Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka | Full Audiobook | part 1 (of 3)

00:42:28
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9lj7wAJWZM

Summary

TLDRIn this episode of "The Well Told Tale," the narrator Robert presents the first part of Franz Kafka's renowned novella "Metamorphosis" which explores themes of existential dread and isolation. The story begins with the unsettling transformation of the protagonist, Gregor Samsa, who inexplicably wakes up to find himself transformed into a monstrous insect. As Gregor struggles to come to terms with his new condition, he faces alienation not only from his family but from his own human identity, as manifested in his inability to control his new form. Kafka's work delves deeply into the absurdity of life, the erosion of individual autonomy under the weight of routine and duty, and the dehumanizing aspects of modern society. This narrative is delivered free of advertisements and invites listeners to support the channel through Patreon for continued access to such classic storytelling.

Takeaways

  • 📖 Franz Kafka's 'Metamorphosis' is a classic narrative about transformation and alienation.
  • 💼 Gregor Samsa turns into a giant insect, symbolizing loss of identity and control.
  • 👁 Kafka's tale is known for its themes of existential angst and bureaucracy.
  • 🔑 The term 'Kafkaesque' comes from Kafka's portrayal of surreal, oppressive worlds.
  • 🎙 This narration of 'Metamorphosis' is provided ad-free to maintain story immersion.
  • 📚 'Metamorphosis' is a landmark work in speculative fiction and modern literature.
  • 🛌 Gregor's transformation is a sudden, inexplicable event highlighting life's absurdity.
  • 🏠 Family dynamics shift as Gregor is increasingly viewed as a burden and an anomaly.
  • 🔗 The story critiques how individuals are marginalized within the framework of modern society.
  • 🤝 Listeners can support the narrating channel via Patreon for more classic tales.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:05:00

    This introduction to the channel sets the stage for reading of Kafka's "Metamorphosis," highlighting Kafka's impact on literature and the story's famous theme of an individual's loss of control. The tale begins as Gregor Samsa wakes to find himself transformed into a large vermin, prompting initial disbelief and reflection on his difficult profession as a traveling salesman.

  • 00:05:00 - 00:10:00

    Gregor considers the possibility of resigning from his job due to the oppressive nature of his work and his responsibilities towards his family. He struggles with the reality of his transformation and the implications of missing his early train, contemplating the chain of events that would follow, including his boss's reaction and potential accusations of laziness.

  • 00:10:00 - 00:15:00

    Panic sets in as Gregor realizes the time and his family's growing awareness of something being wrong due to his failure to get up. His attempts to communicate are thwarted by his altered voice, and his family becomes more insistent, raising the stakes for Gregor's urgent need to comprehend his situation and respond to his family's inquiries.

  • 00:15:00 - 00:20:00

    Determined to get out of bed and face the world despite his predicament, Gregor battles with his new body. He must strategize on how to move and maintain his balance, yet fear of injury keeps him cautious. The tension builds as he contemplates the necessity of action, both to reassure his family and to address his responsibilities.

  • 00:20:00 - 00:25:00

    The family grows increasingly anxious, and Gregor's sense of isolation deepens. He reflects on the dire consequences of his inaction and the misunderstanding of his condition. The presence of the chief clerk heightens the pressure, introducing the threat of severe professional repercussions.

  • 00:25:00 - 00:30:00

    Anxiety peaks as family and work obligations collide, amplified by the clerk's stern words and Gregor's desperate attempts to rationalize his situation. His struggle to communicate and demonstrate his capability falters, revealing the depth of his plight both physically and socially as tensions with his father rise.

  • 00:30:00 - 00:35:00

    Control slipping further, Gregor attempts to show his commitment to his job and family despite his grotesque form. His efforts to open the door are met with shock and fear, leading to chaos as his father drives him back into his room in a dramatic and painful confrontation.

  • 00:35:00 - 00:42:28

    The episode concludes with a glimpse into Gregor’s isolation and familial conflict, compounded by his father’s aggressive actions. The family’s helplessness mirrors Gregor’s own, as the narrative leaves the protagonist bleeding and trapped, setting the stage for the upcoming part of the story.

Show more

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • Who is the author of the novel being read?

    The author of the novel is Franz Kafka.

  • What is the main character's name in the novel?

    The main character's name is Gregor Samsa.

  • What transformation does Gregor Samsa undergo?

    Gregor Samsa is transformed into a giant insect.

  • What are some themes Franz Kafka explores in this story?

    Some themes include lack of control over one's destiny and the oppression of bureaucracy.

  • What genre does 'Metamorphosis' belong to?

    'Metamorphosis' is considered science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction.

  • Is this content commercial free?

    Yes, the narrator provides this content free of adverts.

  • Who is the narrator of the video?

    The narrator of the video is Robert.

  • What does 'Kafkaesque' refer to?

    'Kafkaesque' refers to situations that are nightmarish with a lack of control over one's destiny and bureaucratic oppression.

  • How can listeners support the channel?

    Listeners can support the channel by becoming patrons via patreon.com/thewelltoldtale.

  • What type of content does the channel 'The Well Told Tale' provide?

    The channel provides weekly audio narrations of great science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction stories.

