A first sign of beginning of understanding is the wish to die ~ Franz Kafka
0. Summary
One of the best short stories I’ve ever read. Recommended to me by a friend. I see where the term “Kafkaesque” originated from. He describes situations characterized by surreal distortion and a sense of helpless entrapment in senseless, labyrinthine bureaucracies. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed his descriptive writing, paying attention to detail.
Good first read for those trying to get into fiction.
1. Key Take Aways
As a young man, I’d be lying if I said that this piece did not make me reflect on whether an individual’s value within his family can be inextricably linked to their economic utility. Once Gregor can no longer provide for his family, the love they had for him was no longer enough to sustain his place in the home. It made me realize that sometimes our value is tied to productivity. Gregor does not panic about being a “gigantic insect” but rather he panics about the logistics of his commute, and this suggests that he views himself not as a human being with a soul, but as a functionary whose only purpose is to be on that train.
In my opinion, Gregor’s tragedy is the fact that he agrees with the system given that he judges himself by the same harsh standard of utility that his family and his boss use.