Why You Can’t Trust Good People | Kafka's Metamorphosis

Kafka's Metamorphosis is one of the most insightful writers about shame and its social effects ever. He excellently documents how good people can do evil things. The Metamorphosis follows Gregor Samsa, who by unknown magical means has been transformed into a giant beetle. The story follows his relationship with his family, the depths of his mind, and ultimately how shame can tear a person apart from the inside out.

00:00 The Metamorphosis
01:07 The Danger of Fear
04:23 Societal Roles and Pride
07:58 Gregor's Despair
11:10 Shame

[kds]

The whole book was just Kafka's answer to the question "would you still love me if I was a insect" lol

[TheKrispyfort]

Sounds like when someone experiences trauma, and discover that they were valued for their role and not themselves when they are now an inconvenience

[TheChuckfuc]

As depressing as this book is, it's kinda funny in a way. Instead of being like "holy shit! Im a giant cockroach!" He was worried about getting to work on time, what would his boss think, how he's gonna pay the bills, etc. Even his family, after getting over the shock, worried about the same things. No one was like how the hell did this happen or try to contact anyone smart to try to make sense of it. They were just complaining about how hes such a burden to them.

[sighthoundlady]

I think anyone who has suffered from illness and disability, especially when it happens “over night”, can understand what this story is about. The way you are treated when you’re no longer the person of perceived value you once were.

[havadatequila]

Kafka wrote a 50 page letter to his father about how poorly his father had treated him. You can't really understand Kafka or Metamorphosis, without understanding that he was raised by people who never loved him.

[StopSmearCampaigns]

And this is what it comes down to. This is why ehen someone is bullied or abused and they react they are thought to be showing their true colours whilst the bully gets forgiven and gets away with it

People are literally jealous of your good nature, they can't believe someone can be a good person with no ill intent. They provoke you until you break and then say you are just showing your true colours instead of them being responsible for hurting you

[cherryhazard]

One of the most depressing things about the book is the fact that if it were to be that something like that would happen to you or something that is seen as "negative", your family and closest friends have the possibility of shunning you away just because you are the root of their fear, therefore rejoice if you are gone. Not all families or friends are this way, however, emotionally inmature families and friends would do this.

[sobeksrecviem]

"Would you still love me if i was a worm?" Answer: no

[YoursThatWas]

I went through this after a breakup. Had my identity and sense of purpose taken away. Family and friends went quiet. Feelings of shame and abandonment. One day though, you wake up as a human again.

[rexroyulada]

As Iroh himself has said "Pride is not the opposite of shame, it is the source of it."

[menschenfreund]

I read „Die Verwandlung“ (Metamorphosis) when I was in a madhouse. It described exactly what was going on in my life at that time. Family members were turning away from me because I no longer was who I used to be.
(Sorry for my bad english, I'm german)

[vaiapatta]

What stood out to me was that, while both sides lamented the lack of communication between them, neither side makes any serious effort to communicate. They just resign themselves to the idea that they cannot be understood. There is this sense that, deep down, they *want* to believe this, because their negative emotions (fear and shame) are what is *actually* preventing them from understanding each other.

[Amorebali]

This sheds light on the ever present feeling of why it's so hard to truly trust anyone. Even when people treat you nicely, there's this underlying tone of it being very conditional (at least by the majority). And therefore, how much is this love worth...

[MELLMAO]

When I was reading Metamorphosis it was as clear as day that metamorphosis is a metaphor for someone suddenly becoming disabled, whether physically or mentally. Every disabled person knows what it's like to "become a burden" and start seeing resentment in the family's eyes. The same thing can be said about rapidly ageing family members

[hasanmuttaqin]

when women ask about whether or not you'd still love them when they became a cockroach, no one bats an eye, when a man asks it, suddenly it became one of the greatest pieces of literature

edit: the reply section has been semi-necessary yap

[paperbag]

Kafka’s stories show that most of ppl’s “good will” are merrily for image than actually being a good person.
And that’s what I fear the most. if nobody was looking, if there was never any ridicaule, “good ppl” will commit the greatest sins just bc of no real negative reinforcement.

[hamood]

Also, I feel like Kafka tries to tell us that humans aren't any different from any other creatures; as believed by religious people that humans are exceptional i.e. anthropocenal. Rather, we are just 'cockroaches who developed intellect'. Kafka argues that its only our human bodies that make us human, and not our souls. When Gregor loses his body, he is never treated like a human despite his 'soul' being fully intact.

[elder_guardian]

Shame is a weapon wielded by those who have none.

[DragonNyahehe]

First time I read this book I was actually in tears at the end. Thanks to a disorder I have, I have a chronic suspicion that people who apparently liked me deep down only tolerated my existence. To make matters worse, abandonment is unbearably painful. It's borderline personality disorder in case anyone is curious, and Metamorphosis is the worst nightmare of anyone who has it. Finally feeling the relief of having a family that loves you only to have our worst fears confirmed thanks to something we can't control

[rdc]

I have heard some people say that Gregor didnt actualy turn into a bug, rather he went insane and THOUGHT he did.



The theme of the story works either way as in the parents are ashamed that Gregor has mental problems and are afraid of his insanity, people with mental problems werent treated well in those days so it is definitely a valid interpretation