The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is an absurdest fiction story written in third person POV. In the story we follow the life of a man, Gregor Samsa who has physically changed into a bug. As I opened the cover I am quickly aware of the importance of this transformation. Gregor is annoyed by this new development of being a bug but does not seem to react to it. |
I'm sure this is probably one of the most analyzed texts there is. So I have fought all temptation to search out the commonly held beliefs about the text. I have to say thinking for myself in a text that is absurdest is a huge challenge. Because the very nature of absurdest fiction is for the reader to question everything. In the clip above I read it as Gregor is like "Oh crap I'm a bug, but let me look around my room. Why did Kafka choose to make the second paragraph of the story so much more about the room. The ordinary room of an ordinary man, who happened to turn into a bug. Gregor is so lonely he framed a picture taken from a magazine. The women is extravagant among all the simpleness of a quiet room. This woman who he had been attracted to enough to cut out her picture and frame it in a frame he made by hand was half draped in the furs of animals. And Gregor's one chance at an extraordinary life, was to become a pest, a monstrous vermin. Gregor struggles to communicate with the family. The family struggle to communicate with each other. The only person who understands Gregor is his sister. The communication issues with the family are obviously part of the theme. See an example below. |
Who is Gregor?
- A slave to his job
- A provider for his family
- Bored
- Never dated
- had a craft
- A loner
As a bug:
- Hungry
- A burden to his family
- An annoyance