Nabokov's Interpretation of the Metamorphosis

Mediocrity Surrounding Genius: Nabokov's View on "The Metamorphosis" "The Metamorphosis," a story by Franz Kafka is about an ordinary traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, who suddenly transforms into a "monstrous vermin." What exactly this vermin is, and why Gregor is suddenly transformed into it is left unclear throughout the story. After Gregor's transformation, the story continues by illustrating the development of the relationship between Gregor and his family until the "vermin" finally dies. Insight and analysis …

…out his sweet human nature. This along with the fact that he was treated so terribly by his family shows that it is indeed they who are the vermin masked as humans, while Gregor is the human disguised as an insect. Work Cited Nabokov, Vladimir. Vladimir Nabokov's Lecture on "The Metamorphosis." Internet. http://victorian.fortunecity.com/vermeer/287/nabokov_s_metamorphosis.htm. 2/6/04. Kafka, Franz. "The Metamorphosis." The Story and it's Writer. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin's ., 2003.