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  • 00:00:00
    [Music]
  • 00:00:18
    hi everyone this is Robert welcome to
  • 00:00:20
    the well-told tale every week we bring
  • 00:00:23
    to life the greatest science fiction
  • 00:00:25
    fantasy and speculative fiction stories
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    ever written I committed to providing
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    these weekly audio narrations free and
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    without adverts in the middle breaking
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    up the flow of the story if you'd like
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    to support the well told tale and get
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    access to some exclusive Patron only
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    benefits please do consider becoming a
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    patron by visiting
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    patreon.com thewell told tale there's
  • 00:00:49
    also a link in the
  • 00:00:51
    description today we have the first part
  • 00:00:54
    of a Nolla by France Kafka
  • 00:00:58
    metamorphosis France kafco was a writer
  • 00:01:01
    so important and influential that his
  • 00:01:03
    name was even turned into an adjective
  • 00:01:06
    Kafkaesque to describe a story that
  • 00:01:08
    bears his Hallmarks of a lack of control
  • 00:01:11
    over One's Own Destiny and a nightmarish
  • 00:01:14
    slavery to bureaucracy metamorphosis is
  • 00:01:18
    perhaps his Masterpiece told in a
  • 00:01:21
    disarmingly straightforward style but
  • 00:01:23
    with a horrific premise that is revealed
  • 00:01:26
    in the very first sentence so pull up a
  • 00:01:29
    check there relax and enjoy part one of
  • 00:01:34
    metamorphosis by France
  • 00:01:38
    Kafka metamorphosis by France Kafka
  • 00:01:42
    translated by David
  • 00:01:45
    Wy part
  • 00:01:47
    one one morning when Gregor samama awoke
  • 00:01:51
    from his Troubled Dreams he found
  • 00:01:53
    himself transformed in his bed into a
  • 00:01:57
    horrible
  • 00:01:58
    Vermin he lay
  • 00:02:00
    on his armor-like back and if he lifted
  • 00:02:03
    his head a little he could see his brown
  • 00:02:05
    belly slightly domed and divided by
  • 00:02:08
    arches into stiff
  • 00:02:10
    sections the bedding was hardly able to
  • 00:02:13
    cover it and seemed to slide off any
  • 00:02:16
    moment his many legs pitifully thin
  • 00:02:19
    compared with the size of the rest of
  • 00:02:21
    him waved about helplessly as he
  • 00:02:24
    looked what's happened to me he thought
  • 00:02:28
    it wasn't a dream his room a proper
  • 00:02:31
    human room although a little too small
  • 00:02:34
    lay peacefully between its four familiar
  • 00:02:37
    walls a collection of textile samples
  • 00:02:39
    lay spread out on the table samso was a
  • 00:02:42
    traveling salesman and above it there
  • 00:02:45
    hung a picture that he had recently cut
  • 00:02:47
    out of an Illustrated magazine and
  • 00:02:49
    housed in a nice gilded Frame It showed
  • 00:02:52
    a lady fitted out with a fur hat and fur
  • 00:02:55
    Bower who sat upright raising a heavy
  • 00:02:57
    fur muff that covered the hole of her
  • 00:03:00
    lower arm towards the viewer Gregor then
  • 00:03:04
    turned to look out the window at the
  • 00:03:06
    dull weather drops of rain could be
  • 00:03:09
    heard hitting the pain which made him
  • 00:03:11
    feel quite
  • 00:03:13
    sad how about if I sleep a little longer
  • 00:03:16
    and forget all this nonsense he thought
  • 00:03:19
    but that was something he was unable to
  • 00:03:21
    do because he was used to sleeping on
  • 00:03:23
    his right and in his present State he
  • 00:03:25
    couldn't get into that position however
  • 00:03:28
    hard he threw himself on to his right he
  • 00:03:31
    always rolled back to where he was he
  • 00:03:33
    must have tried it a 100 times shut his
  • 00:03:36
    eyes so that he wouldn't have to look at
  • 00:03:38
    the floundering legs and only stopped
  • 00:03:40
    when he began to feel a mild dull pain
  • 00:03:43
    there that he had never felt before Oh
  • 00:03:46
    God he thought what a strenuous career
  • 00:03:49
    it is that I've chosen traveling day in
  • 00:03:52
    and day out doing business like this
  • 00:03:54
    takes much more effort than doing your
  • 00:03:56
    own business at home and on top of that
  • 00:03:59
    there's the the curse of traveling
  • 00:04:01
    worries about making train connections
  • 00:04:03
    bad and irregular food contact with
  • 00:04:06
    different people all the time so that
  • 00:04:08
    you can never get to know anyone or
  • 00:04:10
    become friendly with them it can all go
  • 00:04:12
    to
  • 00:04:13
    hell he felt a slight itch up on his
  • 00:04:16
    belly pushed himself slowly up on his
  • 00:04:18
    back towards the headboard so that he
  • 00:04:20
    could lift his head better found where
  • 00:04:23
    the itch was and saw that it was covered
  • 00:04:25
    with lots of little white spots which he
  • 00:04:27
    didn't know what to make of and when he
  • 00:04:29
    tried to feel the place with one of his
  • 00:04:31
    legs he drew it quickly back because as
  • 00:04:34
    soon as he touched it he was overcome by
  • 00:04:36
    a cold shudder he slid back into his
  • 00:04:40
    former position getting up early all the
  • 00:04:43
    time he thought it makes you stupid
  • 00:04:45
    you've got to get enough sleep other
  • 00:04:48
    traveling salesmen live a life of luxury
  • 00:04:50
    for instance whenever I go back to the
  • 00:04:53
    guest house during the morning to copy
  • 00:04:54
    out the contract these gentlemen are
  • 00:04:57
    always sitting there eating their
  • 00:04:58
    breakfasts
  • 00:05:00
    I ought to just try that with my boss
  • 00:05:02
    I'd get kicked out on the spot but who
  • 00:05:05
    knows maybe that would be the best thing
  • 00:05:07
    for me if I didn't have my parents to
  • 00:05:10
    think about I'd have given in my notice
  • 00:05:12
    a long time ago I'd have gone up to the
  • 00:05:14
    boss and told him just what I think tell
  • 00:05:16
    him everything I would let him know just
  • 00:05:19
    what I feel he'd fall right off his desk
  • 00:05:23
    and it's a funny sort of business to be
  • 00:05:25
    sitting up there at your desk talking
  • 00:05:27
    down at your subordinates from up there
  • 00:05:29
    especially when you have to go right up
  • 00:05:31
    close because the boss is hard of
  • 00:05:33
    hearing well there's still some hope
  • 00:05:35
    once I've got the money together to pay
  • 00:05:37
    off my parents' debt to him another five
  • 00:05:40
    or six years I suppose that's definitely
  • 00:05:43
    what I'll do that's when I'll make the
  • 00:05:45
    big change first of all though I've got
  • 00:05:48
    to get up my train leaves at 5: and he
  • 00:05:52
    looked over at the alarm clock ticking
  • 00:05:54
    on the chest of drawers God in heaven he
  • 00:05:56
    thought it was halfast 6 and the hands
  • 00:05:59
    were quietly moving forwards it was even
  • 00:06:02
    later than half past more like qu to 7
  • 00:06:05
    had the alarm clock not rung he could
  • 00:06:08
    see from the bed that it had been set
  • 00:06:09
    for 4:00 as it should have been it
  • 00:06:12
    certainly must have rung yet but was it
  • 00:06:15
    possible to sleep quietly through that
  • 00:06:17
    furniture rattling
