In classic literature, the ultimate weirdo supreme is Franz Kafka, whose work relied on shocking imagery. It lead to the rise of "Kafkaesque" stories, which challenged the very structure of what a narrative could tell. But what makes Kafka worth remembering in this way? It wasn't just that his work was so jolting. It's also that stories like "The Metamorphosis" reflect a deeper and more unsettling subtext about culture. For all of Kafka's strengths in prose, it wouldn't be the same if he didn't have stubborn intentions to make something simple as a man turning into a bug into a grander theme of life. To be "Kafkaesque" is to be weird with a tragic political undertone. Few short stories exemplify this quite like his most recognized story that takes a small location and turns it into one of the biggest statements possible.
It starts in a bedroom. Gregor Samsa is a travelling salesman who must catch a train, but finds it difficult to get out of bed. His family is knocking on the door while his boss makes a brief appearance to wonder about his lethargy. I's difficult in modern times to come to what happens next in a fresh light, if just because of how inspired it is. Gregor is trapped in his bed where his "little legs" can't quite get him up. As the tension rises outside, he slowly discovers why he's having so much trouble. He has become a bug, of which nobody wants to look at. They even have a cleaning woman who quits over the sight of Gregor's unkempt room. Once Gregor's condition is discovered, the story turns into ethics about Gregor's very purpose of life, as nobody is likely to buy anything from him now.
What helps is that Kafka is both upfront and slow in his coy reveal. Details such as "little legs" begin popping up almost immediately. However, there's no description of Gregor that doesn't have ties to his physical appearance being morphed. The story leaves the actual metamorphosis interpretation up to the reader, but it's still supposed to be horrifying. The story gets clever as it begins by keeping Gregor's family in suspense as he becomes more insecure. He wants that acceptance that all humans deserve, but he quickly becomes the pawn of a lot of insults and hostility. Gregor is basically doomed, with the story choosing not to provide a happy ending, or any semblance of joy for the protagonist. It's bleak, but it also manages to be preachy without mentioning its true text at the same time, proving to be one of the finest works of fiction.
Why is Gregor a bug? There's a lot that can be read into it. The literal is that: he just is. However, it is interesting when compared to what details interest him as a character. He is a salesman who has to work. He must get up and go, but is restricted because of his physicality. Even his boss stops by to condemn him at one point. It is irony then that it's because of his job that he's become an ugly and repulsive creature dedicated to making money for his family. He isn't even human because of how much his family relies on him. He's also too antisocial to his family, whom he probably doesn't see often, making him unrecognizable to even his loved ones. He's only discarded of when his use has been exceeded. So, why a bug? It's a simple and repulsive imagery, especially for those who consider them intrusive or simply hate them and want them dead. This is the brilliance of Kafka. He may have made an unnerving horror story out of a simple concept, but it has endured because of what it's actually saying.
"The Metamorphosis" is a solid gateway into the work of one of literature's richest voices. It should be noted that due to the cryptic nature of the text, it may be difficult to pick up on what's really happening. Even then, the whole point of the book is understood, which is the deteriorating humanity of Gregor. The fact that Kafka managed to cover so much while exploring what takes place in predominantly "three rooms" is one of the most ingenious tools in literature. There's a reason that this story is still talked about. It's disturbing and can make you sick, but it also will make you question society in ways that you never thought possible before. Sometimes the best way to comment on injustice is to turn into a bug, and that's just what happens here.
Rating: 5 out of 5
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