The Metamorphosis and Other Stories [Dover]

Overall I would say I like Kafka, but some of these stories were definitely stronger than others... Obviously The Metamorphosis is a masterpiece but I found a lot of the others to be mediocre and didn't "wow" me like The Metamorphosis does. I would say if you're a die hard Kafka fan then this is a fine collection, but otherwise you might as well just read The Metamorphosis on its own. My other favorites of the collection were Before the Law, The Judgement, In the Penal Colony, A Hunger Artist, and A Report to An Academy. In general I thought the longer stories were much better than the really short ones. Also, it might be relevant that I read some of these for class and then finished the rest on my own. Discussing them definitely made a show more lot of these better. show less

Kafka is weird. There, I said it. And I usually like weird, but I'm still not quite sure what to think of Kafka. In a discussion with a friend about themes, it became a bit easier to read. I didn't have problems with the bug, or the killing device as much as I did with the characters' reactions.

When I mentioned that the ending in "The Judgement" felt kinda clunky, my friend said, "That's the thing about Kafka. He gets a free pass because he's Kafka. The ending is clunky, but because he's Kafka, people wonder if they're missing something."

Note to self: Kafka is not god, his work is not perfect. (Weird, but not perfect.)

In "The Metamorphosis," one of the themes is being worthwhile. This poor man works hard to support his family, but in show more return, they and the bureaucrats he works for believe him to be nothing more than a "bug." And all anyone can do is be horrified that he can no longer work and treat him even more poorly.

"In The Penal Colony" was horrifying. Not because of the actual killing device, but is pretty horrific on its own, but for the attitude of The Officer toward crime and punishment. 30 years later, George Orwell published Nineteen Eighty-Four. The extreme belief that anyone showing any humanity towards others is weak, haunts us every day. On a light note, if there is one, I kept hearing Sylvester Stallone in "Judge Dredd" saying, "I AM the law" whenever The Officer spoke about how The Condemned had come to be condemned. It's a pretty damning statement against government (being published the year after WWI ended), dictatorships and those who stand by and do nothing.

As for "The Country Doctor" and "A Report to the Academy," well, those were more of the same weirdness.

In sum, I'm not sorry I read this. Not sorry, but not necessarily glad. I can now say I've read Kafka and understand what the meaning of the word "Kafkaesque" is. I don't need to read any more. show less

The Metamorphosis definately makes you see how insignificant your life really is to others. While you are useful you are loved and valued. When you are no longer useful you begin to be an annoyance and when you have descended to being uncomfortable and a burden to others they wish you to disappear altogether. Fantastic story of a man's life reduced to that of a bug.
The Penal Colony is a valuable statement of how too much power in one man's hands to exercise judgement is terrifying. Do not read this if your squeamish, it's pretty gruesome.

I loved all of the stories in this edition.

Superb collection by modern master explores the complexity, anxiety, and futility of modern life. Excellent new English translations of the title story — considered by many critics Kafka's most perfect work — plus "The Judgment," "In the Penal Colony," "A Country Doctor" and "A Report to an Academy." A selection of the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

In Kafka's "The Metamorphosis," Gregor Samsa awakes one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. The theme of personal transformation is clear and the items which are obvious metaphors (e.g. Samsa being an insect, the apple lodged in his back), will allow students to explore what their intended meaning could have been.

This book also includes "The Judgement," "In the Penal Colony," "A Country Doctor," and "A Report to an Academy."

I love "The Metamorphosis" and have read it several times. I know some people probably think I'm crazy. (My friend, Natalie, said she could never get over the giant bug thing.) Personally, I love the weirdness of the Modernist period.

The Metamorphosis was required reading for me in school, and I have since re-visited it a few times. Short, powerful, and well worth anyone's time.