Book review: "The Metamorphosis", by Franz Kafka

Synopsis: Gregor Samsa wakes up to find that he is a giant beetle. As his secret is revealed to his family, and as they slowly begin to realize that his transformation is irreversible, the relationship between the family and their former breadwinner declines. Despite the fact that he maintains his human mind, he's unable to be understood, creating further distance with his loved ones, causing the family's once understanding feelings to suffer a metamorphosis of their own...

Review: "The Metamorphosis" (or "What not to do if you one day wake up and find you're a giant beetle handbook") is a true original. Firstly, it's a mini-novella, meaning you can read it within the space of an afternoon (which I did, quite comfortably).

So, what's it all about? Well, on the surface, as the synopsis describes, it's the nightmare we all secretly fear of turning into a human-sized insect overnight. However, even the most novice of bookworms will be able to spot a subtext here- it's really an exposure of the very human reaction to one of your loved ones being a giant beetle or, more generally and realistically, losing their aesthetic "normality" and even being deprived of the ability to communicate properly.

Kafka's analysis throughout is "How will the family react to this sudden change in circumstance?". As the author, he plays the early-twentieth century version of "Big Brother" (the T.V. show, not the overlord in "1984"), or that weird, backwards-wearing-hat guy from "The Truman Show". Kafka asked himself, "What will happen if I take an ordinary, hardworking family, and introduce a provocative variable, namely: turning their main brother and son into a burdensome monster? Will I get entertaining, shocking reactions from the remaining parties?" For anyone who has watched enough "Big Brother challenges", the answer is obvious- "You will, sir... but at what cost?".

And so, from the book we learn something that we all secretly know inside, and yet try to convince ourselves isn't true- that we are affected by appearances. Nothing new here, although what IS new (and was no doubt shocking at the time) is the frankness around which the story takes place. Firstly, Kafka offers no explanation as to WHY Gregor becomes a beetle... which is unsettling enough. Then there's the speed at which Gregor becomes a burden to his family. Rather like watching an episode of "Big Brother", or reading "Lord of the Flies", one realizes with what ease ordinary, upstanding people crack under pressure, they themselves turning hideous... all the while under the watchful, giggling jeer of the author of their fate.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that "The Metamorphosis" feels like the literary version of those entertaining and novelty "science experiments" you used to do as a teenager. "What will happen if I burn my arm hair with a bunson burner?" (Answer: It stinks). "What will happen if I freeze my bottle of coke?" (Answer: If you're lucky, it won't explode, and all you'll be left with when it thaws is cold, flat coke.). "Will a giant beetle in the family create an uproar?" (Answer: Undoubtedly).

Score: 8/10