Metamorphosis
Kafka’s Book Set Me Thinking
‘Metamorphosis’ was the name of the book I read. In fact however, I read two books, one the English translation of Franz Kafka’s original book and the other a Marathi translation.
Franz Kafka’s novella, Metamorphosis’ was published in 1915 which is considered a classic and there are many interpretations of the story.
Metamorphosis is a biological process which involves physical transformation. Like larva to butterfly. Franz Kafka’s famous novella was translated (by different people) in English, and its title is Metamorphosis.
In Metamorphosis, Gregor Samsa, the protagonist, gets transformed overnight into a large insect! He can see, hear and listen to people but he is unable to communicate with them. Gregor Samsa listens to his father, mother and sister but is unable to communicate with them.
He feels lonely, he is not understood – the real loneliness is in not being understood, it has nothing to do with the absence of people around. This is a state of mind everyone can readily identify with.
Kafka weaves realism with imagination beautifully to present the neglected Gregor Samsa. Kafka’s work reflects existentialism.
Homo sapiens do not experience distinct and abrupt metamorphosis like a larva and butterfly. But people do change, and they can change radically. They change slowly and gradually just as running waters of a river shape a rock, removing its sharp edges and making them round and smooth over a long period of time.
Metamorphosis reminds me of The Ship of Theseus which is a famous thought experiment exploring the concept of identity. If you replace a part of a ship, is it the same ship? If you replace many parts, can you call it the same ship? The answer is both yes and no – it is a paradox.
We do not experience metamorphosis, but we change and when we meet people after a long gap of time, we realise how much the person has changed physically and also in its outlook towards life. Can we say we met the same person who we knew a few years ago. The answer is both yes and no – it is a paradox. Abrupt metamorphosis like larva to butterfly does not present such a paradox to us.
Among human beings there can be denial that the person has changed. I am reminded of Jayawant Dalvi’s story ‘Sparsh.’ In it a woman contracts leprosy and is sent to the leprosy camp where she is treated and gets cured. When she returns, her family finds itself in a strange situation where they do not accept her.
The woman did not undergo any metamorphosis but family does not treat her in the same way they did before she contracted leprosy. The family saw her like Gregor Samsa. There are many Gregor Samsa’s around us, we need to stop and see their situation.
Franz Kafka creates possibilities when he shocks a reader with the statement at the beginning of his story that the protagonist Gregor Samsa found himself changed into a large insect. And he becomes a secluded and unwanted character.
Exclusion or rejection, loneliness, being left out, not being understood are various feelings we experience. Kafka has woven a gripping story around these feelings.
I bought a copy. I read about half of the Metamorphosis book when I accidentally noticed that it was (also) translated in Marathi and I bought the Marathi book too. Now I have two versions of Metamorphosis.
I enjoy reading Marathi translations of the English books; some of them are excellent work. The Marathi book offered much besides the translated novella. Dr Suhas Bhaskar Joshi has added two sections which make the Marathi book exclusive. One section covers the analysis of the novella, while the other mentions various stories inspired by Metamorphosis.
For example, Murakami’s ‘Samsa in Love’ was published in 2013, and it is a very interesting sequel to Metamorphosis. The protagonist, then an insect, gets transformed into Gregor Samsa. This is total reversal of what Kafka’s Metamorphosis and becoming a man from an insect is also a metamorphosis. Dr Joshi mentions many other stories which have linkages with the original Metamorphosis.
Reading two books, one the novella in English, and the other (in Marathi) with additional material to appreciate Kafka’s work gave me more information and insights.
Why has the God given a man two eyes? The interesting answer which I read elsewhere was ‘so that you can understand the depth.’ The perception of depth comes when we see the same object in two different angles.
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. if you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart, said Nelson Mandela. I rediscovered this when I read Metamorphosis in two languages!
PS: Kafka did not want picture of an insect on the cover, but the Marathi book has it.
PS: Feature Image by Erik Karits on Pixabay
Vivek S Patwardhan
“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” All matter copyrighted.
The best part of reading your blog is, we get the life’s philosophy and valuable lesson. I completely agree with
“We do not experience metamorphosis, but we change and when we meet people after a long gap of time, we realise how much the person has changed physically and also in its outlook towards life. Can we say we met the same person who we knew a few years ago. The answer is both yes and no – it is a paradox.”
That’s true. We even as an individual are not same. Inam not the same person which I was a decade back.
I am not going to be the same person in future, whatever I am. Our Outlook changes, our perception changes. Our life experience , our experience with the people make us to change or transform.
Thank you sir for such a wonderful lessons through your blog.
Very well expressed. The existential angst comes through as a raw experience in Kafka’s famous metamorphosis. Marathi poet Mardhekar noted the overall alienation in a rapidly industrialising urban spaces.
Loved your vision of bringing Murakami in.
Good morning
As usual you shared a very important dimensions of life …we keep changing and evolving as a person. Second you also introduced us to Franz Kafka. I had heard of him and was always inspired by his ” little girl and doll story” knee very little about him though.
Recently we visit Prague and my kids were absolutely fascinated by the moving head of Kafka. It’s only that day I realized how Kafka seems to have shaped my kids life. They were devoted Kafka fans. And here I was thinking this was just a photo op moment !!!
It’s interetsing that he continues to inspire thinking of the younger generation whereas I thought now no one reads Kafka.
I am so glad that there is a Marathi translation too.
THKS FOR RECOMMENDING THOUGHTFUL READING MATERIAL
Sir, Thank you for sharing this commentary with so many other connections.
Metamorphosis – taken in the sense that it happens in nature, is a progression from the nascent, the transient to its final stage of perfection. The egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly being the classic example. However, the beauty is that though each stage is a step towards the final, each is perfect in itself. And once perfection is reached, a few days later, is annihilation.
But what do you call a backward metamorphosis as we see in society today? Where the gentle manners, mutual respect, the spirit of helping, sharing, compassion and kindness – I can add many more adjectives to describe the memories of the times I lived in and the people I met. But I am sure so can anyone of my generation. Yet all of us are witness to the metamorphosis that has and is happening, be it in films, TV shows and hosts, the once noble sport of cricket, our behavior in public places and transport,how we treat our neighbours – once again I can go on, but won’t. I will let whoever reads this to add their own stories. And ask the question, “What is the ultimate shape, form and nature of the butterfly that will emerge?” After that will be annihilation.
Very good share about transformation of people , things over a period of time. Time (kal) is very powerful and a great teacher. When one is happy or in sorrow, one should remember that it will pass over a period of time. With time every thing can be converted to nothing and vice versa. Same is true of people. Thanks for such thoughtful commentary on novel by Kafka and by Dr Joshi on the subject.Regards
Excellent summary of the book, retaining the philosophical essence of Identity or crisis of it?
Greta reading, as always