Joseph Leskey

Many commentators describe The Metamorphosis as "unsettling" and "thought-provoking," keywords in sparse reflections that I find curious. It seems that some readers do not immediately identify with the prospect of turning into a many-legged vermin and thus see a literary critique of human systems while missing that it is also a raw account of the human condition. Nay, I assert that this is a story to make one feel seen, heard, and possibly (insofar as an absurdist lens allows) appreciated. The Metamorphosis does not, I believe, posit simply that a human waking up as a many-legged vermin is in acute trouble but rather recognizes the many-legged vermin that each of us already is or could be. The book pits this bare reality against the oppressive systems reflected in small success blurring with hardship and the crushing relational concerns inherent in a society divorced from the good of humanity. A worthwhile read.