Writings by and about Kafka and textual notes accompany this translation of his early-twentieth-century work.
The Metamorphosis (in German, Die Verwandlung) is a novella by Franz Kafka, first published in 1915, and arguably the most famous of his works along with the longer works The Trial and The Castle. The story begins with a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, waking to find himself transformed into a giant "monstrous vermin" (see Lost in translation, below). It is widely regarded as a highly symbolic tale with various interpretations.
From Publishers Weekly
Kuper has adapted short works by Kafka into comics before, but here he tackles the most famous one of all: the jet-black comedy that ensues after the luckless Gregor Samsa turns into a gigantic bug. The story loses a bit in translation (and the typeset text looks awkward in the context of Kuper's distinctly handmade drawings). A lot of the humor in the original comes from the way Kafka plays the story's absurdities absolutely deadpan, and the visuals oversell the joke, especially since Kuper draws all the human characters as broad caricatures. Even so, he works up a suitably creepy frisson, mostly thanks to his drawing style. Executed on scratchboard, it's a jittery, woodcut-inspired mass of sharp angles that owes a debt to both Frans Masereel (a Belgian woodcut artist who worked around Kafka's time) and MAD magazine's Will Elder. The knotty walls and floors of the Samsas' house look like they're about to dissolve into dust. In the book's best moments, Kuper lets his unerring design sense and command of visual shorthand carry the story. The jagged forms on the huge insect's belly are mirrored by folds in business clothes; thinking about the debt his parents owe his employer, Gregor imagines his insectoid body turning into money slipping through an hourglass. Every thing and person in this Metamorphosis seems silhouetted and carved, an effect that meshes neatly with Kafka's sense of nightmarish unreality.
From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-Gregor Samsa wakes up and discovers he has been changed into a giant cockroach. Thus begins "The Metamorphosis," and Kuper translates this story masterfully with his scratchboard illustrations. The text is more spare, but the visuals are so strongly rendered that little of the original is changed or omitted. Though the story remains set in Kafka's time, Kuper has added some present-day touches, such as fast-food restaurants, that do not detract from the tale. He has used the medium creatively, employing unusual perspectives and panel shapes, and text that even crawls on the walls and ceilings, as Gregor does. The roach has an insect body but human facial expressions. Once he is pelted with the apple, readers can watch his rapid decline, as his body becomes more wizened and his face more gaunt. This is a faithful rendition rather than an illustrated abridgment.
---Jamie Watson, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore
Book Dimension
Height (mm) 175 Width (mm) 105
Franz Kafka[a] (3 July 1883 – 3 June 1924) was a German-speaking Bohemian Jewish novelist and short story writer, widely regarded as one of the major figures of 20th-century literature. His work, which fuses elements of realism and the fantastic,[3] typically features isolated protagonists faced by bizarre or surrealistic predicaments and incomprehensible social-bureaucratic powers, and has been interpreted as exploring themes of alienation, existential anxiety, guilt, and absurdity.[4] His best known works include "Die Verwandlung" ("The Metamorphosis"), Der Process (The Trial), and Das Schloss (The Castle). The term Kafkaesque has entered the English language to describe situations like those in his writing.[5]
Kafka was born into a middle-class, German-speaking Jewish family in Prague, the capital of the Kingdom of Bohemia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, today part of the Czech Republic. He trained as a lawyer, and after completing his legal education he was employed by an insurance company, forcing him to relegate writing to his spare time. Over the course of his life, Kafka wrote hundreds of letters to family and close friends, including his father, with whom he had a strained and formal relationship. He became engaged to several women but never married. He died in 1924 at the age of 40 from tuberculosis.
Few of Kafka's works were published during his lifetime: the story collections Betrachtung (Contemplation) and Ein Landarzt (A Country Doctor), and individual stories (such as "Die Verwandlung") were published in literary magazines but received little public attention. Kafka's unfinished works, including his novels Der Process, Das Schloss and Amerika (also known as Der Verschollene, The Man Who Disappeared), were ordered by Kafka to be destroyed by his friend Max Brod, who nonetheless ignored his friend's direction and published them after Kafka's death. His work went on to influence a vast range of writers, critics, artists, and philosophers during the 20th century.
The Metamorphosis is on the reading list of literature for high school in China. I have brief impression of the story:a man woke up and found himself to be a bug. I reread this story this weekends and do I like it? yes and no. It explores the complicated ...
评分The Metamorphosis is on the reading list of literature for high school in China. I have brief impression of the story:a man woke up and found himself to be a bug. I reread this story this weekends and do I like it? yes and no. It explores the complicated ...
评分The Metamorphosis is on the reading list of literature for high school in China. I have brief impression of the story:a man woke up and found himself to be a bug. I reread this story this weekends and do I like it? yes and no. It explores the complicated ...
