The Metamorphosis Summary | Chapterly
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka: A Complete Summary "One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a horrible vermin." Overview The Metamorphosis (Die Verwandlung, 1915) is Franz Kafka's most famous work. In this surrealist novella, traveling salesman Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning transformed into a giant insect. The story follows his family's response and his gradual decline. What the transformation means has generated endless interpretation. Is it about alienation? Capitalism? Family? Jewish identity? All of these? None? Kafka never explains. Plot Summary Part I: The Discovery Gregor wakes as an insect. His first concern: he'll miss his train and lose his job. When the chief clerk arrives to check on him, Gregor manages to open the door. His family and the clerk recoil in horror. His father drives him back into his room with a newspaper. Part II: Adjustment Gregor adapts to insect life. He enjoys crawling on walls and ceiling. His sister Grete brings food - he now prefers rotten vegetables. She removes furniture so he can crawl more freely, but when their mother protests, Gregor emerges to protect a picture on the wall. His father, enraged, pelts him...