The Metamorphosis

Written by Franz Kafka

Narrated by Pete Cross

The Metamorphosis is a series of stories that follow the life of Gregor Samsa, who awakes to find himself transformed into a large insect-like creature.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamscape Media
• Release date: Feb 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781666597394

Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka was a German-language writer of novels and short stories, regarded by critics as one of the most influential authors of the 20th Century. Kafka strongly influenced genres such as existentialism. Most of his works, such as 'Die Verwandlung', 'Der Prozess', and 'Das Schloss', are filled with the themes and archetypes of alienation, physical and psychological brutality, parent-child conflict, characters on a terrifying quest, labyrinths of bureaucracy, and mystical transformations. Kafka was born into a middle-class, German-speaking Jewish family in Prague, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In his lifetime, most of the population of Prague spoke Czech, and the division between Czech- and German-speaking people was a tangible reality, as both groups were strengthening their national identity. The Jewish community often found itself in between the two sentiments, naturally raising questions about a place to which one belongs. Kafka himself was fluent in both languages, considering German his mother tongue. Kafka trained as a lawyer and, after completing his legal education, obtained employment with an insurance company. He began to write short stories in his spare time.

Reviews for The Metamorphosis

[lelomary · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

An amazing quick read or listen. Reminds me of knowing my place in other people’s lives.

[Pavlo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book! Totally recommend! Kafka is amazing and narrator is very good!

[Rogrigionirolectora · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

? Read years ago and reread now, a classic of universal literature that in a few pages contains a brilliant, deep, and powerful metaphor about change, difference, and diversity. Each reading takes on new and broader meanings and withstands the passage of time because, like all existential questions, it produces identification, captivates, and provokes reflection.

? What would happen if we showed our true (or new) way of being? How would it affect our close relationships if we stopped fulfilling the role that we have taken on out of responsibility? What would be the consequences of a personal change for those around us? What would happen to feelings, both our own and others', if we revealed a transformation?

? A reading to dissect, to think from different perspectives, from the self to the other. The essence of existence, living with one's own being and that of others, the acceptance of what is different, and the complexity that constitutes human nature. Excellent! (Translated from Spanish)

[JhonDGutirrez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A story like few others, if you have a few doubts about your role in the family, this work will give you some perspective. (Translated from Spanish)

[Daniela0852 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Franz Kafka presents a difficult and somewhat catastrophic scenario. Gregor Samsa wakes up one day transformed into a "monstrous insect," which in the book could be thought of as disgusting and repugnant, challenging the sense of empathy we have for others and the standards of beauty.
It is interesting that Gregor did not feel fear or horror at his new appearance... He took it with a moderate calmness, caring more about his reputation at work and helping his family. But this was not matched by the affection he had for them, as he had transformed into an insect, giving the impression that they saw him merely as a provider.
As the story progresses, the reader can notice the attitude of Gregor's family members, such as his sister, father, and mother, being, in their own way, hostile in their treatment of Gregor, with even the father throwing apples at him, one of which ends up causing a wound on his shell that is hard to heal. Sometimes it is very difficult for humans to understand others, to "put themselves in someone else's shoes." With Gregor's transformation, his family is forced to reorganize and all seek employment to cover the expenses that he used to handle. Once he stops working, the family begins to see Gregor as a burden and, in a way, views him as useless. In the end, Gregor dies, and instead of showing sorrow, the family appears calm, with the parents ready to find a husband for Gregor's sister, Greta. This also leads me to reflect on the importance of gratitude, of expressing it and recognizing the help of others...
It is curious to see how, just as Gregor transforms into an insect, his family adopts a different attitude towards him after his transformation and the life dynamics of each member are altered.
At first, it struck me as strange to understand why Gregor's father wanted to harm him. What did he achieve? Sometimes... it is thought that by eliminating what we do not like, the problem is solved, regardless of the potential consequences...
The Metamorphosis is a masterpiece... Kafka captured in a concise book some of the greatest defects of humanity, and especially, in my case, it leaves a profound lesson: to care more about oneself before it is too late and one becomes consumed by a harmful environment and wrong people. The Metamorphosis leaves us with a very powerful message; in society, humanity is reduced to appearance and to the level of utility one has within it. (Translated from Spanish)

[Nanalectora · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am planning to reread the works that hooked me on reading. I read The Metamorphosis when I was a teenager. It was one of the first doors I opened to enter other worlds.

