Franz Kafka’s best-known story The Metamorphosis (Die Wervandlung, 1915) is one of the most intriguing works of fiction of the twentieth century. The story begins with an incident that is at once unforgettable and uncanny: its protagonist, Gregor Samsa, wakes up in his bedroom only to find out that he has changed into a huge dung beatle. As time passes by, Gregor comes to realize that even such simple actions as getting out of bed, catching a train, or going out for work, are suddenly quite difficult to be routinely performed. While he stays stuck in his bedroom, life ruthlessly goes on…
In the course of the hundred years since its publication, this incredible story has received such an enormous amount of critical attention and is now considered a classic. While it has typically been read as a story of oppression, its startling originality and psychological richness still puzzle readers worldwide and elude each and every act of interpretation.
