Review: The Metamorphosis
Author and Year:
Franz Kafka, 1915
Gotta love that WWI era literature.
Plot:
Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to find that he has transformed into an unspecified vermin. To some people this might be kind of cool, but Gregor has other duties to uphold, being the primary bread-winner in his household and such. Before his transformation, Gregor had always been nothing less than a beloved member of the family... could him being a bug really change all of that?
By The Cover:
Unfortunately, I can't say much on the impression this book's cover made on me, since I actually read it as a pdf. However, I do like the covers I found through a Google search, so I included one of those for your own personal judgment. Also, I saw a pretty hunky dory t-shirt for it once, so I'll include that here as well.
First Line:
"One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin."
I have a low tolerance for how long a book takes to develop, so I loved how Kafka didn't beat around the bush and just got straight into the plot. I'm sure that this fast-paced, instantly intriguing opening was one of the reasons why this novella was such a quick read.
I have a low tolerance for how long a book takes to develop, so I loved how Kafka didn't beat around the bush and just got straight into the plot. I'm sure that this fast-paced, instantly intriguing opening was one of the reasons why this novella was such a quick read.
Last Line:
"And, as if in confirmation of their new dreams and good intentions, as soon as they reached their destination Grete was the first to get up and stretch her young body."
For quick reference, Grete is Gregor's sister. Yup. *tries very hard not to say something that might spoil the book*
A Quote:
"'Getting up early all the time,' he thought, 'it makes you stupid. You've got to get enough sleep..."
Sorry, I know this quote has no literary significance, but I related to Gregor so strongly here. There are some other great quotes, but I think I'll withhold them in the interest of preventing spoilers.
"And, as if in confirmation of their new dreams and good intentions, as soon as they reached their destination Grete was the first to get up and stretch her young body."
For quick reference, Grete is Gregor's sister. Yup. *tries very hard not to say something that might spoil the book*
A Quote:
"'Getting up early all the time,' he thought, 'it makes you stupid. You've got to get enough sleep..."
Sorry, I know this quote has no literary significance, but I related to Gregor so strongly here. There are some other great quotes, but I think I'll withhold them in the interest of preventing spoilers.
Favorite Part:
When Gregor first starts climbing on the walls, and he actually has some fun. It's the only time the poor guy allows himself some happiness, and he's pretty cute about it.
Least Favorite Part:
When the apple gets lodged in Gregor's shell. Well, not just passively "lodged", but... you know. It's so painful and heartbreaking and just plain sad.
Final Comments:
If you think you're a heartless person, give The Metamorphosis a try, and you'll probably find feelings within you that you never knew existed. Truly, the amount of emotion Kafka can stir up in less than 100 pages is incredible, and the plot moves at a perfect pace. Perhaps the one thing this book lacks is depth, as the story is pretty straightforward once you learn that Gregor's story reflects a lot of Kafka's own fears about being a burden on his family. Nonetheless, if you like quick reads that have a lasting impact, The Metamorphosis is an ideal story to pick up. Give it a try!
Rating*: 4.5/5
*I honestly can't think of anything I didn't like about The Metamorphosis, but I feel like I need to keep the amount of 5's I dole out to a minimum. I can think of one book that I would give a 5, but I'm not sure when I would ever review it...