  • 00:06:19
    noise true he had not slept peacefully
  • 00:06:23
    but probably all the more deeply because
  • 00:06:24
    of that what should he do now the next
  • 00:06:27
    train went at 7 if he were to catch that
  • 00:06:30
    he would have to rush like mad and the
  • 00:06:32
    collection of samples was still not
  • 00:06:34
    packed and he did not feel particularly
  • 00:06:36
    fresh and Lively and even if he did
  • 00:06:38
    catch the train he would not avoid his
  • 00:06:41
    boss's anger as the office assistant
  • 00:06:43
    would have been there to see the 5:00
  • 00:06:45
    train go he would have put in his report
  • 00:06:48
    about Gregor's not being there a long
  • 00:06:50
    time ago the office assistant was the
  • 00:06:53
    boss's man spineless and with no
  • 00:06:57
    understanding what about if he reported
  • 00:06:59
    Ed sick but that would be extremely
  • 00:07:03
    strained and suspicious as in 15 years
  • 00:07:06
    of service Gregor had never once yet
  • 00:07:09
    been ill his boss would certainly come
  • 00:07:12
    round with the doctor from the medical
  • 00:07:13
    insurance company accuse his parents of
  • 00:07:16
    having a lazy son and accept the
  • 00:07:19
    doctor's recommendation not to make any
  • 00:07:21
    claim as the doctor believed that no one
  • 00:07:23
    was ever ill but that many were workshy
  • 00:07:27
    and what's more would he have been
  • 00:07:29
    entirely wrong in this case Gregor did
  • 00:07:32
    in fact apart from excessive sleepiness
  • 00:07:34
    after sleeping for so long feel
  • 00:07:36
    completely well and even felt much
  • 00:07:39
    hungrier than
  • 00:07:40
    usual he was still hurridly thinking
  • 00:07:43
    through all this unable to decide to get
  • 00:07:45
    out of the bed when the Clock Struck qu
  • 00:07:48
    to 7 there was a cautious knock at the
  • 00:07:51
    door near his head Gregor somebody
  • 00:07:54
    called it was his mother it's qu to 7
  • 00:07:58
    didn't you want to go
  • 00:08:00
    somewhere that gentle voice Gregor was
  • 00:08:04
    shocked when he heard his own voice
  • 00:08:06
    answering it could hardly be recognized
  • 00:08:08
    as the voice he had before as if from
  • 00:08:11
    deep inside him there was a painful and
  • 00:08:14
    uncontrollable squeaking mixed in with
  • 00:08:18
    it the words could be made out at first
  • 00:08:21
    but then there was a sort of echo which
  • 00:08:24
    made them unclear leaving the hearer
  • 00:08:26
    unsure whether he had heard properly or
  • 00:08:28
    not Gregor had wanted to give a full
  • 00:08:31
    answer and explain everything but in the
  • 00:08:33
    circumstances contented himself with
  • 00:08:36
    saying yes Mother yes thank you I'm
  • 00:08:39
    getting up
  • 00:08:41
    now the change in Gregor's voice
  • 00:08:44
    probably could not be noticed outside
  • 00:08:47
    through the wooden door as his mother
  • 00:08:49
    was satisfied with this explanation and
  • 00:08:51
    shuffled away but this short
  • 00:08:53
    conversation made the other members of
  • 00:08:55
    the family aware that Gregor against
  • 00:08:57
    their expectations was still still at
  • 00:08:59
    home and soon his father came knocking
  • 00:09:02
    at one of the side doors gently but with
  • 00:09:05
    his fist Gregor Gregor he called what's
  • 00:09:09
    wrong and after a short while he called
  • 00:09:12
    again with a warning deepness in his
  • 00:09:14
    voice Gregor
  • 00:09:17
    Gregor at the other side door his sister
  • 00:09:20
    came plaintively Gregor aren't you well
  • 00:09:23
    do you need
  • 00:09:24
    anything Gregor answered to both sides
  • 00:09:28
    I'm ready now making an effort to remove
  • 00:09:31
    all the strangeness from his voice by
  • 00:09:33
    enunciating very carefully and putting
  • 00:09:36
    long pauses between each individual word
  • 00:09:39
    his father went back to his breakfast
  • 00:09:42
    but his sister whispered Gregor open the
  • 00:09:45
    door I beg of you Gregor however had no
  • 00:09:49
    thought of opening the door and instead
  • 00:09:51
    congratulated himself for his cous habit
  • 00:09:54
    acquired from his traveling of locking
  • 00:09:56
    all doors at night even when he was at
  • 00:09:58
    home
  • 00:10:00
    the first thing he wanted to do was to
  • 00:10:02
    get up in peace without being disturbed
  • 00:10:05
    to get dressed and most of all to have
  • 00:10:08
    breakfast only then would he consider
  • 00:10:10
    what to do next as he was well aware
  • 00:10:13
    that he would not bring his thoughts to
  • 00:10:14
    any sensible conclusions by lying in bed
  • 00:10:18
    he remembered that he had often felt a
  • 00:10:20
    slight pain in bed perhaps caused by
  • 00:10:23
    lying awkwardly but that had always
  • 00:10:25
    turned out to be Pure Imagination and he
  • 00:10:28
    wondered how his IM imaginings would
  • 00:10:30
    slowly resolve themselves today he did
  • 00:10:33
    not have the slightest doubt that the
  • 00:10:34
    change in his voice was nothing more
  • 00:10:37
    than the first sign of a serious cold
  • 00:10:39
    which was an occupational hazard for
  • 00:10:41
    traveling salesmen it was a simple
  • 00:10:44
    matter to throw off the covers he only
  • 00:10:46
    had to blow himself up a little and they
  • 00:10:48
    fell off by themselves but it became
  • 00:10:50
    difficult after that especially as he
  • 00:10:52
    was so exceptionally broad he would have
  • 00:10:56
    used his arms and his hands to push
  • 00:10:58
    himself up but instead of them he only
  • 00:11:00
    had those tiny little legs continuously
  • 00:11:03
    moving in different directions and which
  • 00:11:05
    he was moreover unable to control if he
  • 00:11:08
    wanted to bend one of them then that was
  • 00:11:11
    the first one that would stretch itself
  • 00:11:12
    out and if he finally managed to do what
  • 00:11:14
    he wanted with that leg all the others
  • 00:11:17
    seemed to be set free and would move
  • 00:11:19
    about
  • 00:11:20
    painfully this is something that can't
  • 00:11:23
    be done in bed Gregor said to himself so
  • 00:11:26
    don't keep trying to do
  • 00:11:27
    it first thing he wanted to do was to
  • 00:11:30
    get the lower part of his body out of
  • 00:11:33
    the bed but he had never seen this lower
  • 00:11:35
    part and could not imagine what it
  • 00:11:37
    looked
  • 00:11:38
    like it turned out to be too hard to
  • 00:11:41
    move it went so slowly and finally
  • 00:11:45
    almost in a frenzy when he carelessly
  • 00:11:48
    shoved himself forward with all the
  • 00:11:49
    force he could gather he chose the wrong
  • 00:11:52
    direction hit hard against the lower bed
  • 00:11:54
    post and learned from the burning pain
  • 00:11:57
    he felt that the lower part of his body
  • 00:11:59
    body might well at present be the most
  • 00:12:03
    sensitive so then he tried to get the
  • 00:12:06
    top part of his body out of the bed
  • 00:12:08
    first carefully turning his head to the
  • 00:12:10
    side this he managed quite easily and
  • 00:12:13
    despite its breadth and its weight the
  • 00:12:15
    bulk of his body eventually followed
  • 00:12:17
    slowly in the direction of the head but
  • 00:12:20
    when he had at last got his head out of
  • 00:12:22
    the bed and into the fresh air it
  • 00:12:24
    occurred to him that if he let himself
  • 00:12:26
    fall it would be a miracle if his head
  • 00:12:29
    were not injured so he became afraid to
  • 00:12:31
    carry on pushing himself forward in the
  • 00:12:33
