The Metamorphosis

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is a landmark work of modern literature about Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman who wakes one morning to find that he has been transformed into a strange creature. His transformation dramatically changes his relationship with his family and his place within the household. As his ability to work and communicate disappears, the family is forced to reconsider its responsibilities and expectations. Kafka's surreal premise becomes a powerful exploration of isolation, identity, alienation, duty and the pressures of ordinary life.