The Metamorphosis
by Franz Kafka
Kafka's short, devastating novella about a young man who wakes up transformed. Three chapters, readable in one evening.
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One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that in bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug.Franz Kafka, The MetamorphosisRead 11 hand-picked quotes from The Metamorphosis, with meaning →4 The Metamorphosis memes, decoded →
The Metamorphosis: study guide
Everything you need to follow The Metamorphosis: what happens, who it happens to, what it means, and the words worth learning along the way. The links at the top of the page jump straight to any part of it.
The Metamorphosis summary
In Franz Kafka's 'The Metamorphosis', Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. As he struggles to adjust to his new condition, his family becomes increasingly alienated from him, leading to a tragic conclusion.
Setting: The story is set in the Samsa family's apartment in an unspecified city, likely in the early 20th century.
Show the full summary↓
Contains spoilers, including the ending.
The novel begins with Gregor Samsa waking up to find himself transformed into a large insect. Confused and disoriented, he struggles to get out of bed and realizes he is late for work. His family, unaware of his transformation, becomes concerned when he does not open his bedroom door.
As Gregor's manager visits to check on him, Gregor manages to open the door, revealing his new form. His family is horrified, and his manager flees. Gregor's parents and sister, Grete, are initially sympathetic and try to care for him, but their feelings change over time.
Gregor becomes isolated in his room, and his family begins to resent him. Grete, who initially takes on the role of caregiver, becomes increasingly frustrated with Gregor's presence. The family takes in lodgers to make ends meet, further marginalizing Gregor.
As time passes, Gregor's condition worsens, and he becomes a burden to his family. One day, after an altercation with the lodgers, Grete insists that they must get rid of Gregor. Overhearing this, Gregor retreats to his room, feeling unwanted and unloved.
That night, Gregor dies alone in his room. The family discovers his death the next morning and feels a sense of relief. They decide to move to a smaller apartment and start a new life, free from the burden Gregor had become.
In the end, the family leaves the apartment for a walk, with Grete stretching and blossoming into a young woman, symbolizing a new beginning for the Samsas.
The Metamorphosis characters
The main characters of The Metamorphosis, who they are and what they do in the story.
Gregor Samsa
protagonistGregor is a traveling salesman who wakes up one day to find himself transformed into a giant insect. He struggles with his new identity and the isolation it brings from his family.
Grete Samsa
supportingGrete is Gregor's sister who initially cares for him after his transformation. Over time, she becomes resentful and insists on getting rid of Gregor.
Mr. Samsa
supportingMr. Samsa is Gregor's father, who becomes hostile towards Gregor after his transformation. He struggles with the financial burden of supporting the family.
Mrs. Samsa
supportingMrs. Samsa is Gregor's mother, who is torn between her love for her son and the horror of his transformation. She is emotionally fragile and often faints.
Chief Clerk
antagonistThe Chief Clerk is Gregor's manager, who visits the Samsa household to inquire about Gregor's absence from work. He is shocked by Gregor's appearance and quickly leaves.
Charwoman
supportingThe Charwoman is the cleaning lady who discovers Gregor's lifeless body. She is practical and unfazed by Gregor's transformation.
Lodgers
supportingThe Lodgers are tenants the Samsa family takes in to make extra money. They become upset upon discovering Gregor and eventually leave.
Themes in The Metamorphosis
The major themes of The Metamorphosis and what each one means in the story.
Isolation and Alienation
Gregor's transformation into an insect symbolizes his isolation from society and his family. As he becomes more alienated, the family's rejection highlights the theme of loneliness.
Family Duty and Burden
The novel explores the dynamics of family duty and burden, as Gregor's inability to work shifts the financial pressure onto his family, leading to resentment and conflict.
Identity and Transformation
Gregor's physical transformation forces him to confront his identity and role within his family. The change challenges his self-perception and the way others perceive him.
The Absurdity of Life
Kafka's story reflects the absurdity of life, where Gregor's inexplicable transformation and the family's response highlight the irrational and unpredictable nature of existence.
Dehumanization
As Gregor turns into an insect, he experiences a loss of humanity and dignity. The family's treatment of him underscores the theme of dehumanization and objectification.