The solitude and the oblivion resulting from a mutation that transforms the protagonist into a different and "repulsive" being are, for me, the elements that carry the most weight in this story. The gradual abandonment by his family and Gregor Samsa's final attitude of preferring to abandon himself as well is both sad and moving. The Metamorphosis is a classic of classics. Great story. (Translated from Spanish)

[Cesarito1970 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is a classic of classics, and as such, difficult or even impertinent to comment on it, much less "criticize" it.

Because classics are not commented on. They are traversed through their reading, and that’s it.

This story is a brilliance that, under a disguise of simplicity and supposedly "basic" writing, hides so many facets to analyze (or endure) that it is impossible not to journey through its pages at least once in a lifetime.

Fear. Apathy. Failure. Rejection. Interest. Disquiet.
Disappointment. Family. Hypocrisy. Work crisis. Economy.
Miseries. Abominations. Abandonment. Shame. Humiliation.
Exploitation. Submission.

One could continue adding words that are linked directly or indirectly, but it would be merely a listing.

The perfect example that shows us that to write a great novel, one does not need an excess of pages, but rather the opposite.

A novel that encourages continuing to read classics and that proves why classics are classics.

And not to mention if it is completed with the narrative "Letter to Father," as the fusion between these two works explains many of the conflicts of this famous writer, whose books are absolutely immersed in his own life. (Translated from Spanish)

[joaco1806 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

really sad??? (Translated from Spanish)

[Badi79 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Second book by the author that I read, The Trial was the first. This one, going beyond a simple fantastic story, holds evident metaphors and hidden meanings. Its reading is quick and although with some uncomfortable feelings due to its plot, a moral dilemma looms. Perhaps when we do not obtain what we want from others, we can be truly despicable, even more than the insect the protagonist of the story becomes one fine day. Recommended, good if brief is twice as good. (Translated from Spanish)

[Nel Diblan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is very difficult for me to write a review at this moment because I just closed the little book five minutes ago, and I needed those five minutes to vent and cry alone, and here I am with a lump in my throat and glassy eyes. But I wanted to create a visceral review like this, blinded by emotion, also a bit as an exercise to see what goes through my mind later, more calmly, when I process what I just read.

One morning, after an uneasy dream, Gregor Samsa woke up transformed into a monstrous insect. That initial sentence is all you need to grab it and read it. I cried for a man whose life suddenly changes completely, who must adapt and doesn’t quite grasp reality; I cried for a dedicated and generous man with a family that, in the face of great difficulty, ends up discarding him, as if nothing had mattered; I cried for Gregor's transformation and his family's towards him, for the gradual decline and indignity he falls into until the end; I cried because Gregor never lost hope, because he never stopped thinking about his family, because he didn’t even realize the pathetic and unjust place they had him in. And I cried because this is life itself, hard, unpredictable, unjust.

It reminded me a lot of the idea in the story of Frankenstein's monster (prior to this) and also of what happened to the accident victim, as a clear allegory of the country, in the excellent Argentine film "Darse cuenta" from 1984, which is clearly influenced at its essence by The Metamorphosis.

It is one of those masterpieces, as short as it is complex, that precisely digs deep and confronts us with ourselves and the world around us. It is inevitable to give it 5 little ones ?????. (Translated from Spanish)

[Camilo2104 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Metamorphosis and Other Animal Stories by Franz Kafka.

I bought it because it is a classic of literature, but the truth is that I found it very difficult to finish. I’m not going to say it’s bad, because Kafka undoubtedly has very interesting prose; it simply wasn’t for me, or it wasn’t the right moment to read it.

Of all the stories compiled in this book, The Metamorphosis is undoubtedly the best. The way this story is narrated is very philosophical and always gives the impression of wanting to tell you something more related to his life and his traumas. Several of the stories included in this compilation have that melancholic air, with a touch of anguish and sadness. Also, most of the endings of these stories are very open. Perhaps all of this didn't manage to capture me or wasn't entirely to my taste. I don't know how his novels will be; maybe they are different and I will like them a little more. (Translated from Spanish)

[elemma.rb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's a great critique of human behavior and the system that surrounds us, plus it touched a nerve hehe. (Translated from Spanish)

[Imanolco · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

-The Metamorphosis
A fantastic narrative with little plot. Some good phrases, but not much substance.

-An Artist of Hunger
The line between asceticism and its real functionality. Does it make sense if we do it solely out of egocentrism?

