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I'd never read anything by Kafka and was reqd to do so for a book group I'm in. It was so compelling. I heartily recommend it, and it's a novella, so it's not a big time commitment. It grabs you from the very first sentence.
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The Metamorphosis / 0-553-21369-5
When I was in 9th grade, my somewhat harried teacher attempted to assign me Ovid's Metamorphosis (a collection of Greek myths) and instead assigned me Kafka's Metamorphosis. Kafka's tale is short but packed with vivid symbolism in which a young man inexplicably wakes up one day as a large roach creature and subsequently fails to turn back into a man. After a confusing night with the novel, I reported back to the befuddled teacher, and she substituted another book, much to my relief.
Years later, I now reread Kafka with an adult's awe and appreciation, rather than the child's confusion. The novel is packed with deep symbolism and, even now, I could not tell you with confidence what it "means". I believe the story is of being trapped in a family that does not appreciate you, except for what you can do for them, and I believe the sad ending masks an even sadder one - that the young daughter will soon become the new symbolic 'roach' to the family, bringing in resources but never loved or appreciated. However, I have heard other interpretations, each meaningful and special. I recommend this book, but the very first read through should be with a light eye, not questioning the strangeness nor looking too hard for meaning. Rather, I think Kafka is best when you allow the impressions to kind of wash over you as you go.
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*SPOILER WARNING*
The Metamorphosis most certainly has an interesting premise, but is deeply and I'm afraid, fatally flawed. It starts out quite well, draws the reader in, and goes along pretty well for the very first chapter, but begins a sharp decline from there. There are some problems with quality and believability from the beginning, but they become painfully clear by the second and certainly by the third chapter.
In the very first place, it seems strange that Gregor's family, after having months to adjust themselves to his new bug-like condition (though granted they didn't look at him much), should react so violently to the mere sight of him. His mother faints, his sister flees the room in terror, and his father ruthlessly bombards him with the contents of a nearby fruit bowl. I doubt that the devil himself could create a creature that ugly. And despite his distinctly human actions (namely covering the couch that he crawls under with a sheet to shield them from his ugliness), somehow by the end of the story they seem to have reached the conclusion that he is a mindless and savage beast (though seeing as this is so we wonder why they didn't dispose of him long before).
Despite all of this The Metamorphosis could have been a sad, sweet, sickening story, of the kind that makes you want to be a better person (though perhaps not read it again), were it not for the behavior of the protagonist. He is finally defeated, and does not become happy, or change back into a human, or even die a noble death. Instead he becomes demoralized and loses his self-respect. He does not retaliate toward his cruel treatment or try to communicate. Instead he festers in his own pride and cynicism. In a sense his innermost being comes to match the hideousness of his outward appearance. This book, at its conclusion is neither sweet nor sad, but merely sickening.
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Kafka easily, methodically draws you into a metamophosis of your own as you ready into this novel. Every time I read this work, I gain a new perspective and appreciation for the plight of the main character. I never feel like I've turned into a large insect, but I certainly give myself a good chill as Kafka brings it all to life.
Existentialists will appreciate how internal the narrative remains throughout. When you unexpectedly morph into another species, the laws of society start to apply differently to you...and naturally changes who you are as well...