评分The Metamorphosis is on the reading list of literature for high school in China. I have brief impression of the story:a man woke up and found himself to be a bug. I reread this story this weekends and do I like it? yes and no. It explores the complicated ...
评分The Metamorphosis is on the reading list of literature for high school in China. I have brief impression of the story:a man woke up and found himself to be a bug. I reread this story this weekends and do I like it? yes and no. It explores the complicated ...
《变形记》是一部极具穿透力的作品,它以一种极其简洁而又震撼人心的方式,揭示了现代社会中个体生存的困境。格里高尔的变形,不仅仅是他个人的不幸,更是对整个社会运作方式的一种隐喻。他作为一名销售员,长期在外奔波,牺牲了自己的生活,换来的是家人的依赖和看似稳定的生活。然而,当他变成甲虫,失去了工作能力,他立刻就从“家庭的支柱”变成了“家庭的负担”。我留意到,当家人们开始讨论如何处理他时,他们的言语中并没有太多的情感波动,更多的是对生计的担忧和对“麻烦”的厌倦。这种功利主义的态度,让我感到一种深深的寒意。格里高尔在变成甲虫之后,依然努力地想与家人保持联系,他会偷听他们的谈话,他会因为妹妹的音乐而感到一丝温暖。但是,这些微弱的希望,最终都被家人的彻底放弃所取代。这本书让我思考,我们是否在无意识中,也成为了那样一个将人视为“工具”的社会?我们是否在追求效率和利益的过程中,丢失了最重要的同情心和人文关怀?卡夫卡用一种极其克制而又尖锐的笔触,将这些问题抛给了读者,让人在阅读后,久久无法释怀。
评分《变形记》对我来说,不仅仅是一个关于身体变形的故事,它更像是一则关于存在和意义的寓言。格里高尔变成甲虫,这是一种身份的根本性危机,他不再是那个熟悉的儿子、哥哥,他成了一个无法理解、无法沟通的“异类”。我被他对自身境遇的解读方式所吸引,即使变成了甲虫,他依然用一种近乎理性的态度去分析自己的处境,去回忆过去,去尝试理解家人的反应。这种努力,在他绝望的处境中,显得尤为珍贵。然而,他所有的努力,似乎都无法改变家人的看法。从最初的惊慌失措,到后来的勉强容忍,再到最终的厌恶和排斥,这种态度的转变,映射出了人性中一种普遍的恐惧:对未知、对不同、对“非我族类”的排斥。我特别注意到,当格里高尔试图与家人交流,发出声音时,他的声音已经被扭曲,无法被理解。这种沟通的隔阂,是导致他最终被孤立和遗弃的关键。它让我反思,我们是不是也常常因为无法理解对方,就轻易地将对方归类为“异类”,然后对其失去耐心和同情?这本书的叙事方式非常独特,它通过格里高尔的视角来展现一切,让我们跟随他的感受去体验那种被隔离、被误解的痛苦,这种沉浸式的阅读体验,是非常强烈的。
评分这本《变形记》带给我的,是一种难以言喻的沉重感,但同时也是一种强烈的反思。格里高尔变成甲虫,这个故事的核心,在于它探讨了当一个人不再具有“社会功能”时,他所面临的生存困境。我被卡夫卡对格里高尔内心世界的刻画所吸引,即使变成了甲虫,他依然保有作为一个人的情感、记忆和思考能力。他会怀念过去,他会关心家人,他甚至会因为妹妹弹奏的音乐而感到一丝慰藉。然而,这一切的内在体验,都无法改变他作为“异类”的现实。我特别关注到,当家人们开始讨论如何处理他时,他们的言语中充满了对“麻烦”的抱怨和对“自由”的渴望。格里高尔的存在,已经成为了他们生活中的一种阻碍,一种需要被清除的障碍。他所曾经为家庭付出的牺牲,在他们眼中,似乎已经变得毫无意义。这种彻底的遗弃,让我在阅读时感到一种彻骨的寒意。这本书让我深刻地认识到,在很多时候,人与人之间的关系,是建立在某种“互惠”或“期待”之上的。一旦这些基础消失,曾经的亲密关系,也可能变得不堪一击。卡夫卡以一种极其冷静而又尖锐的笔触,揭示了人性中存在的这种残酷的一面,让人在阅读后,对“爱”和“责任”有了更深的理解。
