Umar Khayaz

Metamorphosis, a well written, is a long story or novella written by Franciz Kafka and is one of the important work by the author. It reflects the author’s imaginations of inferiority and less gregarious nature, in which he is striving to adjust with the society in their communal affairs. The story starts with the transformation of Gregor, the main character of a story, into a venom insect, he finds himself as he wakes up early in the morning. First, he thinks of his transformation as if he is dreaming, then he tries to console himself as if it might be a temporary one. Gregor as a sole breadwinner for his family which consisted of his parents, his sister, and himself, even thinks as a responsible person after his metamorphosis. After wretched feelings of misery he feels, his desolation multiplies as his mother comes to his room, yelling at him to leave for the work. Gregor after, numerous of times, of his family members and his manager’s knocking at his door tries hard to open the door and show himself to them. After finding the Gregor in such condition every one of them, with time, turns their faces from him. His father is already hopeless with him and with days passing on, his mother and sister ignoring him as if he is some unhygienic animal. After Gregor's death, his family makes prayers of thanksgiving to God. Then, Mr. Samsa evicts the family's three lodgers. Satisfied that they have done well for themselves, Gregor's family spends the day resting and going for a stroll. The story, actually tells us about the society’s hypocrisy and selfish nature. Manipulation and infliction of miseries upon individuals and holding them responsible for unfortunate happenings is a major evil every one suffers from. Individual value is severely undermined in today’s society and it leads to the unbearable sufferings which are ended, most of the time, at the expense of lives. Note: I tried, very hard, not to involve myself in political discourse while reviewing this novella. As we all know that lateral transformation of species into one another is not a reality and natural one, but this fact per se is to be taken metaphorically. Now the question is; how one could twist the interpretations of this story as per different ideological inclinations? Let say; how a Marxist would express things according to his/her perspective? What are views of postmodernists? Those who believes in individualism? Different religious mythologies?