Metamorphosis

One morning Gregor Samsa wakes to find he has been transformed into a horrible vermin. Lying in the dark, he asks himself what now, and quickly discovers he can hardly move at all. So begins Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis, a story about the conflicts built into human nature and the darker side of existence that people keep hidden.

Gregor tries to make those around him understand that he is still human, whatever his repulsive new body looks like. His family and friends, meanwhile, struggle to remember the person living inside the creature. Their reactions raise uncomfortable questions. Are we a superficial society? Can we look past the surface and see what is within? Are we able to care for others without selfishness?

Compelling, sarcastic and emotional, the story holds up a mirror to the feeling of alienation that people everywhere know.