The novella Die Verwandlung (The Metamorphosis) is one of the most famous works by Prague-born writer Franz Kafka. It tells the story of salesman Gregor Samsa who one day finds himself transformed into a giant insect and is ultimately rejected by his family. First published in 1915 in the literary journal Die Weißen Blätter (The White Pages), Kafka's novella initially met with modest success and only became widely known after the author's death in 1924. Its popularity significantly increased after WWII, through new editions and translations. Throughout the years, Die Verwandlung has been extensively analysed, with literary critics and scholars often attributing themes like alienation, isolation, the absurdity of life, and the human condition to the story. Nevertheless, Kafka's true intention with his novella remains unknown.
In 1917, two years after Die Verwandlung was published, a certain Dr. Siegfried Wolff wrote the following letter to Kafka, seeking an explanation of the story, as both he and his family failed to understand its meaning. Whether Kafka eventually replied to Wolff's letter is unknown (but it seems likely that he did not).
English translation below the German text.
Charlottenburg, 10/4.17
Sehr geehrter Herr,
Sie haben mich unglücklich gemacht.
Ich habe Ihre Verwandlung gekauft und meiner Kusine geschenkt. Die weiß sich die Geschichte aber nicht zu erklären.
Meine Kusine hats ihrer Mutter gegeben, die weiß auch keine Erklärung.
Die Mutter hat das Buch meiner anderen Kusine gegeben und die hat auch keine Erklärung.
Nun haben sie an mich geschrieben. Ich soll Ihnen die Geschichte erklären. Weil ich der Doctor der Familie wäre. Aber ich bin ratlos.
Herr! Ich habe Monate hindurch im Schützengraben mich mit dem Russen herumgehauen und nicht mit der Wimper gezuckt. Wenn aber mein Renommee bei meinen Kusinen zum Teufel ginge, das ertrüg ich nicht.
Nur Sie können mir helfen. Sie müssen es; denn Sie haben mir die Suppe eingebrockt. Also bitte sagen Sie mir, was meine Kusine sich bei der Verwandlung zu denken hat.
Mit vorzüglicher Hochachtung
ergebenst Dr Siegfried Wolff
Translation (AI generated)Charlottenburg, 10/4.17
Dear Sir,
You have made me unhappy.
I bought The Metamorphosis and gave it to my cousin as a gift. But she cannot make sense of the story.
My cousin gave it to her mother, who also has no explanation.
The mother gave the book to my other cousin, and she too has no explanation.
Now they have written to me. I am supposed to explain the story to them. Because I am the doctor in the family. But I am at a loss.
Sir! I spent months in the trenches, grappling with the Russians, and did not bat an eye. But if my reputation among my cousins were to go to hell, I could not bear it.
Only you can help me. You must; because you are the one who got me into this mess. So please, tell me what my cousin is supposed to think of The Metamorphosis.
With the utmost respect,Yours sincerely,
Dr. Siegfried Wolff
Source letter: franzkafka.de
Image: Franz Kafka at age 22 or 23, photographed in 1906
Source: Wikimedia Commons
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