Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis is a novella by Franz Kafka, first published in 1915. It has been cited as one of the seminal works of fiction of the 20th century. The story begins with a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, waking to find himself transformed into a large, monstrous insect-like creature. Samsa must learn to deal with his hideous new condition.

One day, Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, wakes up to find himself transformed into a giant insect (the most common translation of the German description ungeheures Ungeziefer, literally “monstrous vermin”). He reflects on how dreary life as a traveling salesman is. As he looks at the wall clock, he notices that he has overslept and missed his train for work. He ponders the consequences of this delay. Gregor becomes annoyed at how his boss never accepts excuses or explanations from any of his employees no matter how hard-working they are, displaying an apparent lack of trusting abilities. Gregor’s mother knocks on the door, and he answers her. She is concerned for Gregor because he is late for work, which is unorthodox for him. Gregor answers his mother and realizes that his voice has changed, but his answer is short, so his mother does not notice. His sister, Grete, to whom he is very close, then whispers through the door and begs him to open it. He tries to get out of bed but is incapable of moving his body. While trying to move, he finds that his office manager, the chief clerk, has shown up to check on him. He finally rocks his body to the floor and calls out that he will open the door shortly. Offended by Gregor’s delayed response in opening the door, the clerk warns him of the consequences of missing work and adds that Gregor’s recent performance has been unsatisfactory. Gregor disagrees and insists he will open the door, but nobody on the other side understands his voice, which has also transformed, and they conclude that he is seriously ill. When he finally manages to unlock and open the door with his mouth, he apologizes to the office manager for the delay. Horrified by Gregor’s appearance, his mother faints and the manager flees the apartment, while Gregor is driven back into the bedroom by his father using a cane and a rolled newspaper, injuring himself as he squeezes through the doorway before the door is slammed shut and he falls exhausted.

After this incident, Gregor awakens to find food left in his room and initially hopes for milk and bread, but quickly realizes he no longer enjoys it, instead becoming accustomed to rotting food scraps brought by his sister Grete, who begins caring for him despite her fear. A routine develops in which she feeds him and cleans his room while trying to avoid seeing him directly, as his appearance is too disturbing. Gregor spends his time hidden under the couch, listening through the walls as his family discusses their worsening financial situation now that he can no longer work or support them. He becomes increasingly aware of his complete dependence on them, recalling how he once planned to send Grete to study violin at the conservatory, a dream now abandoned. As his ability to communicate and function diminishes, so does his sense of self, and he learns that even his mother is not allowed to see him, as his father and sister attempt to protect her from the reality of his condition.