The Metamorphosis
A salesman wakes transformed into a monstrous vermin.
One of Kafka's best-known works, it tells the story of salesman Gregor Samsa, who wakes to find himself inexplicably transformed into a huge insect and struggles to adjust to this condition, as does his family. The novella has been widely discussed among literary critics, who have offered varied interpretations.
- Author
- Franz Kafka
- Original language
- German
- Genre
- Novella
- Length
- About 70 printed pages
- Protagonist
- Gregor Samsa
Lore & Background
At about 70 printed pages, it is the longest of the stories Kafka considered complete and published during his lifetime.
Reader's Guide
The Metamorphosis is a central work in Kafka's oeuvre and has been subject to varied interpretations. Sociological interpretations see the Samsa family as representing a typical family of the time and place. The novella's depiction of alienation, family dynamics, and the protagonist's transformation into an insect has made it a touchstone for discussions of identity, isolation, and the absurd. In popular culture and adaptations, the insect is commonly depicted as a cockroach.
Did You Know?
- The German title Die Verwandlung is pronounced [dɪ fɛɐ̯ˈvantlʊŋ].
- The insect is described as 'ungeheueres Ungeziefer', meaning 'monstrous vermin'.
- Gregor Samsa dies of starvation before sunrise after his family decides to get rid of him.
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