The main message, for me, is that if we become attached to a familiar way of life, or dependent on a symbol of a particular way of life these can become monstrous. In this case, the family became financially dependent on Gregor. When he becomes a "kind of giant bug", the family goes through a metamorphosis. At first, it is the family that seems destined for complete collapse. These hardships lead to their disdain for Gregor. Ultimately they overcome these hardships and let the old life (and their attachment to Gregor) go. This release allows for growth, health, independence, and realistic hope for the future. This message truly resonated with me. ( )

A great classic. ( )

The plot, on the surface, seems very simple; the protagonist (Gregor) wakes up as a giant bug one day and we observe the changes that occur within himself and the people around him.

However, the subtext of this novella is packed to the brim with sophisticated elements of existentialism, tragedy, and societal pressure. Although this is a short read, in no way is it an easily digestible one. The story weighs you down with the hopelessness that the characters feel from the first page onwards, and it only gets worse. But, that is not to say that the narration is one-dimensional.

Overall, it will be one of those stories that bug you (pun not intended) for a long time due to how tragic and depressing it is.

Would recommend it to anyone if they're looking for an uneasy read. ( )

Metamorphosis is a masterfully crafted commentary on the frailty of human condition. It's compact and serves a perfectly formulated dose of surrealism to the reader while offering an immersive experience that is full of gut-punches, none of which feel forced or out of place.

The steady transition of the dynamic between the protagonist and his family culminates in a situation where it's convenient for both parties to end their association without being driven by sentiments, and the unfolding of it all rightfully makes the reader ask themselves why all of it happened, instead of how. ( )

Gregor Samsa is a man who has lost his bearings in the world, paralyzed by a sense of responsibility to his family, sublimating his own desires, and fearful of the future. This short novel is told from his perspective. One morning he wakes up and finds that he is a man-sized bug. His first concern is for his family, of which he has been the main breadwinner so he could pay off his father’s staggering debts. This sense of responsibility to his family is the main theme in this short novel, which I first read in high school and then many years later in a college literature course. Despite this focus on his family, his family slowly abandons him, treating him as a burden and becoming angry that he is no longer contributing to the family income. When he decides that he is too much of a burden on his family, he dies alone and unloved. Despite the strangeness of the story and the lack of an explanation why Gregor turned into a bug, it can be interpreted in many ways that raise intriguing questions about alienation and social isolation. ( )