Art of Reading - "The Metamorphosis" Reading Resoponse

1) Equilibrium "He had got so far that he could barely keep his equilibrium when he rocked himself strongly, and he would have to nerve himself very soon for the final decision since in five minutes' time it would be a quarter past seven--" (470)
Kafka uses equilibrium to mean physical balance, but it could also be read to mean emotional balance. Kafka refers both to Gregor's emotional and physical state and while Gregor is physically rocking himself losing his physical balance he is forcing himself emotionally to get out of bed.

Amiably "'Good morning, Mr. Samsa,' the chief clerk was calling amiably meanwhile." (471)
Amiably is used in this passage to mean: in a good-natured manner. The chief clerk is coming into Gregor's home and does not want to offend because he is unsure of the nature of the situation, but he must ensure Gregor goes to work.

2) "The Metamorphosis" is hilarious. Comedy was the most enjoyable element of this story. The premise of someone being turned into a gigantic bug overnight as they slept to wake up and deal with their surprise condition is quite funny. To read Kafka's work as a piece which is not to be taken seriously, rather than starched-shirt literature, allows one to appreciate the absurdity of a bug lying on its back trying with all its clumsy might to roll out of bed. If one were to read "The Metamorphosis" picturing over played reactions similar to those in the movie Dr. Strangelove then one would be reading as Kafka meant it to be read.

3) "The Metamorphosis" is a story of alienation. Gregor is eventually completely forgotten by his family after they have shunned him and locked him in solitude. The reason for alienation is what makes this story interesting, Gregor has been transformed into a giant insect. This transformation is analagous to a bread winner suffering disabilitating injury which would cause them to be bed ridden. Such a transformation changes the family dynamic forcing other family members into the workforce to share the burden.


Work Cited:
Gioia, Dana; Gwynn, R.S.. Art of the Short Story, The. (Kafka, Franz. Metamorphosis, The). New York, New York: Pearson Longman, 2006