The Metamorphosis.: An Interactive Workbook and Study Guide (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781500261573)

Franz Kafka wrote what he called his "bug story" in 1912, but it was not printed until 1915. (Although there is a shadow of a bug on the cover of this workbook, when it was first printed Kafka was insistent that no bug appeared on the cover!) Originally Written in German, Kafka was intentionally vague is the language he used. The Metamorphosis is the English translation of Franz Kafka's novella which was originally entitled "Die Verwandlung". In the story, the reader never really gets a full description of anything. The main character, Gregor, is turned into a giant bug- but what kind of bug?. The setting is seems unimportant, with only a few exceptions. The characters in the story are called by their roles ("Mother", "Father", "Clerk). They are, however, well described through their attitudes and actions. It is interesting to note that the only exception to this the character first referred to as "Sister". She is referred to by her name, Grete, when Gregor is expressing genuine feelings towards her. At the book is Grete no longer referred to as sister and instead becomes "daughter". Although narrated in 3rd person, the view, at least until the end, is uniquely that of Gregor. Like everything else in this story, the reader s never really clear on is true feelings and motivations. His is not a strong personality, but there an underlying resentment and anger towards the other members of his family that oozed out in more passive aggressive behaviors that he never quite admits to. Is he really that na?e and gullible? He does not give himself permission to complain too often, and he never fights back. But Gregor does make comments. He notices that his father spends hours every day at the breakfast table. He notices that, while he has been working as a veritable indentured servant to pay off the debts of his family, his family has actually been building a small financial nest-egg, and always has at least one servant in the house. The haziness of the story in the plot, setting and characters make it seem almost a dream state. If not a dream, than perhaps the story is a view into the angry fantasies of a resentful Gregor. Or, perhaps, it is simply a surreal experience that is meant to be taken at face-value. Kafka never tells his reader how to interpret the story; instead he craftily allows his readers to select the path of their own interpretations.