episode_0081

As with all of Kafka’s novels, there is infinite room for interpretation in the work of Metamorphosis.

If we focus on the internal change of heart and despair that Gregor feels, we can talk about ‘the social alienation felt by family members who can no longer work in a capitalist society’, and from a philosophical perspective, it is a story about the primal human beings who are no different from insects. It discusses ‘existence’, and there are countless interpretations from the perspective of psychoanalysis or literary history.

Readers’ impressions are also varied.

People who are familiar with Jewish humor using fables will giggle and laugh while reading this book, readers who are sensitive to absurdity will be repulsed by the ‘unrealistic’ situation itself and will find it difficult to immerse themselves in it, and readers who are familiar with the use of sentences and symbols will find it an amazing ‘literary story’. It could have been fun. Or, there may be people who sympathize with Gregor’s emotions and feel discomfort or pity.

but.

As expected, it could be said that it was a quite unusual development that led to the inspiration of ‘a beetle becomes a hero and saves people’.

I think this is also the result of my past life being recreated in this world, but I’m not sure.

In fact, this was not the first time in this world that a reaction similar to that of a previous life occurred.

Just as sane people are all sane in similar ways, it would be good to think of all crazy people as being crazy in similar ways.

“Then what is the ‘impression’ that the writer has in mind?”

“You mean me?”

Publisher’s drawing room. Princess Is, who was having a brief chat about ‘transformation’ with me, suddenly asked a question as if she was curious.

After transcending, I completely no longer felt ‘fear’ when looking at Princess Is.

Now, to me, Princess Is was just a tomboy who loved to read, sitting on the publisher’s sofa and swinging her legs up and down.

“Yes. I also want to hear the creator’s opinion.”

“Umm.”

Contrary to her misunderstanding, I am not the real creator of ‘Transformation’.

He is just a plagiarist who stole literature from his previous life.

Therefore, it was difficult to give a hasty answer. This is because I have no idea how Franz Kafka felt when he wrote this novel.

That’s why I keep my mouth shut and blurt my words.

Princess Is whined playfully, waving her arms as if there was no need for it.

“Chi, it’s okay. If you don’t want to tell me, you don’t have to. I wasn’t expecting anything, well.”

“Haha… . Sorry.”

“Hehe, I will forgive you. And, what’s really important can only be seen with the heart, right? No matter what explanation I received from the author… In the end, what matters is what I felt after reading the book.”

“Well, princess, how did you read ‘Metamorphosis’?”

“Wow, you didn’t answer when I asked, but you’re asking me? Chi.”

“… … .”

“But, that’s right. I am… Just an old thought came to mind.”

“Thinking of old times… What do you mean?”

“The time when I was called Idris. I also transformed once. Hehehe.”

“Ah.”

“In my case, I would say I went from a beetle to a human.”

“… … .”

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The third prince of the empire. Idris was a bright child.

While other children were learning to speak, Idris learned to read and write, and while other children were learning arithmetic, Idris studied geometry directly from the Empire’s renowned scholars.

Although he could not become emperor because of his older brothers, anyone who knew Idris’ intelligence had no doubt that Idris would elevate the name of the imperial family.

“How embarrassed my father was when I, who was so intelligent, decided to wear women’s clothes and define myself as a woman… Hehe, can you imagine? The emperor, who seems to have no blood or tears, is perplexed and his eyes are trembling like a lost sheep.”

“I have never had an audience with His Majesty, so I don’t know.”

“Oh, really? Anyway, it seems like my father was pretty desperate too. He said that he was possessed by the devil and went to see an exorcist. He also said that he was clearly mentally ill and paid a thousand gold to the lord of the purple magic tower to ask for a diagnosis. I even went to the Black Magic Tower with the feeling of grasping at straws… Well, the results are all normal.”

A prince of an empire who defines himself as a ‘woman.’

Her existence itself was disrespectful to the imperial family. ‘Social minorities’ are objects of respect, not respect. People can be charitable to help minorities, but they cannot be loyal to and follow minorities. If her existence were even made known to the outside world, the authority of the imperial family would fall to the ground at that moment.

