The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Often regarded as the greatest novella of 20th-century fiction, The Metamorphosis by German-Jewish writer Franz Kafka continues to be widely read. A tragicomedy that questions man’s search for meaning in life, The Metamorphosis is a mirror to modern man’s existential predicament.

Kafka’s novella narrates the story of travelling salesman Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning and finds—to his utter horror—that he has transformed into a giant, beetle-like insect. He tries going back to sleep, hoping that when he wakes up later from the nightmare, he will be back to normal. However, when he cannot roll over due to his new body, he realises it is for real. Samsa is disgusted by his transformation, but he is also bemused as he is unable to make sense of it. Lost in thought, Samsa fails to realise he is late for work. But what’s surprising for the reader, however, is that Samsa is still bothered about work, as if nothing has happened.

The simple, yet, engaging narrative captures the theme of absurdity in life. Samsa’s life is a testimony to the conflict between man’s search for meaning in life and his human inability to find it. This is elucidated by circumstances in the book. For instance, if Samsa thought he had a meaningless job before he turned into a beetle, then it was nothing compared to the meaningless transformation he underwent.