Class Notes--Adam Kissel--4/1/98

Kafka, "The Metamorphosis": The main point is, the person has turned into a giant insect. We can not and should not try to explain away this fact, for it lessens the impact and value of the tale. While we want to understand why the author made each choice, and doing so can increase our appreciation of the work, the story should be able to justify the choice on its own terms--we need not move too far into the context in which the work was produced, or into Kafka's life and times, etc.