Inspiring & Pointless, yet Important

Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is as inspiring as it is pointless, if that makes any sense. Kafka’s writing style was so convoluted, so irregular, so sporadic, that it actually made me want to write more like him. For example, the first paragraph of chapter three is only one sentence. In this one sentence, Kafka manages to include 6 or 7 separate ideas using a combination of commas, double dash marks, and transitional phrases. I just feel like if a student in a high school English class were to write a sentence like that, the teacher would simply cross it all out in red ink and next to it write phrases like “awkward,” “run-on,” or “break up sentences.” This is why I believe that Kafka’s writing is inspirational. It will definitely lead to me taking more risks while writing future papers despite a fear of being marked down for improper grammar.

In contrast, I did not enjoy this book as much as I expected to. I have been hearing about how great this book is for about three years now and I was sincerely let down. I just think that the book was so focused on Gregor’s internal stream-of-consciousness that Kafka didn’t even have the opportunity to develop a gripping a plot. Seriously, the majority of the book dwelled on how Gregor felt in relation to his family. If you look back on the story, only six separate events happened: Gregor awoke as a bug, was released from his job, was given food by his sister, was attacked by his father, was shunned by his family, and died. In the 60 some odd pages read, not once was I so moved by plot line or dialogue enough to hold my interest in The Metamorphosis.

To conclude, The Metamorphosis is an acceptable great work, at best, not because it is such a gripping story, but rather because it can lead to thousands of reader interpretations. For example, before I attended discussion and was informed about the religious, sexual, and historical comparisons that other readers have concocted, I simply interpreted the book as a story of abandonment and helplessness. Gregor’s lack of a voice is crucial into deriving this idea because in this world, it is often the silenced that are forgotten by society, while those who can boast the loudest are worshipped and rewarded.