Who is Franz Kafka?

• He was an outstanding writer whose work helped us to recognize and gain perspective on a particular part of the human emotional spectrum, which we now call the Kafkaesque.
• When we feel powerless in the face of authority, judges, aristocrats, industrialists, politicians, and most importantly, fathers, we live in Kafka’s world.
• Having been born into a middle-class family, Kafka’s father was a reputable man with a pre-established hierarchical reputation. He believed that his son should follow in his footsteps. However, Kafka was different. Having been born with some medical conditions, he did not grow up to be the man his father wanted him to be. Understandably, his father was disappointed in him. In retrospect, most of his writings are a relief from the pain and suffering caused by his father’s disappointment in him.
• Three of Kafka’s novels contributed to his enormous posthumous reputation: The Trial, The Castle, and America, all of which he left unfinished due to his dissatisfaction with them. The order was given that they would be destroyed upon his death. It is fortunate for humanity that these orders were disobeyed.
• Ironically, he never realized the impact he had on society. He never saw who he really was. Although he died as an unsuccessful and depressed individual, 100 years later, he is regarded as one of the world’s greatest intellectuals.

What is Kafkaesque?

• This term refers to works that are reminiscent of the themes and events found in the work of Franz Kafka.
• The New York Times published a more limited but fairly straightforward definition of Kafka in 1991:
• “What I’m against is someone going to catch a bus and finding that all the buses have stopped running and saying that’s Kafkaesque,” he said. “What’s Kafkaesque is when you enter a surreal world in which all your control patterns, all your plans, the whole way in which you have configured your own behavior, begin to fall to pieces. What you do is a struggle against this with all of your equipment, with whatever you have. But of course, you don’t stand a chance. That’s Kafkaesque.”

Review of the book

• Franz Kafka wrote The Metamorphosis in 1915. The novel is regarded as one of the seminal works of fiction of the 20th century. In the story, Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman, wakes up to find himself transformed (metamorphosed) into a giant insect.
• The story takes a bizarre turn as a result of his metamorphosis. His entire family is financially dependent on him at this point. Wittingly enough, being a giant insect, he cannot work, so the family immediately loses their only reliable source of income.
• The turmoil that the protagonist’s family experiences due to his metamorphosis grows exponentially as the story progresses to the point where they no longer care about him, leading up to his death.
• The story was simple and somewhat comical when I first read it. There was, however, a much more profound aftertaste.
• Through his narrative, Kafka illustrates how human emotions change in response to sudden changes in events. Having become so socialized in recent years, we live a life surrounded by many psychological boundaries. As a result, we have already lost control of our lives. Seeing ourselves through the lens of Kafka is, therefore, eye-opening.
• It is necessary to realize that what “Kafka” is trying to convey is that certain incidents or events, or even accidents, impact our daily lives significantly. Through this unusual story of metamorphosis, the writer illustrates the impact and consequences of change on humanity.
• This metaphor also explains the meaning or essence of the phrase “moving on” as the unfortunate son relieves the family of their burden. At the beginning of Gregor’s change, they had already moved forward. His death merely confirmed these emotions, and the Samsa family continued to live their lives as usual.
• In this novella, a number of very fundamental and profound questions are raised regarding human existence, such as alienation, identity, and being. As Gregor undergoes a metamorphosis, Kafka questions all our preconceived notions about life- success, such as social position and money. And depicts a normal life characterized by a steadily improving standard of living and a socially acceptable appearance which we believe to be the most important. However, there is a set of more serious questions posed by these presuppositions of our life. These questions are destructive and can rip us from any sense of (inauthentic) identity.
• Overall, the story was compelling, fascinating, and heartbreaking due to the severity of his suffering and, even more, the attitude of his family, who had no further means of caring for him.

What is the most accurate translation?

• It is extremely important to check the quality of the translation before reading a translated book. Edwin & Willa Muir and Susan Bernofsky are regarded as the best translators of all of Kafka’s works.

Highlights quotes from the book

• “I cannot make you understand. I cannot make anyone understand what is happening inside me. I cannot even explain it to myself.”
• “How about if I sleep a little bit longer and forget all this nonsense?”
• “I only fear danger where I want to fear it.”

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