The Metamorphosis vocabulary
24 useful words from The Metamorphosis, from easier to harder. Each has a simple meaning and an example sentence, so you learn words you can actually use, not just recognise. While you read here, tapping any word does the same thing.
- morningnoun
The early part of the day, from sunrise until noon.
“I like to go for a walk in the morning.”
- dreamnoun
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep.
“I had a strange dream last night.”
- bednoun
A piece of furniture for sleeping or resting on.
“I lay down on my bed to rest.”
- headnoun
The upper part of the human body, containing the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
“He nodded his head in agreement.”
- roomnoun
A part of a building enclosed by walls, floor, and ceiling.
“The living room is very spacious.”
- tablenoun
A piece of furniture with a flat top and one or more legs, providing a level surface for eating, writing, or working.
“We ate dinner at the table.”
- picturenoun
A painting, drawing, or photograph.
“She hung a picture on the wall.”
- windownoun
An opening in the wall or roof of a building or vehicle, fitted with glass, to allow light or air to enter and people to see out.
“I looked out the window to see the view.”
- painnoun
Physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury.
“He felt a sharp pain in his leg.”
- effortnoun
A vigorous or determined attempt.
“He made an effort to finish the project on time.”
- businessnoun
The practice of making one's living by engaging in commerce.
“She runs a small business selling handmade crafts.”
- foodnoun
Any nutritious substance that people or animals eat or drink to maintain life and growth.
“We need to buy more food for the week.”
- trainnoun
A series of connected vehicles traveling on railways.
“I take the train to work every day.”
- doornoun
A hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle.
“He opened the door and walked in.”
- voicenoun
The sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song.
“Her voice was soft and calming.”
- breakfastnoun
The first meal of the day, usually eaten in the morning.
“I had toast and eggs for breakfast.”
- contractnoun
A written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law.
“They signed a contract to rent the apartment.”
- bossnoun
A person in charge of a worker or organization.
“My boss gave me a new project to work on.”
- moneynoun
A medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes; currency.
“She saved money to buy a new car.”
- clocknoun
A device for measuring and indicating time, typically by means of hands moving on a dial.
“The clock on the wall showed it was 3 PM.”
- noisenoun
A sound, especially one that is loud or unpleasant or that causes disturbance.
“The noise from the construction site was very loud.”
- reportnoun
A spoken or written account of something that one has observed, heard, done, or investigated.
“She wrote a report on the new policy.”
- doctornoun
A qualified practitioner of medicine; a physician.
“I visited the doctor for a check-up.”
- companynoun
A commercial business.
“She works for a large company in the city.”
How readClassicly reads The Metamorphosis
The Metamorphosis is book 2 of 12 in our free year-long classics reading plan. At our daily pace of 8 pages, the book takes around 1 week to finish.
You log pages as you go in a private dashboard. When you finish, a short quiz unlocks the next book in the sequence. No deadlines, no summaries pretending to be reading.
Don't want to follow the order? You don't have to. Members can start with any of the twelve books, and the plan just nudges you back to the recommended path if you fall behind.
Why we picked it
A short novella about a young man who wakes up to discover that something fundamental about him has changed. Strange, dark, sometimes funny. One evening of reading.
Suitable for 14+. Level B1-B2, which means readers comfortable with upper-intermediate English will follow it without a dictionary; lower-intermediate readers can read with light support.
The Metamorphosis: reading level & FAQ
What reading level is The Metamorphosis?↓
The Metamorphosis is rated B1-B2 on the CEFR scale and is suitable for ages 14+. It is a good fit for readers building toward or reading comfortably at that level.
Can I read The Metamorphosis online for free?↓
Yes. The Metamorphosis is in the public domain and free to read online at readClassicly, with a reading tracker and a short quiz. No account is needed to read it.
What is The Metamorphosis about?↓
In Franz Kafka's 'The Metamorphosis', Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. As he struggles to adjust to his new condition, his family becomes increasingly alienated from him, leading to a tragic conclusion.
How does The Metamorphosis end?↓
In the end, the family leaves the apartment for a walk, with Grete stretching and blossoming into a young woman, symbolizing a new beginning for the Samsas.
Wondering how long it takes? The Metamorphosis is 22,008 words, about 1 hours, broken down by reading speed and by how many minutes a day you give it.
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