/lit/ - Literature

>>3233904
Favorite poem ever, 10/10.

While the Metamorphosis is a great, I still think it is NOT one of Kafka's best works. I think there are some of his short stories that are better and it isn't on the same level as 'The Trial' for example.

It is a good introduction to Kafka's stuff though and a good example of his absurde ideas. If you read it and think it is great I recommand The Trial and The Castle, but also read his short stories.

>>3233930
I just started reading it and I've thoroghtly enjoyed the first forty pages. The sense it's written in kinda reminds me of "The Emperor of Portugallia" by Selma Lagerlöf which I liked a lot.

>>3234062
Bottom line: I'll probably read the works you mentioned, especially "The Trial" since I've allready bought that one.

>>3233930
As if in the penal colony isn't the most Kafka story ever

Best Kafka story is the Burrow.

I doubt anyone else will agree with me though.

>>3234196
For me it's A Country Doctor. A masterpiece. Though there are a lot of holy-shit-so-good works by him.

>>3234196
Burrow is amazing. I recently read it in the library and damn was that a great read!

I still think people should read all of his short stories to see that there is far greater stuff by him then 'The Metamphosis'.

When I was a teenager I was constantly at odds with my parents due to my drug and alcohol abuse, they must have felt like I had transformed into some form of monster as I was no longer a part of the family. My sister tried to mediate and tried to see my perspective on things but eventually I drove her to be infuriated with me as well with my selfishness and self destruction. It got to the point where I had to be gone and, although I was severely depressed, decided killing myself was foolish so I moved out. Eventually I stopped taking drugs and, later on, quit drinking.

I relate to "The Metamorphosis" a lot, although I'm not a likable character like Gregor.

>>3234404

>>3234424

>>3234445
>>3234424
>>3234404
Laughed pretty hard at these
//OP (who never abandons his threads even if he waits a really long time to look if someone has repled)

>>3234196
I wasn't crazy about the burrow. Felt kind of repetitive

>>3233930
>>3234062

>people appreciating The Trial

Kudos to you guys. Gotta love the writing style; It's like what Lynch aims for in visuals.

I don't remember it, which probably means I thought it was too preachy, longwinded, or important for me to handle.

I love it, as with most of Kafka's work, but my favourite is America, hands down. It's so lovely.

It's very Kafka-esque.

>>3234939
wooaaa, dude don't go out on a limb

I always get itchy when I read (about) it, I don't know why.

Is Kafka really that good? I only read DFW's essay on him

>>3234386
That's exactly Kafka's inspiration for the novella. He had insomnia and was always in his room, hearing his family going about and he himself doing nothing. He thought he must be disgisting for them. He then compared himself to a giant unthing, trapped in his room. Voilà: a novella.

I really recommend reading Letter to Father. It gives such insight into all of his further works (and it is a wonderful letter).

>>3235130
>hearing his family going about and he himself doing nothing. He thought he must be disgisting for them.

i know that feel too well, i have to read this now

OP Here,
Read a few more pages and realized that I'm an idiot for not realizing earlier that Gregor might not be a giant awesome shiny bug but actually insane.
Still not convinced which one it is but it's pretty clear that, bug or not, Gregors idea of other people and himself are fairly optimistic and lunatic-esque, which is why I came to this realization in the first place.

Therefore this thread is now an "Is Gregor Samsa a bug or not?"-thread.

How his familly is acting when they first sees him is pretty much a good evidence for him being a bug. Also the fact that the sister even thinks of putting out a bunch of fermented/old vegetables for him to eat.

Can't seem to find any real proof of him really just being insane but I'm fairly convinced that that is the "point" of the whole book.

>>3235179
No he is a bug, in the flesh. The third sentence or so says: "this is not a dream". It is supposed to rid you of any hesitations on your side of him not actually being a bug. The novella is not a 2deep4u Matrix/Shutter Island what is reality what is insanity pile o' bullshit.

>>3235179
I like to think that he becomes re-humanized through his metamorphosis because he actually starts to care about his needs and desires instead of solely focusing on the happiness of others, which in my opinion, is a pretty absurd way to live your life. But he is in fact a giant bug.

>>3235200
What do you think of The Judgement? Do he and his father actually run a business? Is the friend he is writing to real? What about the woman he is to marry?

>>3235200
Dubs sais you're right.
I'll read it through before I make any solid decisions about what I belive but the fact that my "evidence" for him being a bug stands uncontested makes you statement look pretty valid.
>>3235204
That's pretty deep.
I like the way you think anon!

//OP (unless that wasn't obviousk)

>>3235218
I have never read it, but I just read the synopsis. Looks brilliant. In Kafka's novels it's mostly not appropriate to ask those questions, though. It's supposed to be absurd and surreal. One moment the friend could exist and disappear the next, for instance. The one thing that always gets more realistic as the the situations get more unrealistic, are the caharctaers themselves. I have never seen such real characters (as in: what they feel and do) in any other author's books.

>>3235259
I really fucked up the word "character" there.