Writing Through The Night

Metamorphosis, episode 1. In which we explore how Kafka's correspondence with Felice Bauer in autumn 1912 provided both escape and anxiety, ultimately catalysing the creation of his famous novella.

Having explored ‘The Judgment’ in our previous discussion, I will now begin a new (probably weekslong) series focusing on The Metamorphosis. Readers wishing to follow along—you may want to dust off your copies of Kafka’s most famous novella. While subsequent essays will delve into close readings of the text, today, I’ll examine the turbulent biographical context of autumn 1912, when Kafka interrupted his work on his novel Amerika: The Missing Person and wrote his fantastical masterpiece. Understanding the personal crises and intense correspondence that marked this period might provide crucial insight into the psychological landscape from which Gregor Samsa, our monstrous slimy salesman, will soon emerge.

Let’s get straight to the point: in early October 1912, Franz Kafka contemplated committing suicide.

His mother’s constant demands that he take a more active role in the family’s struggling asbestos factory had become unbearable. Even his beloved sister Ottla, usually his ally, had side…