-An Artist of the Trapeze
As long as it interests them, they will take care of your art, not you. Aspiring to be wasted talent, like Guti Hernández. (Translated from Spanish)

[OttoRenol · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A depressing, harsh, and extremely melancholic story, without a hint of romanticism about the suffering of the protagonist, vividly illustrating what it is like to be at the lowest psychological point as a human being. A short work, but sharp like few others. 8/10. (Translated from Spanish)

[Aleemucho · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am that. (Translated from Spanish)

[Melissa89 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It is a work of fiction that takes place in a very everyday space or situation. However, as I read, I found connections to several themes: work pressure, the loss and postponement of our being as individuals in order to meet economic issues, etc., family themes that become very strong and turn into burdens for life, social rejection. I find a very sad and somewhat cruel ending for someone who gave so much for their family. Though it is not one of my favorite books, I do consider it important to read, as it is a classic of literature in my view. (Translated from Spanish)

[JimenezAlan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A book that generates feelings, beyond the alienation suffered by Gregor Samsa, makes me feel that the protagonist is completely sunk in a depression caused by this overwhelming family pressure. Excellent story. (Translated from Spanish)

[Marksiknal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Simply put, it's one of the books that you have to read in your life! No ifs, no spoilers, no pretensions, just as a recommendation from one reader to another, you have to read it! ?✅ (Translated from Spanish)

[JaviKidA · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This short story poses a very direct question, and no, it's not the one about what would happen if one day you wake up and realize you've turned into a giant cockroach. No. The correct question is how messed up is your disposable life and what could make you feel otherwise? Kafka presents us with Gregor, who, due to the saturation of his life, is incapable of turning everything around and giving importance to his main problem of being a huge bug. This is a huge and magnificent example of how the world has become so harsh and critical that we care more about what others think of us or where we stand externally than about our wounded inner self.

There is no explanation for what happens to Gregor, and that reminds me of everything we have no control over that drives us crazy. The story also speaks of family, how sometimes we disguise interest as love, how dependency becomes a problem, and I don't know why, but I also detect an explanation about forgetting and moving on when something unusual happens (even if it happens to people you think least deserve it). I also managed to identify a few tones related to depression; I really have to talk a lot about this story since I gathered so much in just 95 pages. Great book. (Translated from Spanish)

[ciegaporelpdf · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I admit with shame that years ago I attempted to read this novel, but I put it down after a couple of pages because cockroaches give me the creeps. What a piece of story I was missing... Waking up turned into an insect is a great nightmare, but what worries Gregor the most is being late for work; he thinks about the debts he must pay, about the conservatory to which he wants to send his younger sister. Having a motor disability that makes me almost completely dependent on my mother, it's very easy to feel like an insect that merely exists and doesn’t contribute much, but at least I am lucky that my family, or at least my mother, doesn't treat me like a cockroach, like a nuisance. Gregor's life becomes more miserable as the days go by. From the beginning, they are disgusted by him, but at least they care about his food and the cleanliness of his room; then his body is covered by a layer of dust, and his thinness increases. Because when it’s already evident that he will never be the same, they forget the human he was and he becomes something unpleasant that occupies a dirty room. (Translated from Spanish)

[dianaplc14 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I feel that I started it with high expectations; when you read the story behind it, it becomes more enjoyable, but it’s still fine, normal. (Translated from Spanish)

[Bryangeles · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is a story that is better than it seems. Very reflective and sad at the same time, where the disdain of the family and the disgust they feel for being the true insects is involved. In all of this, it means that it is the family that undergoes the metamorphosis, in how the family changes once Gregor is no longer useful to pay their debts and now they are the ones who have to work. Thus, this metaphor is filled with rejection and discrimination on the part of the family, who see him as a freak and make Gregor's insensitivity lead to his death in oblivion while everything improves for the others. (Translated from Spanish)

[juglar103 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Unique classic. Easy to read. I like books that confront a fantasy with the nature of the human condition. (Translated from Spanish)

[ConiPandita · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's clear from a mile away that it's a classic, worth reading for everyone; it contains a strong hidden critique of the financial and social system. (Translated from Spanish)

[NaviruShorno · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kafka's Metamorphosis is a short novel published in 1915 and composed of 126 pages. The story belongs to the subgenre of fantastic literature.

I had been postponing the reading of this book for years out of fear of not understanding it... I read it in one sitting and I believe I understood both the message and all the words that compose it. Although at first glance, the story may seem absurd—an individual who works tirelessly to support his family and one morning wakes up transformed into a giant beetle—the author raises such interesting themes as the dehumanization of the individual corrupted by the capitalist system or the condemnation of human beings to be exploited and forgotten once they cease to be profitable... How horrifying and true this last point is! Almost a hundred and ten years have passed since the story was written, and we have gotten worse... Just look at the thousands of workers who have died in Qatar for the construction of simple soccer fields under inhumane conditions...

