1. KAFKA: THE REAL
BEETLE
“I CANNOT MAKE Y OU UNDERSTAND. I CANNOT MAKE
ANYONE UNDERSTAND WHAT IS HAPPENING INSIDE ME. I
CANNOT EVEN EXPLAIN IT TO MYSELF”
FRANZ KAFKA
How many writers do you
need to create one of the most
eccentric icons of the 20th
century novel? Just one
personage, Franz Kafka. He, a
Jewish Austro Hungarian
lawyer and real state agent
who suffered from many
mental diseases, contributed
with his well-known
masterpiece: The
Metamorphosis.
Believe it or not, there are
many references in The
Metamorphosys that this
author made from his own life,
which make it more interesting
and atractive for new
generations.In addition,
through the narrations we can
observe that some issues are
exactly the same as before,
that in other words it means
that “the good old times” were
not as good as we think, in
some cases.
In the metamorphosis, one
day Gregor Samsa, the main
character of the text, woke up
as a monstrous insect-like
creature, with no explanation
whatsoever. On the other
hand, Franz Kafka lived as an
outsider, a Jewish in what is
nowadays the Czech Republic,
part of the Austro-Hungarian
empire in that time. Moreover,
not only the absence of his
parents but also the death of
his two younger brothers, and
an unsuccessful career as a
writer, would obviously give
him the impression of being
alienated. Notwithstanding,
Kafka in real life was a popular
employee; charismatic and
sociable, as his character
Gregory Samsa.
Another interpretation is
the relationship between being
a giant insect and his personal
life. Although everything
seemed normal in his daily life,
his personal relationships
differ sharply from what could
be seen. His inhibitions and
insecurities were normally a
bridge among his different
relationships, two failed
attempts to get married, and
one last dysfunctional
relationship were more than
enough to be called an
unusual person for the time.
If we deepen into the
relationship between Franz
and his father, it is necessary
to say that it was not the best,
or the most peaceful. This is,
indeed, a characteristic
conflict touched in many
narrations of his authorship:
the differences of power. In
the book named before, even
though at the end the whole
family considered Gregor as
a burden, the father was the
person who took the initiative
to attack Gregor when he
thought that his wife was in a
hurry, which is probably an
analogy of these raw
moments.
Taking everything into
consideration, the chaotic life
of Franz Kafka is just a
minimal concern when
reading such a masterpiece
as “the Metamorphosis”.
However, to read about him
and understand his situation
gives another sense to the
reading, as long as you do
not turn into an insect,
everything is going to be
alright.