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A review by manish_ladla
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
5.0
I came to know about this novel from my friend Atul around 2016-17 . He had interest in reading novels (don't know whether he reads any novel now or not). I liked the concept of that and I had added it in my "To-Read" list.
Overall, I had great expectations from the novel. I had read good and tall praises of it but at the end, I felt little hollowness in the book. I had expected that Gregor Samsa (the main character) would get cured again or he will wake up from his dream but nothing of such sort happened. The ending was boring .
Gregor Samsa (main character) is a salesman/travel agent and one fine morning, he wake up to found himself been transformed into a big cockroach type insect. Unable to bear the monstrous shape of Gregor, all his family members filled with hatred towards him. They were afraid of him and did not want to see him or to come close to him. They did not try to understand that he still had some feelings left and he was able to feel their hatred/contempt for him. Instead of finding any solution, they just shove him back to his room He had soiled his days for working for them so that they can live a happy life, but they have now totally abandoned him. The novel is more about how his family members have abandoned him and wished that he die or leave them forever.
I have read few reviews of this novel and I agree with some of the arguments put forward. First of all, this novel is like a black humour about society's functioning. The Gregor despite being tuning into insect, is more concerned about going to his job. His first thought should be to how to address his issue . I think we all are running in such rat race . We go to office and feel ashamed to even take leave, and care about what our bosses will think about us. We (policemen) don't get leaves on holidays (even Diwali and Holi) and we still are happy in it. Novel further implores us to question whether people born with physical abnormalities or mental illnesses are still valuable members of society even if they are unable to contribute to it? Th
His sister earlier had a soft corner for him and fed him but slowly she also developed indifference . She was burdened by new duty of taking care of Gregor. Although she cleaned the Gregor's room but gradually she started doing it superficially without any interest. It was an extra burden on her. This shows that one sided relationship can't be sustained for long. Earlier both brother and sister had an affectionate relationship. Gregor wanted the best for her and was even ready to fight with his parents to send her to learn musical instrument. But now many times she would find untouched food however she took it away without asking why he had not eaten it. She later started detesting being in same room with Gregor. His family members shooed him back to his room if he ever comes out of it. At first her mother wanted to see him, as he was his son and she had to be physically restrained to not meet Gregor but finally she also started frightened at the mere sight of him. Bouts of love did made her to come into Gregor's room as he has been her son . Even the maid gave him no respect. Their earlier maid had begged Gregor's mother to dismiss her as was too afraid to be in same house which have insect shaped Gregor. His room was made a store room gradually . Maid would throw item just in the room and often it would land here or there. It shows that other person have no respect for Gregor. At last, when Gregor's condition had startled them and their 3 tenants, they all started cursing him. Sensing that, Gregor, with much difficulty tried to go his room and as soon as he reached to his room, his siter locked the gate.
Just like the condition of any patient gets worse and he requires extra care, the Gregor started degenerating , and he started crawling across the room. Once his sister and mother tried to clean his room and to make more space for him by removing few furniture from his room . His mother's voice made Gregor to realise that he is still human. But his family members continued to consider him as a vermin that need to be kept at distance . when his father threw apples at him to shoo him into his room, one apple got stuck into his flesh. He suffered for more than month. His condition was reminder that he need not to be considered as enemy but as a family member and thus they have to be patient . They need to understand his condition.
Till now Gregor had taken care of his family members (father , mother and sister ) relentlessly and he received no appreciation in return. Now with Gregor unable to earn, all family members started doing jobs to run house. All of them busy with their jobs and no time for Gregor. With dwindling family incomes, they thought to relocate to somewhere else , but could not do so due to Gregor's condition. they did not want world to know about it. So they blamed Gregor for their condition. If he had died, they would have at last get free and live life happily. I can imagine the condition of parents who are stuck with mentally different children or person stuck with bed ridden life partner. As per gregor's family, Gregor should have left them way ago after seeing their condition. Sometime , it is true. When any person who is becoming dependent on his family members and is now a burden, he/she should resign(i.e die) with grace so that his family members could live rest of their life happily.
finally after the death of Gregor , they took the train to open country . they after such long time admired the nature. They had plans for future. They wanted to have a smaller hosue by selling the current house. THey have their own jobs. They are free of Gregor
Overall, I had great expectations from the novel. I had read good and tall praises of it but at the end, I felt little hollowness in the book. I had expected that Gregor Samsa (the main character) would get cured again or he will wake up from his dream but nothing of such sort happened. The ending was boring .
