#KAFKA METAMORPHOSIS SERIES#

Khullar’s article.īelow are some ideas for connecting Kafka’s novella to these bigger essential questions, as well as options for going further to explore other aspects of the story with the help of The Times and Learning Network resources. As students face their own metamorphosis from childhood to adulthood, this open-ended exploration of human nature helps them become thoughtful and interconnected adults, able to withstand the social isolation so hauntingly described in Mr. But it’s never too early to build these muscles, either. This is how a classic story like “The Metamorphosis” can find deep resonance with adults in a workplace context. It’s never too late to ponder the great essential questions of humanity.

Through his story, Kafka forces us to consider how much we define our humanity by the work we do and the company we keep. Unable to communicate, Gregor finds his sense of self - and his family and work relationships - in deep crisis. In “The Metamorphosis,” the traveling salesman Gregor Samsa wakes one morning to find that he has been transformed into a hideous bug. So many of his stories feature disaffected human beings, who push the envelope on what makes them human and where they fail. For a man who wrote in a decidedly different era, his voice resonates through the decades. Kafka is a treasure trove for these kinds of explorations. And yet, his themes and ideas are so prevalent that choosing a New York Times article to pair with his classic 1915 novella “The Metamorphosis” was hard - not for the lack of articles but for the challenge of narrowing it down to just one. It’s easy to assume that these stories have nothing to do with the world we live in today. The organization uses professor-faciliated discussions of “The Metamorphosis” and many other classic and contemporary stories, both fiction and nonfiction, to bring colleagues together, from the shop floor to the management suite, to reflect on ideas and issues, explore essential human questions, and create community.įranz Kafka wrote such odd and affecting stories that he left behind his own adjective: Many use the word “ Kafkaesque” to describe strange and nightmarish situations embedded in everyday life. breaks down barriers, builds connections and fosters inclusion, trust and respect in work settings of all kinds.

#KAFKA METAMORPHOSIS SERIES#

This edition of our Text to Text series was suggested and co-written by Ann Kowal Smith, executive director of.

Kafka metamorphosis