperam de nós deixamos de existir se esse for o nosso único propósito. representa um homem que só vive para os outros e quando deixa de poder fazer o que está habituado deixa de viver.
é uma representação da sociedade e de como somos facilmente substituíveis e descartados se não estivermos no papel que nos esperam, não havendo flexibilidade nenhuma nem compaixão pelos outros.
A falta de humanismo da sociedade e como pode fazer-nos perder a nossa identidade toda se apenas se basear no que esperam de nós.
fala também de famílias tóxicas. famílias que ficam zangadas e sem querer saber do familiar porque têm que finalmente fazer alguma coisa da vida sem ser passear os seus colares caros...
fácil de ler e interessante. 4🌟

[بتول · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liebe Kafka auch seine Briefe waren stark aber diese Idee ist so genial und relevant. Das Gefühl dass man sich nicht selber gehört sondern in seinem Alltag und den Verantwortungen der Arbeit ertrinkt ist do eine interessante Idee. Vorallem dass Gregor nur an seinen Job denkt und wie seine Eltern ihn brauchen. Und auch dass die Familie nur so über ihn denkt war so traurig vorallem wenn man Kafkas Beziehung zu seinem Vater denkt. Hinzu kommt wie seine Familie so erleichtert war als er starb. Das ist so realistisch und kalt und absurd und traurig zu gleich. Ich habe dieses Ende nicht erwartet aber ich fand es interessant. Wie er die Familie am Ende befreit und ihnen eine Art Happy End gibt so wie Gregor es wollte war so weite aber gut.

[Nicole Sarginson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Metamorphosis is a strange, unsettling, and surprisingly quite emotional story. I liked how Kafka’s writing was sharp and concise, yet packed with symbolism behind it all. Gregor’s transformation into an insect showed extreme isolation, the crushing weight of responsibility, and how quickly love can fade when someone is no longer useful - which unravelled a lot throughout the story. The ending was heartbreaking and I felt so bad for the way Gregor was treated. It really gave you a deep understanding to how depression can come out of no where and cause such destruction.

Overall, it’s a haunting and thought provoking story that’s absolutely worth reading. My favourite quote from it is - “Was he an animal, that music could move him so”…. Can’t wait to read more of Kafka’s work!

[cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Metamorphosis by Kafka. I find it weird pero ang deep niya! like, imagine waking up one day as a giant cockroach? (not exactly a cockroach) that’s Gregor’s life now. at first, you’re like, “What is happening?” pero ang heavy ng feels kasi his family loved him when he was providing for them. tapos nung naging bug na siya? biglang, “ew, who are you?”

and lungot lang. Gregor just wanted to help his fam, pero parang they forgot he’s still their son. It’s funny in a "what is life?" kind of way, pero also sobrang existential. like, “am I only valued for what I can do?” charot. super short lang, pero after you read it, you’ll stare at the ceiling thinking, “am I the bug?” 10/10 for me.

[Passion Rumbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kafka takes us on an absurd and unsettling journey with this novella. Gregor Samsa is a respectable young man, just trying to get to work. Nothing feels unusual to him, even if his daily tasks are harder than he remembers. His body isn't moving the way it used to, but this wouldn't deter him from getting to work—after all, he's just feeling a little under the weather, nothing more!

That is, until the reality sets in and his family is mortified when they finally see his new appearance. This story plunges you into something truly unusual, leaves you guessing, and provides a vivid point of view from Gregor Samsa's new form. A truly engaging read.

[Salma R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Qué complejo es cada uno de los aspectos que trata Gregor Samsa sin saberlo, y qué inquietante es la similitud que el relato tiene con la vida del autor. Las consecuencias de la falta de afecto y apoyo desde la infancia, la necesidad de continuar por un camino contrario al que uno quiere sólo por la satisfacción de los demás, la consciencia de que todos los esfuerzos y sacrificios de nada sirven… Es un tipo de existencialismo del que se trata que roza lo absurdo y que aún así exige completa comprensión y atención porque tiene un gran mensaje. Sin embargo, otros sólo lo ven como una cucaracha.

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful and painful: the best two words to describe this classic. No wonder it has been around since 1915, with tension, sadness, and a bizarre sense of reality throughout. I had many unanswered questions but indeed, seems to be symbolic and a warning to be careful how you live and feel about your life. It can change unexpectedly, just like a metamorphosis. A definite must-read in the classics world of books!

[Marcus Saeed · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a quick read, it really reminds of the question women always ask: "would you love me if iwas a worm?" and actually the books asks that question and the answer and shockingly NO, they didn't love gregor at all, it was psychologically draining to see "his family" treat like an animal, but i have a question to myself :" would they treat him the same if he could speak?".

[William Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down the most descriptive language I've read in a story. It's depiction of our character's state and mental compacity to keep up, plus the irony that the man is still worried he'll be late for work, creates a story that will stick with me for a long time. If body horror is something that you can get through, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Dominic Sears · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing book, definitely one of Kafka’s best works and I would recommend it to someone trying to get into his writing. Not as thrilling as expected, but this follows suit with the majority of his other works.

[Stephanie Farris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still one of the greatest stories ever written. I come back to it every few years just to bathe in its brilliance. Kafka was so ahead of his time, it's amazing.

[Ivvy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kafka es mi vida LITERALMENTE cualquier cosa de Kafka merece todas las estrellas.
Te amo rey

[Jorge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Punto de vista cuando ya no les sirves a los demas

[hana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for school. Very short book but it was interesting, a little gross at times though

[Elena Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

[Thư Linh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot make you understand. I cannot make anyone understand what is happening inside me. I cannot even expain it to myself.

All language is but a poor translation.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Edna Omol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book during my commute to work and I must say It was the best decision ever. I enjoyed the prose and I empathised with Gregor at a personal level

[Sanyog · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a sad book. I can possibly see why it is considered a literary classic but I really can't find it in me like the life that Gregor lives post his conversion. Great book, but not for me.

[Jhoan Moreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I felt like the book guides you to understand the lonelyness of our main charachter, sharing all the sadness accumulated as our carachter goes through his change in life.

[Andy Rov · Rating 1 out of 5]

No me gustó, no me encariñe con ningún personaje, no me producio ninguna emoción y el tema en si está bien pero siento que no me gusto la manera en la que la presento me parecio bastante sencilla.

[Millena · Rating 3 out of 5]

And you think Your family is messed up!

[Camila Fetellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

You just have to read it.