Sterling Professor of the Humanities Harold Bloom

Presents a collection of critical essays about Kafka's The metamorphosis.

The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka, New Edition

Die Verwandlung

Franz Kafka

"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect. He was laying on his hard, as it were armor-plated, back and when he lifted his head a little he could see his domelike brown belly divided into stiff arched segments on top of which the bed quilt could hardly keep in position and was about to slide off completely. His numerous legs, which were pitifully thin compared to the rest of his bulk, waved helplessly before his eyes." With its startling, bizarre, yet surprisingly funny first opening, Kafka begins his masterpiece, The Metamorphosis. It is the story of a young man who, transformed overnight into a giant beetle-like insect, becomes an object of disgrace to his family, an outsider in his own home, a quintessentially alienated man. A harrowing-though absurdly comic-meditation on human feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and isolation, The Metamorphosis has taken its place as one of the most widely read and influential works of twentieth-century fiction. As W.H. Auden wrote, "Kafka is important to us because his predicament is the predicament of modern man."

The Metamorphosis

Mimi

 "How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense"

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

Bringing together some of Kafka's finest work, this collection demonstrates the richness and variety of the author's artistry.

The Metamorphosis and Other Stories

fareez

Sometimes he looks at me, as if to say: ‘I’ll go with you, father.’ And then I think to myself: ‘You’d be the last man I’d entrust myself to.’ And then his look seems to say: ‘Well, then at least I’ll be the last.’

My grandfather was in the habit of saying: 'Life is astonishingly brief. By now it is all so condensed in my memory that I can hardly understand, for instance, how a young man can undertake to ride to the neighbouring village without wondering whether - even if everything goes right-the span of a normal happy life will be enough for such a ride.’

Isolation and lack of connection only results in the deterioration of one’s own humanity and sense of self? 

As he listened to these words of his mother, Gregor understood that the want of any direct human address, in combination with his monotonous life at the heart of the family over the past couple of months, must have confused his understanding, because otherwise he would not have been able to account for the fact that he seriously wanted to have his room emptied out. Was it really his wish to have his cosy room, comfortable furnished with old heirlooms, transformed into a sort of cave, merely so that he would be able to crawl around in it freely, without hindrance in an direction — even at the expense of rapid and utterly forgetting his human past?

Alison Deaner

As nobody could understand him, nobody, not even his sister

It occurred to him how simple everything would be if somebody came to help him.

Oriana andrade

As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.

He thought back on his family with tenderness and love. His opinion that he must by all means disappear was possibly even more emphatic than that of his sister. He remained in this state of empty, peaceful reflection until the clocktower struck the third hour of morning. He watched as everything began to lighten outside his window. Then his head sank all the way to the floor without volition and from his nostrils his last breath faintly streamed.

With a certain definitiveness he sensed, terrified, that everything was about to collapse all around him, and so he waited. 

“would you love me if i was a worm?” just more complicated

die verwandlung

The metamorphosis

tuna

They had been good times and they had never come again, at least not with the same splendour

The previous morning while the doors were locked everyone had wanted to get in there to him, but now, now that he had opened up one of the doors and the other had clearly been unlocked some time during the day, no-one came, and the keys were in the other sides.

Luca Stromann

Anfangs rief sie ihn auch zu sich herbei, mit Worten, die sie wahrscheinlich für freundlich hielt, wie »Komm mal herüber, alter Mistkäfer!« oder »Seht mal den alten Mistkäfer!«

[…] denn ihn hätte man doch in einer passenden Kiste mit ein paar Luftlöchern leicht transportieren können;

The Metamorphosis begins almost comically. A man wakes up to find he has turned into an insect. But the claustrophobic, dirty room and the increasingly distressed narrator soon turn this into a tale of slow horror. Most horrifying of all is his family's reaction to his metamorphosis and their final solution to the problem.

raia – inactive

He was already on the verge of forgetting, and only his mother’s voice, which he had gone so long now without hearing, had shaken him awake.

Poor old Gregor. One day he's depressed about his dreary travelling salesman gig, the next, he's roaching around the apartment and disgusting his family. All that's left is creeping the walls and eating garbage. How's his sis ever going to find a sugar daddy with her grotty bro in tow? Latest in the series of classic novels with unique retro pulp covers from original artwork and a pleasing dollop of wry humour.

Metamorphosis

Shelby Doherty

Erzählung

Franzi

For the 125th anniversary of Kafka's birth comes an astonishing new translation of his best-known stories, in a spectacular graphic package.

Elina Berzina

The book begins with the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, when one morning he wakes up to find himself transformed into a sort of gigantic insect. Before Gregor’s metamorphosis, he was a travelling salesman who tirelessly provided for his family.

