So I just read 'The Metamorphosis' by Franz Kafka, published in 1915. Its originally in German, and I read the translation by Stanley Corngold. I heard of Kafka before probably from one of my friends in school - a pretty long time ago. I randomly came across this - I can't remember how - and I was attracted by the idea of a guy changing into an insect. However, this story focused on something entirely different.
The main character that changes into an insect (what insect is it exactly, is left to the imagination of the reader - only details such as the hard back and numerous tiny legs were described) is Gregor Samsa. His parents are only referred by Mr. & Mrs. Samsa and his sister is Grete. At first I couldn't really determine where this story was going. Somewhere around 3/4 of the story that I got a hint of what was his aim using the metaphorical interpretation of the story.
The plot briefly. He changes into an insect, suddenly. At first his sister cares for him, and actually helps him adapt to his situation. His mother freaks out initially, but eventually comes around, but she has hope that he will return as a human. The father, is portrayed as the mean human being. However, the sister eventually gets tired, and wishes him dead - along with the parents. He understands the situation and he himself gives up and dies.
To be honest, it is a short story but it is weirdly saddening and tragic. I like movies or stories that can send a message in a very short time. Its really difficult to do that. I am not really confident about my interpretation of this story, but I'm just going to go ahead with it anyway. I didn't really read any analysis of it yet.
I think the story is talking about families that have a differently able child. It shows what the family members are really going through, and how they really feel. When Gregor changes into an insect, he can only watch his family suffer. He can't do anything to help them, he cannot achieve everything he wanted to provide for his family as the breadwinner. He, the 'differently-able' literally becomes a pest to the family. People are scared when they come into the house. His father, although so old, has to go to work because Gregor cant provide anymore. The mother and the sister also has to work. The sister has to sacrifice her dream of playing the violin and gets a job behind a desk instead. At first, the sister portrays the people who can accept changes. She takes care of him, but eventually gets tired and snaps. His mother portrays the people that hope Gregor can change back. This is the kind of people that seem like they are helping you, but they are just trying to change you to fit themselves. The father is just downright mean and even tried to kill Gregor.
The story shows us both sides of the story. Gregor sees, hears, understands and feels everything, but the family cannot understand his language. Gregor is suffering in his own way. The family thinks Gregor cannot understand them, and they are suffering socially and financially. Both parties are suffering in their own way, and neither of them can be blamed. No parent hopes to give birth to a disabled child. They have to spend their lives taking care of their child no matter how stressful it can be. Try imagining taking care of a child with down syndrome, autism, or some other very incapacitating genetic disorder. I think, this is what 'the insect' is pointing to. Eventually, we all get tired, and they are just a pest to the normal people.
The dragged death (took a couple of hours) but not a labored one, paradoxically magnified the effect of sadness. Gregor just understood that his family didn't want him anymore and gave up his last breath, full of hunger, pain, sadness and alienation. The metamorphosis is not exactly referring to Gregor - the insect, the mother or the father. It is actually referring to the sister, who changed from a caring one, to wishing Gregor would just die as she grew older. I guess we all, if stretched just enough, will eventually snap. This story is just, majorly depressing. Goodbye.
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