评分这本《变形记》给我带来的最深刻的感受,是关于“被误解”和“被遗弃”的绝望。格里高尔变成甲虫,这个事实本身就足以让人无法理解,更何况他试图与家人沟通时,发出的却是令人厌恶的吱吱声。我被那些描绘他如何努力去表达自己,如何想要让家人理解他,却一次次被误解和排斥的场景所打动。他依然保有作为一个人的情感,他会因为父亲的攻击而感到恐惧,他会因为妹妹的疏远而感到悲伤。然而,这一切的内在情感,在家人眼中,都变成了他“非人”的证明。我特别留意到,当家人对他的态度越来越冷漠时,格里高尔并没有表现出太多的反抗,反而是一种深深的自我贬低和绝望。他开始接受自己是被抛弃的命运,甚至在生命的最后,他对自己“死亡”的到来,表现出了一种近乎解脱的态度。这让我心痛不已,一个曾经为家庭付出一切的人,最终却落得如此凄惨的下场。这本书让我深刻地认识到,当我们不再能够“符合”他人的期望时,即使我们内心多么渴望被爱,也可能被轻易地推开。卡夫卡以一种非常冷静而又精准的笔触,刻画了这种人性的脆弱和现实的残酷,让人在阅读后,对“归属感”和“接纳”有了更深的理解。
评分这本《变形记》着实让我大吃一惊,并非因为它离奇的情节,而是它所引发的深刻共鸣。当我翻开第一页,就立刻被格里高尔·萨姆沙那荒谬而又令人心碎的境遇所吸引。他变成一只巨大的甲虫,这个概念本身就充满了象征意义,但卡夫卡真正的高明之处在于,他并没有沉溺于奇幻的描述,而是将重点放在了这种转变对格里高尔日常生活、家庭关系乃至个人身份的颠覆性影响上。我们看着他努力适应这具新身体,笨拙地在房间里移动,试图与家人沟通,却屡屡失败。那种无力感、疏离感,以及随着时间推移,家人从最初的震惊、恐惧到最终的厌恶和抛弃,每一个细节都刻画得淋漓尽致。我尤其被那些描绘他如何试图回忆自己作为人类时的点点滴滴的片段所打动,那些曾经熟悉的生活片段,如今却如此遥不可及,这种失落感是一种难以言喻的痛苦。阅读的过程,我不断地在想,如果我突然遭遇了如此巨大的、无法解释的改变,我还能维系多少曾经拥有的一切?它迫使我审视自己与周围人的关系,以及我们在面对极端困境时,人性中究竟会展现出怎样的光辉或阴暗。这本书不仅仅是一个关于“变成虫子”的故事,它更像是一面镜子,映照出我们日常生活中那些被忽视的、却又至关重要的情感联结和人际互动。
评分《变形记》是一本让我重新审视“正常”与“异常”的作品。格里高尔变成甲虫,这个看似荒诞的设定,却在卡夫卡的笔下,展现出了惊人的现实力量。我被那些描绘他如何努力去适应这具新身体,如何小心翼翼地在房间里移动,以免发出太大的声响,以免惊扰到家人时,所展现出的那种卑微而又顽强的生命力所打动。然而,他的努力,似乎在家人眼中,只是徒劳的挣扎。我特别留意到,当家人们逐渐习惯了他的存在,并且开始认为他是一种“负担”时,他们的态度也发生了根本性的转变。从最初的惊恐,到勉强的照顾,再到最终的厌恶和希望他消失,这种态度的转变,是如此的自然而又令人绝望。我看到了他内心深处对于家庭的眷恋,尽管他知道自己已经无法再像以前那样为家庭贡献,但他依然希望能够得到一丝哪怕是微弱的关注。然而,他所得到的,却是越来越深的隔阂和遗弃。这本书让我深刻地认识到,在我们所处的社会中,个体与群体之间的关系是多么的微妙和脆弱。一旦个体变得“不同”,就可能面临被排斥和被孤立的命运。卡夫卡以一种非凡的洞察力,揭示了这种社会现实的冷酷,让人在阅读后,对“自我”的定义产生了更深的思考。
评分《变形记》带给我的体验,是一种缓慢而沉重的压抑感,它不像某些故事那样一开始就抛出惊天动地的事件,而是以一种近乎平淡的笔调,描绘了一个人如何在一个荒诞的现实中艰难生存。格里高尔的遭遇,并非突如其来的戏剧性爆发,而是他醒来后,发现自己已经身处其中,然后开始小心翼翼地应对。这种“已然如此”的开场,反而增强了故事的现实感,因为生活往往就是这样,我们有时不得不面对已经发生、但却无法理解的困境。我发现自己对格里高尔那种微弱的求生欲和偶尔闪现的善良感到深深的同情。即使变成了甲虫,他依然心系家人,担心着生计,试图用他仅剩的“人性”去维系与家人的联系。然而,这种努力在家人眼中,却成了负担和侮辱。尤其是看到他因为妹妹送来的食物而感到一丝慰藉,却又很快被妹妹的冷漠和厌恶所打破时,那种心痛是难以言表的。卡夫卡对家庭成员态度的转变描绘得极其细腻,从一开始的勉强照顾,到后来的漠不关心,再到最后的希望他“消失”,这种逐步加深的疏离和遗弃,是比变成甲虫本身更令人恐惧的。这让我反思,我们是否在生活中,也常常因为一些“不便”或“差异”,就轻易地将身边的人推开?这本书的语言风格有一种独特的冷峻感,它不煽情,却能精准地击中读者内心最柔软的部分,让人在阅读后久久不能平静。