    same direction and he could not knock
  • 00:12:36
    himself out now at any price better to
  • 00:12:39
    stay in bed than lose
  • 00:12:41
    Consciousness it took just as much
  • 00:12:43
    effort to get back to where he had been
  • 00:12:45
    earlier but when he lay there sighing
  • 00:12:48
    and was once more watching his legs as
  • 00:12:50
    they struggled against each other even
  • 00:12:52
    harder than before if that was possible
  • 00:12:54
    he could think of no way of bringing
  • 00:12:56
    peace and order to this chaos he told
  • 00:12:59
    himself once more that it was not
  • 00:13:01
    possible for him to stay in bed and that
  • 00:13:03
    the most sensible thing to do would be
  • 00:13:06
    to get free of it in whatever way he
  • 00:13:07
    could at whatever
  • 00:13:09
    sacrifice at the same time though he did
  • 00:13:12
    not forget to remind himself that calm
  • 00:13:14
    consideration was much better than
  • 00:13:16
    rushing to desperate conclusions at
  • 00:13:19
    times like this he would direct his eyes
  • 00:13:21
    to the window and look out as clearly as
  • 00:13:24
    he could but unfortunately even the
  • 00:13:27
    other side of the narrow Street was
  • 00:13:29
    enveloped in morning fog and the view
  • 00:13:31
    had little confidence or cheer to offer
  • 00:13:34
    him 7:00 already he said to himself when
  • 00:13:37
    the Clock Struck again 7:00 and there's
  • 00:13:40
    still a fog like this and he lay quietly
  • 00:13:43
    a while longer breathing lightly as if
  • 00:13:46
    perhaps he expected the total Stillness
  • 00:13:48
    to bring things back to their real and
  • 00:13:50
    natural state but then he said to
  • 00:13:52
    himself before it strikes quarter past 7
  • 00:13:56
    I'll definitely have got properly out of
  • 00:13:58
    bed and by then somebody will have come
  • 00:14:01
    around from work to ask what's happened
  • 00:14:02
    to me as well as they open up at work
  • 00:14:05
    before 7:00 and so he set himself to the
  • 00:14:08
    task of swinging the entire length of
  • 00:14:10
    his body out of the bed all the same if
  • 00:14:13
    he succeeded in falling out of bed in
  • 00:14:15
    this way and kept his head raised as he
  • 00:14:18
    did he could probably avoid injuring it
  • 00:14:21
    his back seemed to be quite hard and
  • 00:14:24
    probably nothing would happen to it
  • 00:14:25
    falling onto the carpet his main concern
  • 00:14:28
    was for the loud noise he was bound to
  • 00:14:30
    make and which even through all the
  • 00:14:32
    doors would probably raise concern if
  • 00:14:34
    not alarm but it was something that had
  • 00:14:37
    to be
  • 00:14:38
    risked when Gregor was already sticking
  • 00:14:41
    halfway out of the bed the new method
  • 00:14:44
    was more of a game than an effort all he
  • 00:14:46
    had to do was Rock back and forth it
  • 00:14:49
    occurred to him how simple everything
  • 00:14:51
    would be if somebody came to help him
  • 00:14:53
    two strong people he had his father and
  • 00:14:56
    the maid in mind would have been more
  • 00:14:58
    than enough they would only have to push
  • 00:15:00
    their arms under the dome of his back
  • 00:15:02
    peel him away from the bed bend down
  • 00:15:05
    with the load and then be patient and
  • 00:15:07
    careful as he Swang over onto the floor
  • 00:15:10
    where hopefully the little legs would
  • 00:15:12
    find use should he really call for help
  • 00:15:15
    though even apart from the fact that all
  • 00:15:17
    the doors were locked despite all the
  • 00:15:20
    difficulty he was in he could not
  • 00:15:21
    suppress a smile at this
  • 00:15:24
    thought after a while he had already
  • 00:15:26
    moved so far that it would have been
  • 00:15:29
    hard for him to keep his balance if he
  • 00:15:31
    rocked too hard the time was now 10 7
  • 00:15:35
    and he would have to make a final
  • 00:15:37
    decision very soon then there was a ring
  • 00:15:40
    at the door of the
  • 00:15:41
    flat that'll be someone from work he
  • 00:15:44
    said to himself and froze very still
  • 00:15:47
    although his little legs only became all
  • 00:15:49
    the more lively as they danced around
  • 00:15:52
    for a moment everything remained quiet
  • 00:15:55
    they're not opening the door Gregor said
  • 00:15:58
    to himself caught in some nonsensical
  • 00:16:00
    hope but then of course the maid's firm
  • 00:16:02
    steps went to the door as ever and
  • 00:16:04
    opened it Gregor only needed to hear the
  • 00:16:07
    visitor's first words of greeting and he
  • 00:16:10
    knew who it was the chief clerk
  • 00:16:13
    himself why did Gregor have to be the
  • 00:16:16
    only one condemned to work for a company
  • 00:16:19
    where they immediately became highly
  • 00:16:21
    suspicious at the slightest shortcoming
  • 00:16:23
    were all employees every one of them LS
  • 00:16:28
    was there not one of them who was
  • 00:16:29
    faithful and devoted who would go so mad
  • 00:16:32
    with pangs of conscience that he
  • 00:16:33
    couldn't get out of bed if he didn't
  • 00:16:35
    spend at least a couple of hours in the
  • 00:16:37
    morning on company business was it
  • 00:16:39
    really not enough to let one of the
  • 00:16:41
    trainees make inquiries assuming
  • 00:16:43
    inquiries were even necessary did the
  • 00:16:46
    chief clerk have to come
  • 00:16:48
    himself did they have to show the whole
  • 00:16:51
    innocent family that this was so
  • 00:16:53
    suspicious that only the chief Clark
  • 00:16:56
    could be trusted to have the wisdom to
  • 00:16:58
    investigate it and more because these
  • 00:17:01
    thoughts had made him upset than through
  • 00:17:03
    any proper decision he Swang himself
  • 00:17:05
    with all his Force out of the bed there
  • 00:17:08
    was a loud thump but it wasn't really a
  • 00:17:11
    loud noise his fall was softened a
  • 00:17:14
    little by the carpet and Gregor's back
  • 00:17:16
    was also more elastic than he had
  • 00:17:18
    thought which made the sound muffled and
  • 00:17:20
    not too noticeable he had not held his
  • 00:17:23
    head carefully enough though and hit it
  • 00:17:25
    as he fell annoyed and in pain he turned
  • 00:17:29
    and rubbed it against the
  • 00:17:31
    carpet something's fallen down in there
  • 00:17:34
    said the chief clerk in the room on the
  • 00:17:36
    left Gregor tried to imagine whether
  • 00:17:38
    something of the sort that had happened
  • 00:17:40
    to him today could ever happen to the
  • 00:17:42
    chief clerk too you had to concede that
  • 00:17:44
    it was possible but as in Gruff reply to
  • 00:17:49
    this question the chief Clerk's firm
  • 00:17:50
    Footsteps in his highly polished boots
  • 00:17:53
    could now be heard in the adjourning
  • 00:17:54
    room from the room on his right Gregor's
  • 00:17:58
    sister whispered to him to let him know
  • 00:18:00
    Gregor the chief clerk is here yes I
  • 00:18:05
    know said Gregor to himself but without
  • 00:18:08
    daring to raise his voice loud enough
  • 00:18:09
    for his sister to hear Gregor said his
  • 00:18:13
    father now from the room to his left the
  • 00:18:15
    chief clerk has come around and wants to
  • 00:18:17
    know why you didn't leave on the early
  • 00:18:19
    train we don't know what to say to him
  • 00:18:22
    and anyway he wants to speak to you
  • 00:18:24
    personally so please open up this door
  • 00:18:26
    I'm sure he'll be good enough to forgive
  • 00:18:28
    the Untitled of your room then the chief
  • 00:18:31
    clerk called good morning Mr samser he
