The story of a man who turned into a roach!

The Metamorphosis 
Franz Kafka

‘Gregor Samsa woke up one morning to find himself to be a giant cockroach.’ The opening line of Franz Kafka’s literary classic ‘The Metamorphosis’ had me interested to find out more about the strange plight of a human being who turned into an enormous insect. What followed was a tumultuous voyage of Samsa due to his unusual transformation.

The plot begins with Gregor Samsa, a dejected not-so-successful salesman opening his eyes one fine morning to discover himself transformed into a huge cockroach on his bed. This discovery obviously shocks him. Added to the misery is the physical discomfort of having to manage three pairs of legs, couple of antlers and an itchy back that he can’t scratch.

While Gregor Samsa is transformed, he is hidden inside his room fearing his family’s rejection of his horrible situation. And when they do see his plight, Samsa isn’t wrong at all. He cowers into the darkness of the room hiding himself behind a large sofa. The happenings that unfold outside the room  around the Samsa family is for Gregor Samsa to hear and the reader to visualize.

Samsa’s family comprises his parents and a younger sister, Grete. The family is hit financially and his transformation adds to their misery. With no earning member, the family’s condition deteriorates. Despite the landlord’s warnings and burdens increase they trudge along. Through the course of events, the family undergoes a metamorphosis of sorts as they bond with each other and become self sufficient.

Kafka’s beautiful allegory of the metamorphosis is a real treat. The transformation may have been physical to Samsa, but his family too goes through a different kind of metamorphosis. The younger sister, who is timid, dependent and is unable to make decisions for herself, eventually stands up for herself. His parents, father in particular, learns to adapt to the changes and be more thankful to little mercies. As for the mother, she also becomes self-reliant. It seems as though the metamorphosis of Gregor Samsa was meant for the positive changes in the family.

Franz Kafka’s style may have been a little too cerebral and heavy to digest in the beginning. However, as I read on, I found myself engrossed in the story. Brevity may be the soul of wit but Kafka will tell you otherwise. His attention to detail and clarity of description in just a single sentence equivalent to a half-page worth paragraph will leave you stumped. The name metamorphosis may well be suited for the reader too, who will gradually start feeling for every character he created, Gregor Samsa in particular.

What happens to Gregor Samsa, his emotional turmoil, of loneliness and isolation – will he turn back into a human being or will he be content in his new form? This story is for you to read and find out for youself!