I believe that Kafka tried to interpret that Gregor’s metamorphosis is a powerful metaphor for the alienation he feels from his family and society. 

The book begins with the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, when one morning he wakes up to find himself transformed into a sort of gigantic insect. Before Gregor’s metamorphosis, he was a travelling salesman who tirelessly provided for his family.

I believe that Kafka tried to interpret that Gregor’s metamorphosis is a powerful metaphor for the alienation he feels from his family and society. 

The Metamorphosis is a surreal tale of transformation, both physical and emotional. Gregor Samsa, the protagonist, awakens one day to find himself transformed into a giant insect, an absurd and grotesque event that serves as a powerful metaphor for alienation, societal pressure, and personal identity. His metamorphosis reflects the way he has long felt dehumanized, reduced to a mere function in his family and society.

The prose is cold yet profound, creating an atmosphere of quiet horror and tragic inevitability. The story unfolds in a space where the absurd becomes ordinary, and Gregor’s growing estrangement from those around him mirrors a slow, painful dissolution of his humanity. Each page drips with a haunting melancholy, as his family’s initial shock fades into indifference, symbolizing how society often discards those who no longer serve its purpose.

This book explores not only physical transformation but also the fragility of identity and the cruelty of social rejection, weaving a dreamlike, unsettling tale of isolation that lingers long after the final word.

The Metamorphosis is a surreal tale of transformation, both physical and emotional. Gregor Samsa, the protagonist, awakens one day to find himself transformed into a giant insect, an absurd and grotesque event that serves as a powerful metaphor for alienation, societal pressure, and personal identity. His metamorphosis reflects the way he has long felt dehumanized, reduced to a mere function in his family and society.

The prose is cold yet profound, creating an atmosphere of quiet horror and tragic inevitability. The story unfolds in a space where the absurd becomes ordinary, and Gregor’s growing estrangement from those around him mirrors a slow, painful dissolution of his humanity. Each page drips with a haunting melancholy, as his family’s initial shock fades into indifference, symbolizing how society often discards those who no longer serve its purpose.

This book explores not only physical transformation but also the fragility of identity and the cruelty of social rejection, weaving a dreamlike, unsettling tale of isolation that lingers long after the final word.

Gwenifer

When Gregor Samsa awakens one morning, he discovers that he has changed into a giant dung beetle.

swan

ainda é o livro que eu mais gostei quando fiz a leitura — forçada — nos anos de escola.

ainda é o livro que eu mais gostei quando fiz a leitura — forçada — nos anos de escola.

a mente do kafka era insana. <3.

eris

some thoughts: burnout, the feeling of uselessness, consequently leading to isolation, resulted from not being able to provide and work, one’s worth being tied to one’s labor

liked the writing style, descriptive and direct.

nica

some thoughts: burnout, the feeling of uselessness, consequently leading to isolation, resulted from not being able to provide and work, one’s worth being tied to one’s labor

liked the writing style, descriptive and direct.

that audiobook narrator was so annoying…

It took me quite a while to read, but the symbolism in this book is gut wrenching. Kafka portrays realism through a much unusual situation. The book leaves you thinking alot about life and the different way people see you. It also sheds light on miscommunication, or rather how something can be so differently perceived than you might intend it to be like. An important piece of literature.

Katerina

What a dreadful book. Am I the only one who does not get Kafka's style of writing? Because I did not find it unique, as people say, at all. Absurd and stupid, yes. But unique? Absolutely not.

man i don’t know, the symbolism in this book explores themes of isolation and alienation, its very short, and maybe not everyones going to get it!

raine

HAAAAATEEEEEE when ppl are mean to gregor 

flor 

Ayesha

Wassim

Reading it in the morning going to work is amazing and sad at the same time 
Like he ruin and made my day at the same time

A profound exploration of the human condition, focusing on themes of alienation, guilt, and the dehumanising effects of modern society. The story revolves around Gregor Samsa, who transforms into a gigantic insect, leading to his inability to support his family. i felt as though this transformation can be interpreted as a metaphor for a debilitating mental and or physical illness, highlighting the societal and familial 'repercussions' of such conditions.

Gregor's sudden incapacity evokes feelings of guilt and worthlessness, as he can no longer fulfill his role as the breadwinner. This shift in his ability to contribute financially causes his family and manager to look down on him, exacerbating his isolation and helplessness. The novella poignantly depicts Gregor's struggle to communicate and maintain his identity amidst his transformation, ultimately feeling more like a burden than a person.