评分《变形记》是一部让人在阅读过程中感到窒息的书。格里高尔变成甲虫,这个突如其来的转变,彻底颠覆了他和他家庭的生活。我被那些描绘他如何努力去适应这具新身体,如何小心翼翼地在房间里移动,以避免发出太大的声响,以免惊扰到家人时,所展现出的那种微弱而又顽强的生命力所打动。然而,他的努力,似乎在家人眼中,只是徒劳的挣扎。我特别关注到,当家人们逐渐习惯了他的存在,并且开始认为他是一种“负担”时,他们的态度也发生了根本性的转变。从最初的惊恐,到勉强的照顾,再到最终的厌恶和希望他消失,这种态度的转变,是如此的自然而又令人绝望。我看到了他内心深处对于家庭的眷恋,尽管他知道自己已经无法再像以前那样为家庭贡献,但他依然希望能够得到一丝哪怕是微弱的关注。然而,他所得到的,却是越来越深的隔阂和遗弃。这本书让我深刻地反思,在我们所处的社会中,个体与群体之间的关系是多么的微妙和脆弱。一旦个体变得“不同”,就可能面临被排斥和被孤立的命运。卡夫卡以一种非凡的洞察力,揭示了这种社会现实的冷酷,让人在阅读后,对“自我”的定义产生了更深的思考。
评分这本《变形记》是一次令人不安但又无法回避的阅读体验。卡夫卡笔下的格里高尔,在变成甲虫之后,他的痛苦并非来自于身体上的不适,更多的是来自于精神上的孤立和被遗弃。我反复思考,为何一个看似微不足道的“变形”,却能瞬间摧毁一个人的整个世界,甚至连曾经最亲近的人也无法再容忍他。格里高尔在变形之后,依然保有作为人的情感和记忆,他会因为妹妹的演奏而感到慰藉,他会因为父亲的攻击而感到恐惧。然而,这些“人性”的闪光点,在家人眼中,却成了他“顽固”或“威胁”的证明。我被那些描绘他如何努力适应新身体,如何小心翼翼地藏匿自己,以避免给家人带来更多“麻烦”的片段所打动。他甚至会因为自己的存在而感到愧疚,因为他知道自己已经不再是那个能为家庭做出贡献的儿子了。这种自我否定的过程,是如此的令人心酸。这本书让我深刻地体会到,在我们所处的社会中,个体的价值往往与他的“功能性”紧密相连。一旦失去了这种功能,即使曾经多么重要,也可能被轻易地抛弃。卡夫卡以一种近乎冷酷的笔调,揭示了这种残酷的现实,让人在阅读后,对人与人之间的关系产生了深深的思考。
评分这是一本让我感到非常“不舒服”的书,但恰恰是这种不适感,让我更加深刻地体会到它的价值。格里高尔变成甲虫,这是一个极端化的情境,但卡夫卡并没有停留在“奇观”的层面,他将目光投向了更为核心的问题:当我们不再“有用”时,我们还能获得多少爱与尊重?格里高尔作为一个家庭的经济支柱,他的价值几乎完全体现在他能够赚钱养家。一旦他丧失了这个功能,他作为“人”的价值似乎也随之消失。我特别留意到,当格里高尔还能勉强移动,甚至还能听到家人的对话时,他依然试图理解和适应,但随着他身体的进一步衰败,他与外界的联系也越来越少,最终几乎被完全遗忘。这种被抛弃和被遗忘的过程,是如此的真实而残酷。尤其是当家人开始讨论如何处理他,如何摆脱这个“负担”时,我感到一种彻骨的寒意。他们对他不再有任何的情感投入,他只是一个碍事的物件。这让我思考,在许多关系中,我们所依赖的“情感”,是否很多时候都建立在某种“利益”或“功能”之上?当这些基础消失时,曾经的情感是否也会如同泡沫一样破灭?这本书的结构非常紧凑,每一章都层层递进,将格里高尔的困境和家人的反应推向更加绝望的境地,读起来让人喘不过气,却又无法停止。
评分The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
评分Bedtime story.
评分想起鱿鱼和鲸里面的回答,你觉得妹妹这个角色怎样。
评分Kalka
评分奥地利
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