  • 00:18:35
    isn't well said his mother to the chief
  • 00:18:37
    clerk while his father continued to
  • 00:18:39
    speak through the door he isn't well
  • 00:18:41
    please believe me why else would Gregor
  • 00:18:44
    have missed a train the lad only ever
  • 00:18:46
    thinks about the business it nearly
  • 00:18:48
    makes me cross the way he never goes out
  • 00:18:50
    in the evenings he's been in town for a
  • 00:18:52
    week now but stayed home every evening
  • 00:18:55
    he sits with us in the kitchen and just
  • 00:18:57
    reads the paper or studies train
  • 00:18:59
    timetables his idea of relaxation is
  • 00:19:02
    working with his fret sore he's made a
  • 00:19:05
    little frame for instance it only took
  • 00:19:07
    him two or three evenings you'll be
  • 00:19:09
    amazed how nice it is it's hanging in
  • 00:19:11
    his room oh you'll see it as soon as
  • 00:19:13
    Gregor opens the door anyway I'm glad
  • 00:19:16
    you're here we wouldn't have been able
  • 00:19:17
    to get grego to open the door by
  • 00:19:19
    ourselves he's so stubborn and I'm sure
  • 00:19:21
    he isn't well he said this morning that
  • 00:19:23
    he is but he
  • 00:19:25
    isn't I'll be there in a moment said
  • 00:19:29
    Gregor slowly and thoughtfully but
  • 00:19:31
    without moving so that he would not miss
  • 00:19:33
    any word of the
  • 00:19:35
    conversation well I can't think of any
  • 00:19:37
    other way of explaining it Mrs samama
  • 00:19:39
    said the chief clerk I hope it's nothing
  • 00:19:41
    serious but on the other hand I must say
  • 00:19:44
    that if we people in Commerce ever
  • 00:19:46
    become slightly unwell then fortunately
  • 00:19:49
    or unfortunately as you like we simply
  • 00:19:52
    have to overcome it because of business
  • 00:19:57
    considerations can the chief Clark
  • 00:19:59
    coming to see you now then asked his
  • 00:20:02
    father impatiently knocking at the door
  • 00:20:03
    again no said Gregor in the room on his
  • 00:20:07
    right there followed a painful silence
  • 00:20:10
    in the room on his left his sister began
  • 00:20:13
    to cry so why did his sister not go and
  • 00:20:16
    join the others she had probably only
  • 00:20:18
    just got up and not even begun to get
  • 00:20:21
    dressed why was she crying was it
  • 00:20:23
    because he had not got up and had not
  • 00:20:26
    let the chief Clark in because he was in
  • 00:20:28
    danger of losing his job and if that
  • 00:20:30
    happened his boss would once more pursue
  • 00:20:32
    their parents with the same demands as
  • 00:20:35
    before there was no need to worry about
  • 00:20:37
    things like that yet Gregor was still
  • 00:20:40
    there and had not the slightest
  • 00:20:41
    intention of abandoning his family the
  • 00:20:44
    time being he just lay there on the
  • 00:20:46
    carpet and no one who knew the condition
  • 00:20:49
    he was in would seriously have expected
  • 00:20:51
    him to let the chief Clark in it was
  • 00:20:54
    only a minor discourtesy and a suitable
  • 00:20:57
    excuse could easily be found for it
  • 00:20:59
    later on it was not something for which
  • 00:21:01
    Gregor could be sacked on the spot and
  • 00:21:04
    it seemed to Gregor much more sensible
  • 00:21:06
    to leave him now in peace instead of
  • 00:21:08
    disturbing him with talking at him and
  • 00:21:11
    crying but the others didn't know what
  • 00:21:14
    was happening they were worried that
  • 00:21:17
    would excuse their
  • 00:21:18
    behavior the chief clerk now raised his
  • 00:21:21
    voice Mr samsa he called to him what is
  • 00:21:26
    wrong you barricade yourself in your
  • 00:21:28
    room give us no more than yes or no for
  • 00:21:30
    an answer you are causing serious and
  • 00:21:33
    unnecessary concern to your parents and
  • 00:21:36
    you fail and I mention this just by the
  • 00:21:39
    way you fail to carry out your business
  • 00:21:41
    duties in a way that is quite unheard of
  • 00:21:44
    I'm speaking here on behalf of your
  • 00:21:46
    parents and of your employer and really
  • 00:21:49
    must request a clear and immediate
  • 00:21:52
    explanation I am astonished quite
  • 00:21:54
    astonished I thought I knew you as a
  • 00:21:56
    calm and sensible person and now you
  • 00:21:59
    suddenly seem to be showing off with
  • 00:22:01
    peculiar whims this morning your
  • 00:22:04
    employer did suggest a possible reason
  • 00:22:06
    for your failure to appear it's true it
  • 00:22:09
    had to do with the money that was
  • 00:22:11
    recently entrusted to you but I came
  • 00:22:13
    near to giving him my word of Honor that
  • 00:22:16
    that could not be the right explanation
  • 00:22:19
    but now that I see your incomprehensible
  • 00:22:21
    stubbornness I no longer feel any wish
  • 00:22:24
    whatsoever to intercede on your behalf
  • 00:22:28
    and nor is your position all that secure
  • 00:22:31
    I had originally intended to say all
  • 00:22:33
    this to you in private but since you
  • 00:22:35
    caused me to waste my time here for no
  • 00:22:38
    good reason I don't see why your parents
  • 00:22:40
    should not also learn of it your
  • 00:22:42
    turnover has been very unsatisfactory of
  • 00:22:46
    late I grant you that it's not the time
  • 00:22:49
    of year to do especially good business
  • 00:22:51
    we recognize that but there simply is no
  • 00:22:54
    time of year to do no business at all Mr
  • 00:22:57
    samza
  • 00:22:59
    we cannot allow that to
  • 00:23:01
    be but sir called Gregor beside himself
  • 00:23:06
    and forgetting all else in the
  • 00:23:07
    excitement I'll open up immediately just
  • 00:23:10
    a moment I'm slightly unwell an attack
  • 00:23:12
    of dizziness I haven't been able to get
  • 00:23:15
    up I'm still in bed now I'm quite fresh
  • 00:23:18
    again now though I'm just getting out of
  • 00:23:20
    bed just a moment be patient it's not
  • 00:23:23
    quite as easy as I'd thought I'm quite
  • 00:23:25
    all right now though it's shocking what
  • 00:23:27
    can suddenly happen to a person I was
  • 00:23:30
    quite all right last night my parents
  • 00:23:32
    know about it perhaps better than me I
  • 00:23:35
    had a small symptom of it last night
  • 00:23:37
    already they must have noticed it I
  • 00:23:39
    don't know why I didn't let you know at
  • 00:23:41
    work but you always think you can get
  • 00:23:43
    over an illness without staying at home
  • 00:23:45
    please don't make my parents suffer
  • 00:23:48
    there's no basis for any of the
  • 00:23:49
    accusations you're making nobody's ever
  • 00:23:51
    said a word to me about any of those
  • 00:23:53
    things maybe you haven't read the latest
  • 00:23:56
    contracts I sent in I'll set off with
  • 00:23:58
    the 8:00 train as well those few hours
  • 00:24:01
    of rest have given me strength you don't
  • 00:24:03
    need to wait sir I'll be in the office
  • 00:24:05
    soon after you and please be so good as
  • 00:24:08
    to tell that to the boss and recommend
  • 00:24:10
    me to
  • 00:24:11
    him and while Gregor gushed out these
  • 00:24:14
    words hardly knowing what he was saying
  • 00:24:16
    he made his way over to the chest of
  • 00:24:18
    drawers this was easily done probably
  • 00:24:21
    because of the practice he had already
  • 00:24:22
    had in bed where he now tried to get
  • 00:24:25
    himself upright he really did want to
  • 00:24:28
    open the the door really did want to let
  • 00:24:30
    them see him and to speak with the chief
  • 00:24:31
    clerk the others were being so insistent