What I liked most about the book is all the metaphorical value that its pages exude, as well as the despicable behavior of the family towards Gregor, our protagonist. What I liked least about the story was its beginning; it lacks some strength compared to the rest of the writing.

This book is considered a must-read by many, and I second those words. A very good read. (Translated from Spanish)

[fereverfar · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have to admit that I only read "The Metamorphosis," I didn't read the other stories hehe. So I will be talking exclusively about Kafka's "The Metamorphosis."

At the time, I didn't quite understand the message of the book, but after reading reviews about the background, I understood what Kafka wanted to express (or at least I came to my own interpretation). To start with, I liked how everything happened in the story, the way it is narrated and also how the characters are (no matter how disgusting they ended up being lol).

At the beginning of the book, Gregor (the protagonist) had already undergone his metamorphosis, so the metamorphosis we read about is that of the family. They took advantage of him, and when he stopped being useful to them, they began to change. It was clear to see how they could work and live well without his help. And this caused them to despise Gregor for being a burden, despite everything he did for them; that is the most painful part.

Anyway, the more I remember the book, the more it hurts me, so I will just say that I liked it a lot and I rate it 4/5 :)

PS: Gregor's sister, Grete, never appealed to me; I think it was a sign I didn't see in time lol. (Translated from Spanish)

[Jorgeale · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In this collection of stories by Franz Kafka, several important tales are presented with a psychological and philosophical sense regarding the reason for human life. Does it have any individual and collective meaning? For Kafka, the human race is being weakened, dulled by its monotonous life, its fleeting pleasures, and its passing trivialities; therefore, Kafka exposes dehumanization. We cease to be thinking and conscious beings to aggregate our lowest instincts.

Furthermore, this work mixes essentially existentialist characters in an ironic way and, in some cases, even ridiculous, but without neglecting that taciturn and sickly character. (Translated from Spanish)

[Robe Lee · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

During the course of the story, it became impossible for me not to feel anguish for Gregor. Overnight, he turned into a cockroach and his life became terrible. The abandonment and denial from his family towards his situation twists your stomach.
This narrative is a clear example of a society that rejects what it cannot "understand" and control to its liking. It reflects intolerance to different things to the point of denying what is happening, trying to hide or get rid of the "mess" to continue with what is comfortable and known.
In the worst moments, many times, even your shadow abandons you. Poor Gregor. (Translated from Spanish)

[Pedro Manuel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Re-reading a widely known and reviewed work. We all know it is the incredible story of the merchant Gregor Samsa who one day wakes up transformed into a huge beetle, and with precise, concise phrases, and without any excesses, it shows us: the relationship with his sister Grete (in charge of "taking care of him"), the family's economic situation (he was their breadwinner), his adaptation to his new life, with its difficulties (mobility, vision, or his room) and his relationships with people until ... We thus discover: the dominant role of an aggressive father, the economic transformation of the entire family; the unbearable pressure of an alienating job, and the dehumanization of society (man in the middle). A more complete perspective is provided by the introduction that talks about its modernity and how the author confronts a social and personal reality that made him feel like a monster; moreover, there is an epilogue with an extensive section of notes (37 pages) where: it philologically justifies that the literal translation of "Verwandlung" should be "The Transformation"; it discusses other translations over time and in different languages; the genesis and evolution of this work, narrated by Kafka to his girlfriend almost daily, and finally, many quotes from the work to provide abundant complementary information. (Translated from Spanish)

[ElMaxo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

THE METAMORPHOSIS ??

'The Metamorphosis' is the most recognized book by the German author Franz Kafka. It tells the story of young Gregor Samsa, who one day wakes up to go to work and realizes he has transformed from a human into an insect. However, his despair does not stem from his new appearance but rather from the fact that he is the breadwinner for his parents and sister, with whom he lives.

Throughout the story, Gregor's still-human thoughts are described despite his changes in tastes, habits, and customs that come with being an insect. In contrast, those who show no humanity towards him are his family, who despise him and hardly take care of him, as well as his employers and neighbors.

The book, a work of fantasy, is actually a critique of family relationships, as well as employee/employer dynamics, in a society that alienates and socializes humans into predetermined molds and roles. Kafka also expresses in this narrative the conflictual relationship he had with his father during his life, a character who ultimately causes the mortal wound that leads to the story's conclusion. (Translated from Spanish)