Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka pdf

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka pdf

This document is a PDF version of ‘Metamorphosis,’ a renowned novella by Franz Kafka. It explores themes of alienation, identity, and transformation through the story of Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a monstrous insect. The text delves into existential questions and the impact of societal expectations on the individual.

**Key Concepts**
– **Transformation**: Gregor Samsa’s sudden change symbolizes profound personal and societal alienation.
– **Alienation**: The story highlights the emotional and physical isolation experienced by Gregor and his family.
– **Family Dynamics**: Examines the shifting relationships within Gregor’s family as they cope with his transformation.
– **Existentialism**: Raises questions about identity and the meaning of life in the face of absurdity.
– **Societal Expectations**: Critiques how societal norms dictate personal worth and identity.
– **Isolation**: Explores the theme of being trapped within one’s circumstances and the struggle for acceptance.
– **Guilt and Shame**: Addresses the feelings of guilt that arise from Gregor’s inability to fulfill his role as a provider.

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Metamorphosis
by Franz Kafka
Translated by David Wyllie
Prepared and Published by:
Ebd
E-BooksDirectory.com
I
One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled
dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a
horrible vermin. He lay on his armour-like back, and if he
lifted his head a little he could see his brown belly,
slightly domed and divided by arches into stiff sections.
The bedding was hardly able to cover it and seemed
ready to slide off any moment. His many legs, pitifully
thin compared with the size of the rest of him, waved
about helplessly as he looked.
"What's happened to me?" he thought. It wasn't a
dream. His room, a proper human room although a little
too small, lay peacefully between its four familiar walls.
A collection of textile samples lay spread out on the table
- Samsa was a travelling salesman - and above it there
hung a picture that he had recently cut out of an
illustrated magazine and housed in a nice, gilded frame.
It showed a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur boa
who sat upright, raising a heavy fur muff that covered
the whole of her lower arm towards the viewer.
Gregor then turned to look out the window at the dull
weather. Drops of rain could be heard hitting the pane,
which made him feel quite sad. "How about if I sleep a
little bit longer and forget all this nonsense", he thought,
but that was something he was unable to do because he
was used to sleeping on his right, and in his present state
couldn't get into that position. However hard he threw
himself onto his right, he always rolled back to where he
was. He must have tried it a hundred times, shut his eyes
so that he wouldn't have to look at the floundering legs,
and only stopped when he began to feel a mild, dull pain
there that he had never felt before.
"Oh, God", he thought, "what a strenuous career it is
that I've chosen! Travelling day in and day out. Doing
business like this takes much more effort than doing your
own business at home, and on top of that there's the
curse of travelling, worries about making train
connections, bad and irregular food, contact with
different people all the time so that you can never get to
know anyone or become friendly with them. It can all go
to Hell!" He felt a slight itch up on his belly; pushed
himself slowly up on his back towards the headboard so
that he could lift his head better; found where the itch
was, and saw that it was covered with lots of little white
spots which he didn't know what to make of; and when
he tried to feel the place with one of his legs he drew it
quickly back because as soon as he touched it he was
overcome by a cold shudder.
He slid back into his former position. "Getting up early
all the time", he thought, "it makes you stupid. You've got
to get enough sleep. Other travelling salesmen live a life
of luxury. For instance, whenever I go back to the guest
house during the morning to copy out the contract, these
gentlemen are always still sitting there eating their
breakfasts. I ought to just try that with my boss; I'd get
kicked out on the spot. But who knows, maybe that
would be the best thing for me. If I didn't have my
parents to think about I'd have given in my notice a long
time ago, I'd have gone up to the boss and told him just
what I think, tell him everything I would, let him know
just what I feel. He'd fall right off his desk! And it's a
funny sort of business to be sitting up there at your desk,
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End of Document
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