In his works, Kafka always played with word choice, adding many metaphors and ambiguity. The English word metamorphosis has both of these meanings. For changes that occur naturally, such as caterpillars turning into butterflies, Germans use a different expression. In German, the word Verwandlung has a particular meaning of a subject transforming under supernatural circumstances. So, there are many terms used by the author that gave the translators quite a headache.įirst of all, experts were puzzled by the translation of the title itself.
He wrote it in German, a language where one word could have several interpretations or a particular one. In particular, Kafka’s Metamorphosis proved to be an especially challenging undertaking for English translators. Translating literature has always been a demanding task. The book is deeply analyzed by many literary critics, and a multitude of theatrical plays continue to appear, proving the importance of The Metamorphosis. Nowadays, humanity is still mesmerized by its themes and how easily people can relate to them. Most critically, The Metamorphosis withstood the challenge of time. As Nietzsche wrote about the consequences of the Age of Enlightenment in one of his works: At the beginning of the Modern Age, people started straying from religion at increased paces, as they could not understand how God could allow so many inhumane things to happen. The Metamorphosis novel also became one of the first literature examples where God does not play any role. The novella proved to be a valuable collection of people’s anxieties and fears at that time and still does, as every theme discussed is relevant nowadays. It gives insight into both its good and bad elements. Moreover, the psychological aspect of the book explores human nature. It became one of the first modernist literature examples of its time, where the surreal merged with reality. The importance of the novella is not to be underestimated. Such mixing of reality and fantasy was unthinkable before. The Metamorphosis is a great example of it, as it expresses the alienation and uncertainty of modern times, merging psychology with traditional literature. The Modernist movement also influenced Kafka’s works. Critics still find new evidence of their impact on The Metamorphosis. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels created socialism, which started accumulating followers among the working classes who opposed inequality in Europe. Unfortunately, many people interpreted Nietzsche’s ideas differently, clinging to the idea of existential nihilism and anti-Semitism.Īt the same time, Sigmund Freud popularized psychoanalysis and contributed a lot to modern psychiatry. Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher, contributed to the idea of existentialism and atheism, debating on human nature in his famous work Übermensch ( Superhuman). It could also launch chemical attacks that created horrible casualties.Īs for the ideologies, many of them appeared at the same time, in part, as a response to all the anxieties people experienced during those uncertain times. The artillery was getting bigger and could fire at greater distances, causing massive damage. The XIXth– XXth century saw the invention of automatic weapon systems, such as rifles, SMGs, and machine guns. In particular, Jewish populations were under scorn, as many pogroms were happening all over Europe.Īdditionally, new means of warfare and mass extermination were being developed. Nationalistic movements were on the rise, and the idea of racial and national chauvinism prevailed over the minds of Europeans. The newly founded German Empire, with its militaristic regime, pushed for the “redivision” of the European continent. Empires competed for dominance over many colonies in Africa. The overall atmosphere of Europe at that time was hectic. The Metamorphosis was written in 1912, just two years before the First World War. It saw the rise of new technologies and weapons, ideologies, and nationalist movements. Kafka lived and worked on the periphery of the XIXth and XXth centuries, a turbulent time for the world and Europe in particular.
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