Metamorphosis

Novellas- My all-time favourite book type to read. Not short, not lengthy, just the apt ones for me at least. It was when going through Novellas I found a Book - Metamorphosis. The cover page caught my eyes, but as the author was new to me, I felt no interest going for the one. Still considering the number of pages, went for it and till date, it's one of my favourites. Franz Kafka, the author is regarded as Dante and Shakespeare of the twentieth century by the famous literary critic- George Steiner. The book is hardly 100 pages and never burnt my pocket too. 

      The story is all about a man, Gregor Samsa, who is a salesman. One morning, when Gregor woke from his dreams, he saw himself converted into a horrible vermin, inexplicably. The story proceeds with what all that happens with Gregor. Hailing from an indigent family, his job was what they all had to survive. Seeing his condition, the entire family members are heartbroken. They curse him, for what he is now. Only his sister Grete has some empathy towards him. When Gregor is seen accepting his condition, crawling on the floor, walls, ceiling, Grete makes an effort to rearrange the furniture so that he can move freely.  The story ends when Gregor dies of starvation when his parents tell him that he is a burden to their family now. 

    The reason how and why he turned into a vermin is not revealed. It's said that the story is of Kafka's life only. It's still unclear, as this one book has millions of interpretations by critics all over the globe. The change in human emotions is well described in the book. Overall a significant one which can be read in a day if not hours.

Love Fantasy n Fiction? Go for it it's just a Two in one.

  

Namratha