Can't touch me!

I had my first taste of Kafka today. (Needless to say) it was the fabulous Metamorphosis, which was not only accessible (and by saying that it is a simple, straightforward novella, I am by no means implying that it isn't a story with complex and diverse intepretations). I found myself laughing out loud several times; some parts are funny, but it is a humour that is bleak and painful. (Oh, poor Gregor!)

I love how Kafka is completely dead-pan and matter-of-fact in the way he writes fleshes out what is truly an absurd scenario, like how he does in the famous opening sentence:
"When Gregor samsa woke one morning from uneasy dreams, he found himself transformed in his bed into a monstrous insect."

Now tell me that isn't a brilliantly written sentence. He writes it as if it's the gospel truth, no ifs or buts or silly 'but how on earth did he become an insect/vermin?' It just is. No quaffling or waffling around, his highly detailed (and often comical) entomological descriptions cut straight to the bone.

"with their [his insect jaws] help he actually got the key moving, ignoring the fact that in so doing he was undoubtedly causing himself some damage, for a brown liquid issued from his mouth, flowed over the key and dripped onto the floor"

Funny and heartbreaking at the same time. That's Kafka for you.

Labels: Kafka, Literature