The Metamorphosis
- ISBN13: 9781599866147
- Condition: USED – VERY GOOD
- Notes:
The Metamorphosis is a short story written by author Franz Kafka. Originally published in 1915, The Metamorphosis is considered to be the most famous of Kafka’s works. It is the story of a traveling salesman, named Gregor Samsa, who while trying to find himself transforms into a monstrous vermin. The Metamorphosis is highly recommended for those who enjoy the writings of Franz Kafka, and for those who are discovering his works for the first time.
Rating: 
(out of 6 reviews)
List Price: $ 4.99
Price: $ 3.21
Review by Maria Savva for The Metamorphosis
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A man wakes up one day to find he has been changed into a large insect/beetle. The story follows his efforts to deal with this, and his family’s reaction to the change. But it’s not just a story about a man turning into a beetle, it’s a clever way of writing about how a family would deal with the main breadwinner in the house becoming unable to work, and also on a wider scope, the way a family (and the world at large) reacts to someone who is disabled, or terminally ill. It could also be an analogy for how a family treats a member of the family who is now old and needs to be cared for. The man who is now a beetle, is forced to live in his room, shut away from the world, for fear that he will frighten anyone who enters the house. The man who once provided for the family, and thought of them above himself, has now become a burden on them, as they are now short of money, and have to find employment. The once able and hard-working man, transformed into a beetle, is now rejected, and his family blame him for their financial situation and the fact that they cannot move to a smaller house, because they need to have a room to keep him in.
The descriptive quality of the writing is excellent, and although it is a sad and gruesome tale, it is also very funny in parts; I couldn’t help laughing out loud a couple of times.
The main thing that struck me, was that even though this story is nearly 100 years old, it is still totally relevant to today’s world (and I’m not sure that’s something we should be proud of)
Review by Ian Campa for The Metamorphosis
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Often considered to be his magnum opus, Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” details the events of one young traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, who inexplicably wakes up as a giant insect. Despite the novella’s short length, this version is only 73 pages, it manages to provide a deep insight into the human condition, ironically through the eyes of a cockroach. At times the novel becomes very depressing, especially as Gregor becomes increasingly isolated, but the overall message is quite hopeful. The novel keeps its reader enthralled with a good balance of absurdist and realist elements. This version in particular is quite minimalist, it contains only the novella, and some of the translations are not exactly perfect, but by no means does it take away from the power of this great little read.
Review by SaraJKan for The Metamorphosis
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Kafka’s Metamorphosis is really a witty and clever literary piece. When I first read the story a couple of years ago, I was impressed with its unique message and language (though it is translated). The story is about a young man who wakes up and finds he has turned into a beetle. Despite the disturbing, disgusting and drastic change, the tale is in no way unbearable or unreadable. Kafka was not so much being real, but he was writing on a gloomy, pessimistic “reality.” The story does emphasize the family’s reaction to his change (which could symbolize any illness or disability). It also emphasized how the family contributed to the repulsive metamorphoses. Isolation and a lot of the creature’s “thinking patterns” are revealed. Nonetheless, the story is not completely dark and even offers a glimpse of hope some where between the lines! In the end death is Gregor’s escape. An interesting story of a terribly difficult and sad experience. A Must Read!!!
Review by Kory A. Meinhart for The Metamorphosis
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This story takes a bizarre look at a troubled man searching for his personal identity. He seems to be faced with a life of doom and gloom, especially when he begins turning into a bug!!! Even more bizarre is the relatively nonchalant way in which his family reacts. Definitely a good read considering how short it is, but I’m not convinced that I learned any great lesson or even understood the author’s purpose. Perhaps the deep philosophical meaning was lost on me… Sometimes I feel like my brain is that of a cockroach!
Review by Charles Daudert for The Metamorphosis
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Franz Kafka followed no protocol or standards when it came to style and punctuation. However, his writing had a profound impact on Western Literature, and the Metamorphosis was his best! Hansa-Hewlett Publishing Company has just published a student edition of the Metamorphosis with a fresh translation true to the Bohemian-Jewish influenced German dialect used by Kafka. It also has additional materials relating to the possible meaning of the metamorphosis. The Metamorphosis