Comparing Kafka's The Metamorphosis And Other Stories

The author Franz Kafka is considered to be one of the greatest modern writers, one whose work brilliantly explores the anxiety, futility, and complexity of modern life. Kafka’s style is referred as powerful symbolism, and his existential search of the human condition have given his work universal significance. The five stories translated in The Metamorphosis and Other Stories were written during one of Kafka’s highest time. Each of the stories represented various sides of his thoughts and constant obsessions. In “The Metamorphosis”, Gregor’s apartment and living arrangements are similar to Kafka’s home at the time. Kafka’s work in “ The Metamorphosis” is a well-balanced coexistence of humor and horror. The allegorical interpretation of Kafka’s …show more content…
He lay on his back, which was hard as armor, and, when he lifted his head a little, he saw his belly-rounded, brown, partitioned by arch like ridges- on top of which the blanket, ready to slip off altogether, was just barley perched. His numerous legs, pitifully thin in comparison to the rest of his girth, flickered helplessly before his eyes (Kafka 11).” When he had awakened he was transformed into a bug; Gregor had a hard time believe what he saw before him. Gregor response to his new transformation was quite unusually, for he was not considered the fact that he was a bug but that he wasn’t going to make it work on time. “As he glanced over towards his clock, which was ticking on the …show more content…
It was half past six, and the hands were moving ahead peacefully; in fact, it was later than half past, it was almost a quarter to seven…From the bed he could see that it was correctly set for four; surely, it had also rung… The next train left at seven; to catch it he would have had to make a mad dash, his sample case wasn’t backed yet, and he himself did not feel particularly fresh and lively (Kafka 12).” This is strange because most people would be completely terrified and unable to concentrate on anything else but them. Gregor, on the another hand, was only focused on making it work on time and not making his boss upset. Eventually, Gregor’s family had called for him to see if he was all right for it was unusual for him to not be on time. But, Gregor was unable to respond as he couldn't even get out of his bed. As he was not used to his new body with his little spiny legs and oval shaped frame. As Gregor continues to try and get up he hears his chief clerk call for him downstairs. Then he hears his sister crying in the next room and he becomes worried that he has let his sister down. Gregor was somewhat confused on why she was crying and believed it was because he didn’t get up and let the clerk in or because he was in danger of losing his job. Gregor even in his current situation was able o think of others, as he always does never being truly concerned with himself. “He danced around the lock, now here, now there, following the progress