Kafka's narrative serves as a powerful critique of capitalism, illustrating the harsh realities and societal attitudes towards those who become disabled or otherwise unable to work. The story exposes the cruelty, ignorance, grief, and impotence of Gregor's family and manager, reflecting broader societal issues. By depicting Gregor's plight, Kafka underscores the dehumanising nature of a system that values individuals solely for their productivity, rather than their inherent worth.

annalyse! 

A profound exploration of the human condition, focusing on themes of alienation, guilt, and the dehumanising effects of modern society. The story revolves around Gregor Samsa, who transforms into a gigantic insect, leading to his inability to support his family. i felt as though this transformation can be interpreted as a metaphor for a debilitating mental and or physical illness, highlighting the societal and familial 'repercussions' of such conditions.

Gregor's sudden incapacity evokes feelings of guilt and worthlessness, as he can no longer fulfill his role as the breadwinner. This shift in his ability to contribute financially causes his family and manager to look down on him, exacerbating his isolation and helplessness. The novella poignantly depicts Gregor's struggle to communicate and maintain his identity amidst his transformation, ultimately feeling more like a burden than a person.

Kafka's narrative serves as a powerful critique of capitalism, illustrating the harsh realities and societal attitudes towards those who become disabled or otherwise unable to work. The story exposes the cruelty, ignorance, grief, and impotence of Gregor's family and manager, reflecting broader societal issues. By depicting Gregor's plight, Kafka underscores the dehumanising nature of a system that values individuals solely for their productivity, rather than their inherent worth.

Anjorin Molayo 

the story conveys a sense of strangeness and loneliness. 

A person waking up, only to find out that he’s a bug. He woke up trying to prepare for work. He was even still trying to prepare for work even as a bug. It shows how much he didn’t care about his appearance. He just wanted to get to work so he’ll be able to provide for his helpless family. 

I’m convinced the family only needed him for financial provision, because the father hasn’t been working for 5 years, also, his mother only stays at home. Even with providing for his family, he still had the responsibility of sending his sister to a conservatory, because she likes playing the violin. 

I feel like there’s a message in this story. What I took from it is how capitalism is. How capitalism sucks the life out of someone, but you’d still have to get up everyday to go to work. About how capitalism devours its workers when they're unable to work or possibly about how the people who deviate from the norm are isolated. However, I mostly notice how Samsa's a big frickin' beetle and his family pretends he doesn't exist.

It was just sad with the way they all treated him as such. It was quite depressing too.

I am connected to this story on a spiritual level

Anne

I want to like it 🥲 please help me like it because I'm so disappointed.

This is my very first Kafka book. I really enjoyed the writing style but I am still unsure on how I feel about it overall. The book takes a rather nihilistic outlook but perhaps that's also a realistic one. I mean what could you do if you became a bug overnight but feel terrible. Society is definitely not ready for bug people.  Would our families continue to love us if we were giant bugs? I suppose I have a lot to think about. In writing this I realise Franz Kafka was the first person to ask if we would still love him if he was a worm.  Due to its short length I think "the metamorphosis" is worth trying, while it may not be for everyone i think it holds up as a classic for a reason.

Marz 

literally "would you still love me if i was a [thing]" but in this instance it's a dung beetle and no one loves you

bunny♡﻿

Amna A.

Update:
After getting halfway through the author's biography, I came to understand that Franz Kafka has developed a feeling of antisemitism against his own self due to how the society of that time spoke of Jews. So it could be possible that he saw himself as the harmless bug-like creature, shunned upon by society because of who he was rather than what he did.


There was this graphic biography that looked interesting about the life of Franz Kafka. So I thought I should read a couple of his works before indulging in his life, so I chose The Metamorphosis. This book was strange. It started out with Gregor, the only provider for his family, waking up as he was transforming into a foreign creature with tentacles and a huge head. Gregor then became resented by his parents and sister whom he previously sacrificed many years of his life working to earn for them. But now that he had morphed into another being who could barely leave his room, he began to be a burden on them. It soon came to be that everybody within the household had given up on who once was the most important member of the family, and they convinced themselves that something must be done to get rid of the creature who could never have been the Gregor they knew. Of course, Gregor was still conscious of what was going on during the conversations his family had but he lacked the skill to communicate his thoughts back to them. I'm not sure what the symbolism here is, perhaps it's the idea of being unexpectedly shunned by society and alienated by those whom you trusted once you start being different from what is expected of you. Or of how, once you start being useless, people simply forget all that you've done for them and discard you out of their lives.

chris

only reason i read this is bc mad ppl quote it but when i ask them if they’ve read it they’re like no

The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka, New Edition

Reviews

Highlights