  • 00:24:34
    and he was curious to learn what they
  • 00:24:36
    would say when they caught sight of him
  • 00:24:39
    if they were shocked then it would no
  • 00:24:41
    longer be Gregor's responsibility and he
  • 00:24:43
    could rest if however they took
  • 00:24:45
    everything calmly he would still have no
  • 00:24:48
    reason to be upset and if he hurried he
  • 00:24:50
    really could be at the station for
  • 00:24:53
    8:00 the first few times he tried to
  • 00:24:55
    climb on the smooth Chester drawers he
  • 00:24:57
    just slid down again but he finally gave
  • 00:25:00
    himself one last swing and stood there
  • 00:25:02
    upright the lower part of his body was
  • 00:25:04
    in serious pain but he no longer gave
  • 00:25:07
    any attention to it now he let himself
  • 00:25:10
    fall against the back of a nearby chair
  • 00:25:13
    and held to the edges of it with his
  • 00:25:14
    little
  • 00:25:16
    legs by now he had also calmed down and
  • 00:25:19
    kept quiet so that he could listen to
  • 00:25:21
    what the chief Clark was
  • 00:25:23
    saying did you understand a word of all
  • 00:25:26
    that the chief clerk asked his parents
  • 00:25:28
    surely he's not trying to make fools of
  • 00:25:30
    us oh God called his mother who was
  • 00:25:33
    already in tears he could be seriously
  • 00:25:35
    ill and we're making his suffer Greta
  • 00:25:38
    Greta she then cried mother his sister
  • 00:25:41
    called from the other side they
  • 00:25:43
    communicated across Gregor's room you'll
  • 00:25:46
    have to go for the doctor straight away
  • 00:25:47
    Gregor is ill quick get the doctor did
  • 00:25:50
    you hear the way Gregor spoke just now
  • 00:25:53
    that was the voice of an animal said the
  • 00:25:55
    chief clerk with a calmness that was in
  • 00:25:57
    contrast with with his mother's screams
  • 00:25:59
    Anna Anna his father called into the
  • 00:26:02
    kitchen through the entrance hall
  • 00:26:03
    clapping his hands get a locksmith here
  • 00:26:05
    now and the two girls their skirts
  • 00:26:08
    swishing immediately ran out through the
  • 00:26:10
    hall wrenching open the front door of
  • 00:26:12
    the flat as they went how had his sister
  • 00:26:15
    managed to get dressed so quickly there
  • 00:26:17
    was no sound of the door banging shut
  • 00:26:19
    again they must have left it open people
  • 00:26:22
    often do in homes where something awful
  • 00:26:24
    has happened Gregor in contrast had
  • 00:26:27
    become much
  • 00:26:28
    Karma so they couldn't understand his
  • 00:26:31
    words anymore although they seemed clear
  • 00:26:34
    enough to him clearer than before
  • 00:26:36
    perhaps his ears had become used to the
  • 00:26:38
    sound they had realized though that
  • 00:26:40
    there was something wrong with him and
  • 00:26:42
    were ready to help the first response to
  • 00:26:45
    his situation had been confident and
  • 00:26:47
    wise and that made him feel better he
  • 00:26:50
    felt that he had been drawn back in
  • 00:26:52
    among people and from the doctor and the
  • 00:26:54
    locksmith he expected great and
  • 00:26:56
    surprising achievements although he did
  • 00:26:59
    not really distinguish one from the
  • 00:27:01
    other whatever was said next would be
  • 00:27:03
    crucial so in order to make his voice as
  • 00:27:05
    clear as possible he coughed a little
  • 00:27:08
    but taking care to do this not too
  • 00:27:10
    loudly as even this might well sound
  • 00:27:12
    different from the way that a human
  • 00:27:14
    coughs and he was no longer sure that he
  • 00:27:17
    could judge this for himself meanwhile
  • 00:27:20
    it had become very quiet in the Next
  • 00:27:22
    Room perhaps his parents were sat at the
  • 00:27:25
    table Whispering with the chief Clerk or
  • 00:27:27
    perhaps they were all pressed against
  • 00:27:28
    the door and
  • 00:27:30
    listening Gregor slowly pushed his way
  • 00:27:33
    over to the door with the chair once
  • 00:27:36
    there he'd let go of it and threw
  • 00:27:38
    himself onto the door holding himself
  • 00:27:40
    upright against it using the adhesive on
  • 00:27:42
    the tips of his legs he rested there a
  • 00:27:44
    little while to recover from the effort
  • 00:27:46
    involved and then set himself to the
  • 00:27:48
    task of turning the key in the lock with
  • 00:27:51
    his mouth he seemed unfortunately to
  • 00:27:54
    have no proper teeth how was he then to
  • 00:27:57
    grasp the te but the lack of teeth was
  • 00:28:00
    of course made up for with a very strong
  • 00:28:03
    jaw using the jaw he really was able to
  • 00:28:07
    start the key turning ignoring the fact
  • 00:28:09
    that he might have been causing some
  • 00:28:10
    kind of damage as a brown fluid came
  • 00:28:13
    from his mouth flowed over the key and
  • 00:28:15
    dripped onto the
  • 00:28:16
    floor listen said the chief Clark in the
  • 00:28:19
    Next Room he's turning the key Gregor
  • 00:28:23
    was greatly encouraged by this but they
  • 00:28:25
    all should have been calling to him his
  • 00:28:27
    father and his mother Too Well Done
  • 00:28:29
    Gregor they should have cried keep at it
  • 00:28:32
    keep hold of the lock with the idea that
  • 00:28:35
    they were all excitedly following his
  • 00:28:36
    efforts he bit on the key with all his
  • 00:28:39
    strength paying no attention to the pain
  • 00:28:41
    he was causing himself as the key turned
  • 00:28:44
    round he turned around the lock with it
  • 00:28:47
    only holding himself upright with his
  • 00:28:48
    mouth and hung onto the key or pushed it
  • 00:28:51
    down again with the whole weight of his
  • 00:28:53
    body as needed the clear sound of the
  • 00:28:55
    lock as it snapped back was Gregor's
  • 00:28:58
    sign that he could break his
  • 00:29:00
    concentration and as he regained his
  • 00:29:02
    breath he said to himself so I didn't
  • 00:29:05
    need the locksmith after all and he lay
  • 00:29:08
    his head on the handle of the door to
  • 00:29:10
    open it
  • 00:29:11
    immediately because he had to open the
  • 00:29:13
    door in this way it was already wide
  • 00:29:15
    open before he could be seen he had
  • 00:29:18
    first to slowly turn himself around one
  • 00:29:20
    of the double doors and he had to do it
  • 00:29:23
    very carefully if he did not wish to
  • 00:29:25
    fall flat on his back before entering
  • 00:29:26
    the room he was still occupied with this
  • 00:29:29
    difficult movement unable to pay
  • 00:29:31
    attention to anything else when he heard
  • 00:29:33
    the chief Clark exclaim aloud oh it
  • 00:29:37
    sound like the swing of the wind now he
  • 00:29:41
    also saw him he was the nearest to the
  • 00:29:43
    door his hand pressed against his open
  • 00:29:46
    mouth and slowly retreating as if driven
  • 00:29:48
    by a steady and invisible force Gregor's
  • 00:29:52
    mother her hair still disheveled from
  • 00:29:55
    bed despite the chief Clerk's being
  • 00:29:57
    there looked at his father then she
  • 00:30:00
    unfolded her arms took two steps forward
  • 00:30:03
    towards Gregor and sank down onto the
  • 00:30:06
    floor into her skirts that spread
  • 00:30:08
    themselves out around her as her head
  • 00:30:10
    disappeared down onto her breast his
  • 00:30:13
    father looked hostile and clenched his
  • 00:30:16
    fist as if wanting to knock Gregor back
  • 00:30:19
    into his room then he looked uncertainly
  • 00:30:22
    around the living room covered his eyes
  • 00:30:24