Gregor Samsa (main character) is a salesman/travel agent and one fine morning, he wake up to found himself been transformed into a big cockroach type insect. Unable to bear the monstrous shape of Gregor, all his family members filled with hatred towards him. They were afraid of him and did not want to see him or to come close to him. They did not try to understand that he still had some feelings left and he was able to feel their hatred/contempt for him. Instead of finding any solution, they just shove him back to his room He had soiled his days for working for them so that they can live a happy life, but they have now totally abandoned him. The novel is more about how his family members have abandoned him and wished that he die or leave them forever.
I have read few reviews of this novel and I agree with some of the arguments put forward. First of all, this novel is like a black humour about society's functioning. The Gregor despite being tuning into insect, is more concerned about going to his job. His first thought should be to how to address his issue . I think we all are running in such rat race . We go to office and feel ashamed to even take leave, and care about what our bosses will think about us. We (policemen) don't get leaves on holidays (even Diwali and Holi) and we still are happy in it. Novel further implores us to question whether people born with physical abnormalities or mental illnesses are still valuable members of society even if they are unable to contribute to it? Th
His sister earlier had a soft corner for him and fed him but slowly she also developed indifference . She was burdened by new duty of taking care of Gregor. Although she cleaned the Gregor's room but gradually she started doing it superficially without any interest. It was an extra burden on her. This shows that one sided relationship can't be sustained for long. Earlier both brother and sister had an affectionate relationship. Gregor wanted the best for her and was even ready to fight with his parents to send her to learn musical instrument. But now many times she would find untouched food however she took it away without asking why he had not eaten it. She later started detesting being in same room with Gregor. His family members shooed him back to his room if he ever comes out of it. At first her mother wanted to see him, as he was his son and she had to be physically restrained to not meet Gregor but finally she also started frightened at the mere sight of him. Bouts of love did made her to come into Gregor's room as he has been her son . Even the maid gave him no respect. Their earlier maid had begged Gregor's mother to dismiss her as was too afraid to be in same house which have insect shaped Gregor. His room was made a store room gradually . Maid would throw item just in the room and often it would land here or there. It shows that other person have no respect for Gregor. At last, when Gregor's condition had startled them and their 3 tenants, they all started cursing him. Sensing that, Gregor, with much difficulty tried to go his room and as soon as he reached to his room, his siter locked the gate.
Just like the condition of any patient gets worse and he requires extra care, the Gregor started degenerating , and he started crawling across the room. Once his sister and mother tried to clean his room and to make more space for him by removing few furniture from his room . His mother's voice made Gregor to realise that he is still human. But his family members continued to consider him as a vermin that need to be kept at distance . when his father threw apples at him to shoo him into his room, one apple got stuck into his flesh. He suffered for more than month. His condition was reminder that he need not to be considered as enemy but as a family member and thus they have to be patient . They need to understand his condition.
Till now Gregor had taken care of his family members (father , mother and sister ) relentlessly and he received no appreciation in return. Now with Gregor unable to earn, all family members started doing jobs to run house. All of them busy with their jobs and no time for Gregor. With dwindling family incomes, they thought to relocate to somewhere else , but could not do so due to Gregor's condition. they did not want world to know about it. So they blamed Gregor for their condition. If he had died, they would have at last get free and live life happily. I can imagine the condition of parents who are stuck with mentally different children or person stuck with bed ridden life partner. As per gregor's family, Gregor should have left them way ago after seeing their condition. Sometime , it is true. When any person who is becoming dependent on his family members and is now a burden, he/she should resign(i.e die) with grace so that his family members could live rest of their life happily.
finally after the death of Gregor , they took the train to open country . they after such long time admired the nature. They had plans for future. They wanted to have a smaller hosue by selling the current house. THey have their own jobs. They are free of Gregor