NOTE: ‘Metamorphosis’ is a complete change of form, as transformed by magic or witchcraft. 

Kafka doesn’t beat around the bush and transforms his main character, Gregor Samsa to a horrible vermin right from the beginning of the novella. It gives an uncanny feeling of commencing a journey midway in Kafka’s infernal world, which appears full of metaphors and absurd reality for me. As like the best books, which act as a mirror to the reader’s soul and perception, the understanding of the same will differ for every other individual. I’m pleased that I never got the wonderful opportunity of reading ‘Metamorphosis’ as a part of academic studies; who do an exquisite job of aligning thoughts for every damn student. Though ‘Metamorphosis’ is a quick read, the underlying meanings can be life altering. No kidding, it’s that good! :p

Gregor is the financial pillar of Samsa’s family. And when he takes the form of bug, instead of wondering what kind of pot he smoked the previous night, he starts to worry about his job and family, which is hilarious in a different way. At times, the story is downright eerie. Lost translation? Nah, this phenomenon is named Kafkaesque. Although Gregor finds little comfort in his sister’s concern, the table turns gradually from bearing the financial burden of his family to becoming a burden himself. Gregor’s father is meant to be reflective of Kafka’s relationship with his real father; as Gregor Samsa is the metamorphosis of Franza Kafka. It’s true because it rhymes.

The book made a heavy impact on my routine thinking, and I’d recommend it especially for those who forcefully grind it out on a tedious 9 to 5 job. If one can resign that, he’s free from all the frivolity and is welcome to the land of clinical depression and social anxieties of being an artist. I hope I haven’t revealed much and left you as tempting as Kafka has me for his other works 🙂