The empire is the kingdom of the emperor, but also the kingdom of the parliament and the church. Her existence was a fatal weakness both politically and religiously.

“The Iron-Blooded Emperor heard the diagnosis… What could you have done? To protect the authority of the imperial family, he personally locked his daughter in the room. When there is a need to participate in an external event, Enoch acts as a stand-in, and as if that were not enough, he attaches several doubles as bodyguards… . I don’t know, but I’m sure there are a few people who made fun of me and ended up running away because of me. Because sometimes the person who served me changed.”

She could enjoy anything within the narrow room of the palace.

Delicious food made from all ingredients of heaven, earth, and sea, the most expensive and beautiful jewels, servants who can move with the tip of their fingers, and chivalry who will sacrifice their lives for the prince. Whatever she wanted, the emperor gave it to her without any word of refusal.

Sometimes it seemed like he wanted me to ask him more.

I’m not sure if it was the guilt I felt as a father or the relief I felt as an emperor. Anyway, as long as she has what she wants inside that small room, she won’t try to go outside the palace.

“Who can imagine? The most luxurious prison in the world.”

One thing is certain.

The emperor no longer loved her.

On the contrary, sometimes, he even blatantly loathed her dressed as a woman. As much as the emperor missed the ‘intelligent prince’, he hated the ‘crazy prince’.

Idris was born like that from the time he was born, so even though the two were in fact no different at all.

Your favorite music, your little habits, your love for your family… .

Even though nothing has changed, Idris has become a ‘beetle’ simply because she defines herself as a ‘woman’.

“Ah, my father no longer loves me. I was too young to admit that. So I tried to rebel, I tried to run away, I tried various things… I ended up quitting everything. The more I did this, the stronger my view of my father as a ‘madman’ became. Since I gave up everything like that, from then on, they let me go a little more freely. Just like when I first met the author, I was able to go on a personal outing… Wow, I was really surprised when the writer recognized me.”

“Ah, she was pretending to be a maid at that time. I remember.”

“It was like that. So, um, I see. You asked my thoughts on the transformation, right? For me, transformation is… It was a story about love. Actually, loving your family is not as easy as you think!”

In the end, all the stories so far were merely prefaces to expand upon the ‘impressions’ of the work.

She smiled brightly and continued speaking, like a girl telling her friend about her favorite book.

“Even if something absurd like a normal person turning into a beetle doesn’t happen… With just the slightest chance, love can turn into hate, right? They say family love is noble and flawless, but… In the end, it’s just an emotion. It can’t last forever.”

“Do you blame His Majesty?”

“No?”

“Yes?”

“No, well, I was definitely very resentful before… It’s just like that these days. Just as love is not eternal, hate is also not eternal. Oh, I went for a walk with my father a few days ago. Hehehe.”

“… … .”

“Even if Gregor had returned to human form, the family would not have been able to love him ‘like before’. The family has already gotten used to Gregor’s empty seat, and each person has found their own role and no longer needs Gregor.”

“… … .”

” As Gregor kept repeating, everything won’t be okay as if he woke up from a nightmare, and the memories of the time when he was a ‘beetle’ for quite some time might make things awkward for each other.”

“… … .”

“But that doesn’t mean the family can’t love Gregor anymore, right? Maybe you’ll love again in a new way. It may not be the love Gregor hoped to find back, but… If love is not eternal in the first place, there is no need to expect the same love forever.”

“… … .”

“The story leaked a bit, but that’s the conclusion anyway!”

She smiles brightly like the sun.

He declared with a voice as consistent as a sunflower.

“This novel wasn’t my taste. Next time, please give me a better novel.”

“… Huh.”

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[“Gregor felt deep love as he thought of his family.”]

[“His conviction that he should disappear from this world was firmer than his sister’s criticism.”]

[“Gregor fell into quiet and peaceful reflection. Everything began to brighten at dawn. Then, without his consent, his head fell to the floor, and his last breath came out.”]