"Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka

Since one of my goals for 2015 is to read more classics, I decided to pick up "Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka. I had never had to read it for school and knew very little about the book. However, what I did know was that this is probably one of the most over-analyzed and over-studied books ever written. My objective was to simply read the story without trying to find any obscure symbolism or draw biblical parallels which was already abundantly done by much more learned readers. I read it as I always read: for pure enjoyment and out of love of literature.

I was pleasantly surprised by the book. Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning and realizes that he has transformed into a giant insect. He financially supports his family - parents and an unmarried sister - and even though he hates his job, he feels responsible for the welfare of his loved ones and is determined to get out of bed so he can go to work. Needless to say, he is unable to make it to work that morning (and all subsequent mornings) and has to get used to his new "state". The rest of the story is focused on how his family deals with this situation and how Gregor himself adjusts to the condition. The reaction of his household ranges from pure terror of a housemaid to disgust of his parents and sister. His mother plunges into denial. She avoids looking at him or even entering his room and hopes he will return to his normal state quickly. His sister is the only one who comes into his room and tries to look after his needs. However, even she quickly decides that Gregor is gone forever and puts very little effort into caring for him.

To me this story is an allegory for any condition or situation deemed by people to be unusual, shameful or otherwise worthy of staying hidden. The saddest part of the story is that his family immediately assumes that Gregor no longer understands their words or has any feelings. Even his sister who in the beginning seems to show more compassion than others, never stops to think that Gregor can hear and understand her. No one tries to talk to him or show him even a little love. Forgotten is everything he's done for them when he was "normal". The only thing the Samsa family is trying to do is to conceal from others his very existence and pretend that he is not even there.

If you are generally intimidated by the classics, I would recommend that you try reading this one. It is pretty short and deals with a timeless issue. Just imagine that Gregor had a mental disease or some sort of disability instead. He was still the same person on the inside, still loved his sister and parents and wanted them to be happy. What ultimately does him in is not his "condition" but indifference and hatred of the people he cared for. The giant insect was more human in what he felt and thought than the humans around him.