The Metamorphosis – Best Franz Kafka Book For Beginners! 👌

Reading is considered a habit that is pretty much capable of transforming a person. When you read a book, your brain goes through a wide range of experiences. Your brain learns to focus on the words and builds a connection with the story. Some books are so wonderful that they give your mind this euphoric experience of imagining a world larger than your life. So, the point is, every book changes you, every story transforms you, and reading as a habit in itself is a kind of Metamorphosis.

The Metamorphosis (Review)

The Metamorphosis is one of those rare books that completely sucks you in and shows you a world so distorted, dark, and yet so real that your mind learns the art of imagination. You start imagining; you see figures and shapes inside your mind that connect you with the book on a very different level. I like to classify my reading journey into two parts – the pre-Kafka phase and the post-Kafka phase.

The day I read Metamorphosis was also the day I decided I would never give up on reading. Reading is one of the most fulfilling experiences ever. And especially if you are reading a Franz Kafka book, the effect is going to be crazy. Franz Kafka was one of the most important figures in twentieth-century literature. He was a Bohemian novelist and short story writer. Born in Prague (now the capital of the Czech Republic), Kafka explored the themes of alienation, existential crisis, absurdity, etc.

Other than ‘The Metamorphosis’, Kafka wrote ‘The Trial’ and ‘The Castle’ widely acknowledged and loved greatly. Kafka used to write a lot of letters to his friends and family members. In his lifetime, Kafka engaged several women but could never marry any of them. His letters to those women are also widely loved and appreciated because of the sheer vulnerability and honesty with which those letters were written.

However, Kafka was not a full-time writer; he used to write in his spare time. He was a lawyer and worked full-time at an insurance company. His middle-class upbringing taught him a lot about society and its classification, which was also the reason why he understood the plight of common men so well. When you read his books, you will recognize that Kafka felt deeply for the sufferings of the common men who had to suffer endlessly because of the corruption running in the social system.

His books present the reality of the modern world vividly, and anyone can relate to his writing, even today. His stories are still relevant, and most of the common men resonate with his characters and stories. There is a term in the English language called ‘Kafkaesque’, which basically means ‘situations like those that you find in Kafka’s writing’. The term ‘Kafkaesque’ consists of surreal distortions, a sense of impending danger, menacing complexities, etc.

The Metamorphosis, originally written in German, titled ‘Die Verwandlung’, is a novella and one of Kafka’s best-known works. The plot of the novella follows the story of a traveling salesman named Gregor Samsa. One morning he wakes up and finds himself completely transformed into a ‘monstrous vermin’. Gregor’s Metamorphosis from a human being to a huge insect shocks him, but he thinks of the transformation as something temporary.

And instead of thinking about his distressed and bizarre state, Gregor starts thinking about his job and his employer, who would definitely fire him for his absence. But there is nothing much Gregor can do, as it is very difficult for him to function in his newly transformed body. And soon enough, his office manager comes to his house to check up on him and know the reason behind his sudden absence.

Gregor tries to communicate from behind his room’s closed door, but his family and the office manager cannot understand anything, as his voice becomes completely incomprehensible. Finally, Gregor somehow drags himself to open the door, and seeing him, the office manager takes off, and his family members end up utterly terrified. The story then begins, and we get to see how his life completely transforms. The metaphor and the symbolism in this book are taught to so many literature students worldwide in various educational institutions.

This book is not just about Gregor Samsa’s physical Metamorphosis; it’s more about the change in people’s behavior when a person becomes weak. Gregor was the only earning member of his family. Therefore, he tended to all the needs of his father, mother, and sister. He sacrificed his own needs and wants in order to tend to his family’s desires. But after his Metamorphosis, he became completely useless; and henceforth, his family began treating him accordingly.

If you observe and understand the symbolism properly, you will notice the similarities between Gregor and people going through some kind of illness. Diseases and illnesses transform a man into an insect that becomes an unnecessary burden on a family and society. The people around that person forget everything that he or she must have done before. They only see the uselessness of his existence and start treating him as a burden.

Franz Kafka’s novella ‘The Metamorphosis’ comes with a lot of lessons. It shocks you and opens your eyes. The symbolism and metaphors are easy and traceable. But, I wonder what led Kafka to write a book so heavy and dark. The book encompasses so many varied emotions that it gets pretty daunting for the reader. Nevertheless, this book is one of the most stunning books ever written in the history of literature. It’s a Franz Kafka masterpiece. So, like me, if you are a literature lover, then you should definitely go ahead and read this book. I am hundred percent sure you are going to love this book so much! You can get the book here! 📖