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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
I've been meaning to read some Kafka for a long time. I'm glad I finally did.
I'm sure there is nothing new to say about The Metamorphosis, but here are my two cents. Gregor was transformed into an isopod. Not a pill bug type, but a non-rolling woodlouse. The story is about the poor treatment of chronically ill and disabled people.
I'm sure there is nothing new to say about The Metamorphosis, but here are my two cents. Gregor was transformed into an isopod. Not a pill bug type, but a non-rolling woodlouse. The story is about the poor treatment of chronically ill and disabled people.
Franz Kafka is my spirit animal.
A message from the emperor: ✳️✳️✳️✳️✴️
The Metamorphosis: ✳️✳️✳️✴️✴️
The Judgment: ✳️✳️✳️✴️✴️
The Stoker: ✳️✳️✳️✴️✴️
In the Penal Colony: ✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️
A Country Doctor: ✳️✳️✳️✳️✴️
An Old Leaf: ✳️✳️✳️✳️✴️
A Hunger Artist: ✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️
Josephine the Singer: ✳️✳️✴️✴️✴️
Before the Law:✳️✳️✳️✳️✴️
A message from the emperor: ✳️✳️✳️✳️✴️
The Metamorphosis: ✳️✳️✳️✴️✴️
The Judgment: ✳️✳️✳️✴️✴️
The Stoker: ✳️✳️✳️✴️✴️
In the Penal Colony: ✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️
A Country Doctor: ✳️✳️✳️✳️✴️
An Old Leaf: ✳️✳️✳️✳️✴️
A Hunger Artist: ✳️✳️✳️✳️✳️
Josephine the Singer: ✳️✳️✴️✴️✴️
Before the Law:✳️✳️✳️✳️✴️
In all honesty, it's too hard to write a review about Kafka's short stories. There is so much hidden beneath them that reviews can go any direction and still have a pretty valid interpretation, and that's before you realise this collection also has "The Metamorphosis" in it, the novella to beat all other novellas, the one scholars are still arguing over today. However, all this symbolism is made through Kafka's exact word choices, and his deceptive writing style, which really is in a class of its own. So I'm just going to say buy the damn thing and let him show you how you write a story that can be compelling, horrifying, funny, absurd, and philosophical all at the same time.
Also, this version translated by Ian Johnson contains all these letters and context papers which helps understand his mindset better, and become all that more sadder about how he hated his own work, unable to accept just how talented and vital to the literature world he really was.
Also, this version translated by Ian Johnson contains all these letters and context papers which helps understand his mindset better, and become all that more sadder about how he hated his own work, unable to accept just how talented and vital to the literature world he really was.
In comparison to Dostoevsky’s short stories, Kafka writes more in character against society and Dostoevsky writes in character against his internal self; although both works are much very personal and leave the reader wondering how can both authors write in such a way. My favorite short story might be “In the Penal Colony” because the explorer is seen as an outsider but has an important opinion against the officer. “A Hunger Artist” is also a compelling story but “The Metamorphosis” should not be forgotten and it is clearly shown why it is his best work.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Both translations were good although I've obviously never read the original in German, so I can't really say which was better. "In the Penal Colony" is one of the most messed up stories I have ever read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Have you ever read something where you knew pretty early on that you weren’t the target audience? Because that’s how I felt reading this book. There were some parts of the book that I enjoyed, particularly the stories towards the end after The Penal Colony entry, but the ones at the beginning were a bit odd to me. As well, I know I should have liked The Metamorphosis considering it was what the whole book was based around, but it just wasn’t for me and I think that’s okay! Glad others got more value out of it than I did, and while it wasn’t my cup of tea, there were still parts I enjoyed quite a lot, so thankful for that.
"The Metamorphosis," is an archetypal story of transformation and rejection. The themes that are resurrected throughout Gregor's journey of isolation and self-acceptance raise the universal questions that underpin our deepest insecurities: do people really love me for me? If I were to change, would I still be accepted? What would happen to me if I didn't conform?
What is so striking about this story is that Gregor seems relatively content living life as an insect. It isn't until exterior opinions (most immediately, that of his family, and of course society at large) reject his newfound insectile existence does he begin to doubt his sense of self, to "collect dust," as it were, and eventually surrender to the whims of society.
The other story that drew me from this collection was "The Penal Colony," which is a fascinating take on corporal punishment and seems timely as we examine our systems of justice and the dedication to preserving systems that in the end, do more harm than good.
The rest of the stories, truth be told, I did not care for very much in terms of just reading. Analyzing and diving deeper into them could definitely be fruitful if I gave it more time.
What is so striking about this story is that Gregor seems relatively content living life as an insect. It isn't until exterior opinions (most immediately, that of his family, and of course society at large) reject his newfound insectile existence does he begin to doubt his sense of self, to "collect dust," as it were, and eventually surrender to the whims of society.
The other story that drew me from this collection was "The Penal Colony," which is a fascinating take on corporal punishment and seems timely as we examine our systems of justice and the dedication to preserving systems that in the end, do more harm than good.
The rest of the stories, truth be told, I did not care for very much in terms of just reading. Analyzing and diving deeper into them could definitely be fruitful if I gave it more time.