What if your physical reality was changed, but you still have the same reality? ? Franz Kafka’s novella, The Metamorphosis, is a story about a man who wakes up one morning to discover he has transformed into an insect. Franz Kafka takes?The Transformation Of Arachne Into A Spider? and transforms it into a metamorphosis. This meets the criteria of magical realist. Minerva, a Greek goddess, approaches Arachne to challenge her in weaving. Minerva, furious at Arachne’s weaving skills, begins to beat Minerva. Arachne hangs herself. Minerva then transforms Arachne into a Spider. The Metamorphosis tells the story of Gregor Samsa who is a traveling salesman and wakes up to discover that he has become a huge insect. His family is furious at him. Gregor finally dies from the consequences of his decision to become a burden for his family. His transformation becomes a reality. Pallas transforms Arachne from a goddess into a spider in Ovid’s “The Transformation Of Arachne into A Spider”. Arachne shouts, “Let’s her battle with me.” There is nothing that I could not conquer, and so Arachne boasts, “Let her contend with me.” The Metamorphosis sees Gregor Samsa, who awakens and is “transformed into a terrible vermin” (a roach) in his bed. Although Gregor’s metamorphosis has no clear cause, his feelings regarding his boss and work are clearly shown. “He’d just fall off his desk if he didn’t have my parents to remind me of.” He’d just fall off his desk!” Arachne’s hair, which was touched by the noxious medication, fell off and along with it her nose, ears and legs. This is a brief description of Arachne’s metamorphosis, but it does not explain her current life or how this affects her character. Kafka shows Gregor’s vermin life in detail. As Gregor pushes himself over the door to discover his new body, Kafka describes his honest reaction and how it impacts his family. Grete, Gregor’s sister, becomes apathetic and then hates the new life she has been living. We can’t work as hard as possible and then be sent home to suffer such torture, it’s not worth it. Her parents finally allow her to admit that she cannot bear the pain any more. Kafka’s The Metamorphosis is magical realism. He draws from Ovid and transforms “The Transformation of Arachne in a Spider.” But Kafka goes beyond Ovid to depict the struggle and the joys of living with this magical metamorphosis. This pragmatic and rational portrayal of the irrational makes it a great example of magical realist.
