Controversial Classics: The Metamorphosis

This short story was also one that had me in a chokehold in eighth grade: depressing, and hauntingly realistic despite fictitious elements.

The novel is about a working man who is the sole provider for his family: Gregor Samsa. One day, he turns into a massive bug, and essentially becomes "useless" and alienated by his family members.

The novel has been challenged throughout history due to its depressing nature and criticism of Russia's working class and working conditions. It was also banned in Russia for having no nationalist sentiments.

The novel explores loneliness and alienation, as well as the feeling of only being used as a vessel for material gain. This reflects the socioeconomic status of Russia at the time.

The central philosophy of the novel is existentialism. Gregor is still "himself" all throughout the novel and has all his consciousness, but he loses everything that makes him "him", and makes him valuable as a person to other people. He cannot work, provide, eat, or speak. His family is not horrified by his appearance and inability to speak, but rather his inability to work and provide money. They eventually start to dehumanize him and see him as less and less of a person. The climax comes when even Gregor's precious sister recommends that they dispose of Gregor. This reflects the human need to preserve their identity even when their existence itself becomes absurd.