The Metamorphosis: And Other Stories (The Schocken Kafka Library)

Rad book cover

Franz Kafka at his best.

This book is a very easy read wile the stories will still dig deep into your mind

Though all of Kafka’s works have received great fame, The Metamorphosis is is considered one of his most recalled stories when we think of the author. 🦟“When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin.” Thus begins “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka. Arguably, THE most influential work of surreal fiction. Metamorphosis is the bizarre tale of a traveling salesman named Gregor Samsa. One day Gregor wakes up and finds himself inexplicably transformed into a giant bug. 🦟What would YOU do if you woke from your sleep and transformed into a hideous creature? Getting late for work would perhaps be the last thing you’d think of. Yet, that’s what Gregor does first. The absurdity of this fact signifies that this book is not about his metamorphosis. I mean it is for the sake of the story, but at its core, it’s a deep dive into themes of isolation, despair, and the uglier side of human nature. When you read about Kafka’s internal conflicts and struggles, you can find its shadow upon Metamorphosis. So much so, that some consider this to be his autobiographical work. Metamorphosis is a looking glass for those who feel they don’t belong. It reflects the feelings of being a stranger in a hostile world. However, all this is pretty well known, given the book’s undoubted popularity both in the world of literature and Media. And here, I want to share what I felt after reading this book. But before that, here’s the fun fact: 🦟Did you know that David Lynch’s surrealist film “Eraserhead” is highly influenced by Kafka’s Metamorphosis? Both works share themes of existential dread, transformation, and the grotesque, with Lynch’s film drawing from the unsettling and nightmarish atmosphere present in Kafka’s novella. Metamorphosis had been on my read list for quite a while. Ever since I discovered the word “Kafkaesque”, I’ve been meaning to read it. I’ve known about its classic status and always wanted to explore its strangeness. Contrary to the grim nature of the premise, Kafka found ways to instill humor into the story, albeit subtle. However, it’s debatable what Kafka intended for his story to be. Though the consensus is that of despair and misery, I could not help but find elements of humor in some instances, as did a few other readers. For instance, Gregor’s initial reaction to his transformation is surprisingly mundane. Instead of panicking, he worries about missing work and the consequences of his tardiness, highlighting the absurdity of his situation and eliciting a darkly comedic response. Another example is the way Gregor’s family reacts to his transformation; often portrayed with a sense of irony. Their attempts to deal with him, swinging between horror and practical concerns, can be seen as darkly humorous, especially in their exaggerated and sometimes ludicrous behavior. Whether Kafka intended it to be this way is highly speculative, but one thing is for certain. He used the creative process of writing as a path to salvation, that allowed him to come to terms with the world and express his negative experiences. 🦟The American Literary critic and essayist, Francis George Steiner said: “He who has read Kafka’s Metamorphosis and can look into his mirror unflinching may technically be able to read print, but is illiterate in the only sense that matters.”― George Steiner Steiner’s comment highlights the profound impact and depth of Kafka’s Metamorphosis. He suggests that truly engaging with the novella requires more than just the ability to read words on a page; it demands a deep, reflective understanding of its themes and the human condition. If someone reads Metamorphosis and remains unaffected, failing to see its reflections on their own life and the world around them, they miss the essence of true literacy. Kafka’s unique narrative style, blending the surreal with the mundane, has influenced countless writers, making it a cornerstone of modernist literature.

Brod got a good bit of it wrong. The Trial was of course well worth saving from the fire, but that and this collection of stories would have well set a legacy unto themselves. Though I think the Muirs translation is rather clunky, the stories themselves are just magnificent. I hadn't actually read The Metamorphosis since grad school, and even now being able to look behind the curtain a bit is of no problem and only lends further depth to my awe. My absolute fav remains In the Penal Colony--a story as biting now in its handling of tradition and its adherents as any. Kafka is a name for a reason, and not because Brod saved a lot of fragments from the flame. This collection is more than most writers could ever hope to accomplish.

I give 4 stars for the quality of the book, which is almost brand new! But I give 5 stars for The metamorphosis as a book! I don't think I've read any book that starts with the main character waking up as a bug. I could tell that author was at the height of anxiety and he demonstrated it through his portrayal of Gregor, the protagonist. His ramblings and contemplations are far-fetched and I found it disturbing to read at times. The fact that his family got better only after Gregor's death was very poignant. I did sympathize with Gregor at times especially when he leaned on the wall to listen to what his family says about him (unfortunately, wasn't a positive one).

Existentialism abounds in this collection of all the works Kafka published in his lifetime. This is an indispensable book for anybody interested in Kafka, but it does take a fair amount of reflection to grasp what message Kafka is communicating. Many of his short stories are collections of more short stories—some as short as a paragraph. Although at times seemingly disjointed, the common thread of what it means to exist and how it is we find our own meaning in life brings the stories together in a haunting way.

I like Franz Kafka and this was a decent quality book that had some of his stories ig

This is not a review of the book but I would like to point out that the Kindle wdition I've bought is not a translation of Joachim Neugroschel, rather the same old Willa and Edwin Muir. This is utterly misleading. I have bought the book just because I have seen so much praise for the translation of Joachim Neugroschel. Giving 1 star.

if you think you will get a properly cut one then no, you won’t. everybody gets that ugly cut book and guess what- paper quality isn’t even that bad and the book is overall fine but these unevenly cut pages Aaaa

Très bien

llego con defectos en la pprtada, pero llego rapido

Printing and binding were excellent on my copy.