The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka tells the story of Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, who wakes up to find that his body has transformed into a giant insect. His first thought? “Oh no! How can I go to work now?”

Summary

Franz Kafka wrote The Metamorphosis in 1915. Since then, it became one of the most important works of 20th-century fiction. The story is simple enough on the surface: Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, wakes up one morning and realizes he’s been transformed into a giant insect.

So, obviously, that’s a huge problem!

From there, things go left really quickly. His family depends on him for money, but of course, as a bug, he can’t go to work. Overnight, they lose their only reliable source of income. The longer his condition lasts, the more strained everything becomes, until eventually his family stops caring about him at all. That’s where it ends—Gregor dies, and life goes on for the rest of them.

When I first read it, I thought it was almost a strange, comical little story. But after some time, the core idea of it started to resonate with me. Kafka has a unique way of showing how quickly emotions shift when life suddenly changes.

The more I thought about the core idea, the clearer it became to me just how much our lives are boxed in by the rules and expectations we’ve picked up over time. In a way, we’re not really in control of our own lives.

The story also digs into deeper questions about alienation, identity, and what we think life is supposed to look like. Success, money, social status—these are the markers we’re told define a normal life. But Kafka shows how fragile that idea is. And how those assumptions, if we’re not careful, can tear us away from anything that feels authentic.

Ideas that resonate with me

Who is Franz Kafka?

He was an extraordinary writer, one who helped us recognize — and put a name to — a part of the human emotional spectrum we now call the “Kafkaesque.”

That term describes the feeling of being completely powerless in the face of authority: judges, aristocrats, industrialists, politicians — and, above all, fathers. In those moments of helplessness, we step right into Kafka’s world.

Kafka himself was born into a middle-class family. His father was a reputable man, already well established in the social hierarchy, and he expected his son to follow the same path. But Kafka was different. Struggling with medical conditions and a temperament unlike his father’s, he never became the man his father wanted him to be. The disappointment weighed heavily on him, and in many ways, his writing became an outlet — a way to process the pain of not meeting those expectations.

Three unfinished novels — The Trial, The Castle, and America — are what really built Kafka’s reputation. He was never satisfied with them and even asked that all his manuscripts be destroyed after his death. Luckily, those wishes were ignored, and the world ended up with some of the most remarkable works of modern literature.

The irony is hard to miss. Kafka never knew the impact he would have. He died feeling unsuccessful and depressed, unaware that a century later, he would be remembered as one of the greatest intellectuals of all time.

I was surprised by my own ignorance

I came across this book on a list I follow. At the time, I had no idea about the brilliance of the author or his strange, profoundly unique style. I only picked it up because it was the last week of the year, and I needed to finish my 2022 book challenge. But despite those “ill intentions,” I’m glad I did — reading it turned out to be a real delight.

What is Kafkaesque?

The term “Kafkaesque” points to works that carry the same strange weight and unsettling themes found in Franz Kafka’s writing. Back in 1991, The New York Times offered a definition that I think captures it perfectly:

“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. 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 behaviour, begin to fall to pieces. What you do is struggle against this with all of your equipment, with whatever you have. But of course, you don’t stand a chance. That’s Kafkaesque.”

What is the most accurate translation?

It’s always worth checking the quality of a translation before picking up a translated book. When it comes to Kafka, Edwin & Willa Muir and Susan Bernofsky are often considered the best translators of his work.

Parts that left a mark on me

“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.”

Coffee chat

Summarize The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and explain why Gregor Samsa’s character evokes both sympathy and horror.

Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. The first thing that comes to his mind is, “How can I get to work now?” Reading it, that thought is almost funny—but in hindsight, there’s much more depth to it. At the same time, you can’t help but feel for him. He’s still the same person inside, trapped in a body that makes him helpless. There’s horror in the metamorphosis itself, but there’s also a deep sadness in how his family treats him and in the isolation he faces. Gregor evokes both sympathy and horror because he’s painfully human and yet grotesquely alien at the same time.

Analyze how Kafka uses the metamorphosis to reflect on human identity, work, and societal expectations.

The transformation strips Gregor of his role in society. He can no longer work, and suddenly his value is measured only by what he contributes. The brilliance of Kafka is in portraying this in a way that is, at times, absurd and even funny, showing just how tied our identity is to work, duty, and social expectations. Remove those things, and who are we? Gregor’s life becomes a lens through which we see how fragile identity can be when it’s defined by usefulness and conformity.

Compare the reactions of Gregor’s sister Grete and his father to his change — what do those reactions reveal about their characters and themes of duty and alienation?

Grete starts out caring for Gregor, bringing him food and looking after him. Her father, though, reacts with aggression and violence—now that Gregor can’t work, their only source of income is gone. Over time, even Grete’s compassion fades. Care turns out to be conditional, tied to comfort and what’s expected. As soon as Gregor becomes inconvenient, both family members pull away, showing that alienation isn’t just his experience—it’s something that runs through the family and the way society is loosely held together.

What might Kafka be saying about human dignity and worth when one’s usefulness or job is removed?

Kafka seems to be asking: what’s left of a person when their usefulness is gone? Gregor is still a thinking, feeling human being, but his family only sees him as a burden—there’s no measurable value to his existence now. In their eyes, he’s simply useless. The story pushes us to question the idea that worth is tied to productivity and to think about how society values people beyond what they do.

What is the symbolism of Gregor’s transformation in The Metamorphosis by Kafka?

Gregor’s metamorphosis is both literal and metaphorical. On the surface, he becomes an insect. Beneath that, it stands for alienation, dehumanization, and the crushing weight of societal expectations. It shows what happens when a person is valued only for what they do and denied recognition as a human being.

How does Kafka explore alienation and identity in The Metamorphosis?

Alienation is everywhere in the story. Gregor is physically stuck in his room, cut off emotionally from his family, and separated psychologically from society. His identity is tied up with his role and duty—when he loses his job and his ability to contribute, he also loses his place in the family and his sense of self. Kafka shows that alienation isn’t just social—it’s something internal, something existential.

Why does Gregor Samsa feel guilt after becoming an insect?

He feels guilty because he can no longer support his family. Even though his transformation is out of his control, he takes on the responsibility for their struggles. That guilt shows just how deeply ingrained societal and family obligations are—and how Kafka uses them to make Gregor’s suffering even heavier.

What is the meaning of the ending of The Metamorphosis?

Gregor dies, and his family moves on, almost relieved. Kafka shows the cold logic of life and survival: once someone stops being useful, they’re forgotten. It’s heartbreaking because of Gregor’s suffering, but it’s also a sharp, almost cynical look at human nature and resilience.

How did the book change the way I think?

The book made me think about a question I keep coming back to: do we really have free will? The only answer I’ve found so far—leaning a bit toward optimism—is: yes, but only when we’re making the really hard choices that go against social norms.