Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka

As I mentioned, I am an avid reader; once I pick up a book, I find it challenging to put it down.

Today I'm going to be talking about "The Metamorphosis " by Franz Kafka.

This book is about a salesman; Gregor Samsa; who wakes up one day metamorphosised into a hideous insect. This book was my introduction to absurd fiction. When I started reading it, I felt it was going to be a very disturbing book with weird themes and trauma; but I turned out to be completely wrong. This book can be read in two ways; literally and between the lines. If read literally, it is the epitome of a bad absurd fiction book. However, the way that Kafka wanted the book to be read was by understanding the symbolism. He once said that his book is not about insects, but humans. The way I read it, I took Gregor's metamorphosis as his sign of becoming ill. His family's attitude towards him completely changed because he turned into something they didn't want to see. He felt he was slipping away from his human identity. This feeling can be credited to the family's behaviour. Kafka was way ahead of his time with this book. How he captures the illness and the feelings of inferiority can only be read by a person who experienced it. It shows how neglect can affect a person and crush them. The end of the book encapsulates everything felt by the family and Gregor in just a few lines making it a powerful book. Reading it will be a memorable experience even if it is read too literally because Kafka was that amazing of a writer. 

5/5 

I would highly recommend this book!