    with his hands and wept so that his
  • 00:30:26
    powerful chest shook so Gregor did not
  • 00:30:31
    go into the room but lent against the
  • 00:30:33
    inside of the other door which was still
  • 00:30:35
    held bolted into place in this way only
  • 00:30:39
    half of his body could be seen along
  • 00:30:41
    with his head above it which he Lent
  • 00:30:43
    over to one side as he peered out at the
  • 00:30:45
    others meanwhile the day had become much
  • 00:30:48
    lighter part of the Endless gray black
  • 00:30:51
    building on the other side of the street
  • 00:30:53
    which was a hospital could be seen quite
  • 00:30:55
    clearly with the austere and regular
  • 00:30:58
    line of Windows piercing its facade the
  • 00:31:01
    rain was still falling now throwing down
  • 00:31:04
    large individual droplets which hit the
  • 00:31:06
    ground one at a time the washing up from
  • 00:31:10
    breakfast lay on the table there was so
  • 00:31:13
    much of it because for Gregor's father
  • 00:31:15
    breakfast was the most important meal of
  • 00:31:17
    the day and he would stretch it out for
  • 00:31:19
    several hours as he sat reading a number
  • 00:31:22
    of different
  • 00:31:23
    newspapers on the wall exactly opposite
  • 00:31:26
    there was a photograph of Greg G when he
  • 00:31:28
    was a left tenant in the Army his sword
  • 00:31:31
    in his hand and a Carefree smile on his
  • 00:31:33
    face as he called forth respect for his
  • 00:31:36
    uniform and bearing the door to the
  • 00:31:39
    entrance hall was open and as the front
  • 00:31:42
    door of the flat was also open he could
  • 00:31:44
    see onto the landing and the stairs
  • 00:31:46
    where they began their way down below
  • 00:31:49
    now then said Gregor well aware that he
  • 00:31:51
    was the only one to have kept calm I'll
  • 00:31:54
    get dressed straight away now pack up my
  • 00:31:56
    samples and set off will you please just
  • 00:31:59
    let me leave you can see he said to the
  • 00:32:02
    chief clerk that I'm not stubborn and I
  • 00:32:04
    like to do my job being a commercial
  • 00:32:07
    traveler is arduous but without
  • 00:32:09
    traveling I couldn't earn my living so
  • 00:32:11
    where are you going into the office yes
  • 00:32:14
    will you report everything accurately
  • 00:32:16
    then it's quite possible for someone to
  • 00:32:18
    be temporarily unable to work but that's
  • 00:32:21
    just the right time to remember what's
  • 00:32:22
    been achieved in the past and consider
  • 00:32:25
    that later on once the difficulty is
  • 00:32:28
    been removed he will certainly work with
  • 00:32:30
    all the more diligence and
  • 00:32:32
    concentration you're well aware that I'm
  • 00:32:35
    seriously in debt to our employer as
  • 00:32:37
    well as having to look after my parents
  • 00:32:39
    and my sister I know that nobody likes
  • 00:32:41
    The Travelers they think we earn an
  • 00:32:43
    enormous wage as well as having a soft
  • 00:32:46
    time of it that's just Prejudice but
  • 00:32:49
    they have no particular reason to think
  • 00:32:51
    better of it but you sir you have a
  • 00:32:55
    better overview than the rest of the
  • 00:32:57
    staff in fact if I can say this in
  • 00:32:59
    confidence a better overview than the
  • 00:33:01
    boss himself it's very easy for a
  • 00:33:04
    businessman like him to make mistakes
  • 00:33:06
    about his employees and judge them more
  • 00:33:08
    harshly than he should and you're also
  • 00:33:11
    well aware that we Travelers spend
  • 00:33:14
    almost the whole year away from the
  • 00:33:16
    office so that we can very easily fall
  • 00:33:19
    victim to gossip and chants and
  • 00:33:21
    groundless complaints and it's almost
  • 00:33:24
    impossible to defend yourself from that
  • 00:33:25
    sort of thing we don't usually even hear
  • 00:33:27
    about them or if at all it's when we
  • 00:33:30
    arrive back home exhausted from a trip
  • 00:33:33
    and that's when we feel the harmful
  • 00:33:34
    effects of what's been going on without
  • 00:33:36
    even knowing what caused them please
  • 00:33:39
    don't go away at least first say
  • 00:33:41
    something to show that you grant that
  • 00:33:43
    I'm at least partly
  • 00:33:45
    right but the chief clerk had turned
  • 00:33:48
    away as soon as Gregor had started to
  • 00:33:50
    speak and with protruded lips only
  • 00:33:53
    stared back at him over his trembling
  • 00:33:55
    shoulders as he left he did not keep
  • 00:33:57
    still for a moment while Gregor was
  • 00:33:59
    speaking but moved steadily towards the
  • 00:34:01
    door without taking his eyes off him he
  • 00:34:05
    moved very gradually as if there had
  • 00:34:07
    been some secret prohibition on leaving
  • 00:34:10
    the room it was only when he reached the
  • 00:34:13
    entrance hall that he made a sudden
  • 00:34:15
    movement drew his foot from the living
  • 00:34:17
    room and rushed forward in a panic in
  • 00:34:20
    the hall he stretched his right hand far
  • 00:34:23
    out towards the stairway as if there
  • 00:34:26
    there were some Supernatural force
  • 00:34:28
    waiting to save him Gregor realized that
  • 00:34:33
    it was out of the question to let the
  • 00:34:35
    chief clerk go away in this mood if his
  • 00:34:37
    position in The Firm was not to be put
  • 00:34:39
    in extreme danger that was something his
  • 00:34:42
    parents did not understand very well
  • 00:34:44
    over the years they had become convinced
  • 00:34:46
    that this job would provide for Gregor
  • 00:34:48
    for his entire life and besides they had
  • 00:34:51
    so much to worry about at present that
  • 00:34:53
    they had lost sight of any thought for
  • 00:34:55
    the future Gregor though did think about
  • 00:34:58
    the future the chief clerk had to be
  • 00:35:00
    held back calmed down convinced and
  • 00:35:03
    finally won over the future of Gregor
  • 00:35:05
    and his family depended on it if only
  • 00:35:08
    his sister were here she was clever she
  • 00:35:11
    was already in tears while Gregor was
  • 00:35:13
    still lying peacefully on his back and
  • 00:35:15
    the chief clerk was a lover of women
  • 00:35:17
    surely she could persuade him she would
  • 00:35:20
    close the front door in the entrance
  • 00:35:21
    hall and talk him out of his shocked
  • 00:35:23
    state but his sister was not there gor
  • 00:35:28
    would have to do the job himself and
  • 00:35:30
    without considering that he was still
  • 00:35:32
    not familiar with how well he could move
  • 00:35:34
    about in his present state or that his
  • 00:35:36
    speech might still not or probably would
  • 00:35:39
    not be understood he'd let go of the
  • 00:35:41
    door pushed himself through the opening
  • 00:35:44
    tried to reach the chief Clark on the
  • 00:35:46
    landing who ridiculously was holding on
  • 00:35:48
    to the banister with both hands but
  • 00:35:51
    Gregor fell immediately over and with a
  • 00:35:54
    little scream as he sought something to
  • 00:35:55
    hold on to landed on on his numerous
  • 00:35:58
    little legs hardly had that happened
  • 00:36:01
    then for the first time that day he
  • 00:36:03
    began to feel all right with his body
  • 00:36:06
    the little legs had the solid ground
  • 00:36:08
    under them to his pleasure they did
  • 00:36:10
    exactly what he told them they were even
  • 00:36:13
    making the effort to carry him where he
  • 00:36:14
    wanted to go and he was soon believing
  • 00:36:17
    that all his Sorrows would soon be
  • 00:36:19
