(I have read, in particular, an edition that was translated by Ian Johnston.)
Let me start off by saying this: I have a deep aversion to insects, so I was rather squeamish while reading more than one passage here. Eeeeek.
I applaud the book for having been able to agitate me into learning more about it. I am also impressed on how simply narrated the circumstances were discussed– from Gregor managing to adapt to his new life (from trying to get out of bed to hiding under the “coverlet”) to Grete changing her stance from love to something probably akin to hate towards her brother. I was appalled by how human the family reacted to Gregor’s new identity– from fright to love to indifference to, finally, annoyance. I just find it so richly entertaining and vaguely disturbing how the family could be so complacent about letting Gregor do all the work, then complain when they have to then work and take care of Gregor in turn. (highlight for spoilers)
(Warning: I may ramble from here on out. Beware.)
This book perplexed me. Not just in the fact that I have no idea on how the premise of the change of Gregor Samsa happened, but also in how the story progressed, from one chapter on to another. The ending certainly didn’t help explain anything in the end.
The storytelling is, admittedly, great. I am held in suspense (and aversion) as I watch the interesting happenings in this story unfold. I am constantly wanting to question the author headlong about what so and so of such and such part of the book means, but I am always held back, lying in wait as Gregor himself does, patiently watching to see if my questions will at all be answered. I dare say that little, if any, have been answered to my satisfaction at all, by the time I got to the last few words.
One of the questions I’d so want to be answered is related to this: If ‘metamorphosis’ means a “process of change”, then where oh where is the change that is being talked about here? I see Gregor’s change, all right (I, in fact, cannot un-see that), but is that really the metamorphosis being talked about here? I personally believe it has something to do with the family… Maybe of Grete herself! Oh, how I would love to read more about this, if only to satisfy my curiosity about this book!
An interesting read, but I’m incredibly agitated by how unsatisfied I am by what I’ve read. Curious… Very curious.
(To satisfy my curiosity as much as I can, I took a look at Vladimir Nabokov‘s lecture on Kafka’s The Metamorphosis here: http://www.kafka.org/index.php?id=191,209,0,0,1,0 I am somewhat happy I read it :D)
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