    finally at an end he held back the urge
  • 00:36:22
    to move but swayed from side to side as
  • 00:36:25
    he crouched there on the floor
  • 00:36:28
    his mother was not far away in front of
  • 00:36:30
    him and seemed at first quite engrossed
  • 00:36:33
    in herself but then she suddenly jumped
  • 00:36:35
    up with her arms outstretched and her
  • 00:36:37
    fingers spread shouting help for pity's
  • 00:36:41
    sake help the way she held her head
  • 00:36:44
    suggested she wanted to see Gregor
  • 00:36:47
    better but the unthinking way she was
  • 00:36:49
    hurrying backwards showed that she did
  • 00:36:52
    not she had forgotten that the table was
  • 00:36:55
    behind her with all the breakfast things
  • 00:36:56
    on it when she reached the table she sat
  • 00:36:58
    quickly down on it without knowing what
  • 00:37:00
    she was doing without even seeming to
  • 00:37:03
    notice that the coffee pot had been
  • 00:37:04
    knocked over and the gush of coffee was
  • 00:37:07
    pouring down onto the carpet mother
  • 00:37:10
    mother said Gregor gently looking up at
  • 00:37:13
    her he had completely forgotten the
  • 00:37:15
    chief clerk for the moment but could not
  • 00:37:17
    help himself snapping in the air with
  • 00:37:19
    his Jaws at the sight of the flow of
  • 00:37:22
    coffee that set his mother screaming a
  • 00:37:25
    new she fled from the table and into the
  • 00:37:27
    arms of his father as he rushed towards
  • 00:37:30
    her Gregor though had no time to spare
  • 00:37:32
    for his parents now the chief clerk had
  • 00:37:34
    already reach the stairs with his chin
  • 00:37:37
    on the banister he looked back for the
  • 00:37:39
    last time Gregor made a run for him he
  • 00:37:43
    wanted to be sure of reaching him the
  • 00:37:45
    chief clerk must have expected something
  • 00:37:48
    as he leapt down several stairs at once
  • 00:37:50
    and disappeared his shouts resounding
  • 00:37:53
    all over the staircase the Flight of the
  • 00:37:55
    chief clerk seemed unfortun
  • 00:37:58
    to put Gregor's father into a panic as
  • 00:38:00
    well until then he had been relatively
  • 00:38:03
    self-controlled but now instead of
  • 00:38:05
    running after the chief Clark himself or
  • 00:38:07
    at least not impeding Gregor as he ran
  • 00:38:09
    after him Gregor's father seized the
  • 00:38:12
    chief Clark's stick in his right hand
  • 00:38:14
    the chief Clark had left it behind on a
  • 00:38:16
    chair along with his hat and Overcoat
  • 00:38:18
    picked up a large newspaper from the
  • 00:38:20
    table with his left and used them to
  • 00:38:22
    drive Gregor back into his room stamping
  • 00:38:25
    his foot at him as he went Gregor's
  • 00:38:27
    appeals to his father were of no help
  • 00:38:30
    his appeals were simply not understood
  • 00:38:33
    however much he humbly turned his head
  • 00:38:35
    his father merely stamped his foot all
  • 00:38:37
    the
  • 00:38:38
    harder across the room despite the
  • 00:38:41
    chilly weather Gregor's mother had
  • 00:38:43
    pulled open a window lent far out of it
  • 00:38:46
    and pressed her hands to her face a
  • 00:38:49
    strong draft of air flew in from the
  • 00:38:51
    street towards the stairway the curtains
  • 00:38:54
    flew up the newspapers on the table
  • 00:38:56
    flattered and some of them were blown
  • 00:38:57
    onto the floor nothing would stop
  • 00:39:00
    Gregor's father as he drove him back
  • 00:39:03
    making hissing noises at him like a wild
  • 00:39:06
    man Gregor had never had any practice in
  • 00:39:09
    moving backwards and was only able to go
  • 00:39:11
    very slowly if Gregor had only been
  • 00:39:14
    allowed to turn he would have been back
  • 00:39:16
    in his room straight away but he was
  • 00:39:18
    afraid that if he took the time to do
  • 00:39:20
    that his father would become impatient
  • 00:39:23
    and there was the threat of a lethal
  • 00:39:24
    blow to his back or head from the stick
  • 00:39:27
    in his father's hand any moment
  • 00:39:29
    eventually though Gregor realized that
  • 00:39:31
    he had no choice as he saw it to his
  • 00:39:34
    disgust that he was quite incapable of
  • 00:39:36
    going backwards in a straight line so he
  • 00:39:39
    began as quickly as possible and with
  • 00:39:41
    frequent anxious glances at his father
  • 00:39:44
    to turn himself around it went very
  • 00:39:47
    slowly but perhaps his father was able
  • 00:39:49
    to see his good intentions as he did
  • 00:39:52
    nothing to hinder him in fact now and
  • 00:39:54
    then he used the tip of his stick to
  • 00:39:56
    give directions from a distance as to
  • 00:39:58
    which way to turn if only his father
  • 00:40:01
    would stop that unbearable hissing it
  • 00:40:04
    was making Gregor quite confused when he
  • 00:40:06
    had nearly finished turning around still
  • 00:40:08
    listening to that hissing he made a
  • 00:40:11
    mistake and turned himself back a little
  • 00:40:13
    the way had just come he was pleased
  • 00:40:16
    when he finally had his head in front of
  • 00:40:17
    the doorway but then he saw that it was
  • 00:40:19
    too narrow and his body was too broad to
  • 00:40:22
    get through it without further
  • 00:40:23
    difficulty in his present mood it
  • 00:40:26
    obviously did not occur to his father to
  • 00:40:28
    open the other of the double doors so
  • 00:40:30
    that Gregor would have enough space to
  • 00:40:32
    get through he was merely fixed on the
  • 00:40:34
    idea that Gregor should be back into his
  • 00:40:36
    room as quickly as possible nor would he
  • 00:40:39
    ever have allowed Gregor the time to get
  • 00:40:41
    himself upright as preparation for
  • 00:40:43
    getting through the door what he did
  • 00:40:46
    making more noise than ever was to drive
  • 00:40:49
    Gregor forwards all the harder as if
  • 00:40:51
    there had be nothing in the way it
  • 00:40:53
    sounded to Gregor as if there was now
  • 00:40:55
    more than one father behind him it was
  • 00:40:58
    not a pleasant experience and Gregor
  • 00:41:00
    pushed himself into the doorway without
  • 00:41:02
    regard for what might happen one side of
  • 00:41:05
    his body lifted itself he lay at an
  • 00:41:08
    angle in the doorway one flank scraped
  • 00:41:11
    on the white door and was painfully
  • 00:41:13
    injured leaving vile brown flexs on it
  • 00:41:16
    soon he was stuck fast and would not
  • 00:41:19
    have been able to move at all by himself
  • 00:41:21
    the little legs along one side hung
  • 00:41:23
    quivering in the air while those on the
  • 00:41:26
    other side were PR rested painfully
  • 00:41:28
    against the ground then his father gave
  • 00:41:31
    him a hefty shove from behind which
  • 00:41:33
    released him from where he was held and
  • 00:41:36
    sent him flying and heavily bleeding
  • 00:41:38
    into his room the door was slammed shut
  • 00:41:41
    with the stick then finally all was
  • 00:41:45
    quiet
  • 00:41:58
    and welcome back I hope you enjoyed
  • 00:42:00
    listening to part one of metamorphosis
  • 00:42:03
    by France Kafka please do consider
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    becoming a patron of the well told tale
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    signing up that's all for this time
  • 00:42:21
    we'll be back next week with part two of
  • 00:42:24
    the story I hope you can join me
Tags
  • Franz Kafka
  • Metamorphosis
  • Gregor Samsa
  • Transformation
  • Insect
  • Kafkaesque
  • Bureaucracy
  • Isolation
  • Existential
  • Speculative Fiction