Metamorphosis (Die Verwandlung)

The Metamorphosis

When Gregor Samsa

awoke one morning from troubled dreams

he found himself transformed in his bed into a monstrous vermin.

What has happened to me?

What if I went back to sleep

and forgot all this nonsense?

It wasn't a dream

There, quietly between the four familiar walls, was his room.

Over the table,

on which an array of cloth samples was spread out,

Samsa was a travelling salesman -

hung the picture

he had recently clipped from a magazine

and set in an attractive gilt frame.

Oh God, what a strenuous career it is that I've chosen!

On the road, day in, day out.

This getting up early makes one quite stupid.

It was half past six

and the hands were quietly moving forwards

One could see from the bed

that it had been set for four o'clock.

Certainly it must have rung out.

Heavenly Father, my train...

Gregor, it is quarter to seven. Didn't you want to go somewhere?

Gregor, aren't you well? Do you need anything?

Gregor, what's the matter?

Thank you mother, I'm getting up now.

I'm ready, now.

Open up, I beg of you.

One mustn't loaf around in bed.

Someone from work is here!

The chief clerk is here

I know!

The chief clerk has come and wants to know why you didn't leave on the early train.

We don't know what to say to him.

Besides, he wants to talk to you in person.

So please open the door!

He will be good enough to forgive the untidiness of the room.

Something's fallen down in there

Good morning, Mr. Samsa

He's not well.

He isn't well, please believe me.

Why else would Gregor

miss a train?

The boy thinks about nothing but the work.

He never goes out at night, on the contrary

He sits at the table with us,

Reading the newspaper or studies the timetables.

His idea of relaxation is working with his fretsaw.

He spent two evenings

cutting out a little picture frame

It's hanging in his room

You will be amazed how pretty it is.

You will see it presently!

When Gregor opens up

By the way, I am delighted that you have come.

We alone would have never been able to get him to open the door.

He must be unwell.

I am just coming.

I have no other explanation, dear madam

I hope it's nothing serious.

But on the other hand, I must say that we people in commerce

are quite often simply forced to overcome

a slight indisposition.

Can the chief clerk come in to see you now then?

No

Mr. Samsa

What is the matter?

You barricade yourself in your room,

respond only with "Yes" and "No"

Causing serious and unnecessary concern to your parents

and neglect your professional duties

In, as it were,

a monstrous manner!

Certainly, your position is not

the most secure

And your performance

has been dissatisfactory of late

It may not be the season for extraordinary business

but

a season

of doing no business at all

definitely does not exist.

Must not exist

Mr. Chief Clerk, I shall open immediately

A slight indisposition, an attack of dizziness prevented my getting up

I'm in bed again and I've calmed down now.

I am getting out of bed

Just give me a moment, spare my parents

All the accusations you make

have no basis

Perhaps you have not read the latest commissions I sent in

I will depart on the eight o'clock train

These few hours of rest have given me strength

Kindly be so good to send my regards to the director

Did you understand a word of that?

You don't suppose he's pulling our legs, do you?

Oh God!

He could be seriously ill and we're tormenting him

Grete

Mother?

You'll have to go for the doctor immediately

Did you hear Gregor just now?

To send my regards to the director!

The voice of an animal

Anna!

Get a locksmith at once!

Listen

He's turning the key

My dear

You, you

I'll get dressed straight away now, pack up my samples and set off.

Will you only let me go? Sir, you see

I am not stubborn and I enjoy working

Travelling is wearisome but I could not live without it

Where are you going now, sir?

To the office, I suppose. Will you report everything truthfully?

One can be temporarily unable to work

but that is just the right moment

to remember past accomplishments

and to consider that, later, once the difficulty has been removed

he will work with all the more diligence and concentration

I am under a great obligation to the director, you know that very well

On the other hand, I have responsibilities for my parents and my sister.

I am in a jam but I will work my way out of it.

Only don't make it any harder for me than it is already!

Give me your backing at the office.

The traveller is not popular there, I know.

It's thought that he earns sacks of money and just has a good time.

There is no particular cause to review this prejudice, but you, sir

You have a better overview of affairs

than the rest of the staff

Even, in confidence, than the director himself

Who, as an entrepeneur, too easily errs unfavourably

against the employee

And you also know that the traveller who is away from the office almost the whole year

May all too easily fall victim to gossip and to chance

and to baseless complaints

Against which he has no way of defending himself

since he mostly knows nothing about them

And when he returns exhausted from his travels

And only then suffers in person from their evil consequences

which he can no longer trace back to their original causes.

Chief Clerk, do not leave without

showing me by a word or two

that you at least partly agree with me!

Mother

You want to guzzle my coffee?

Go away, go away, you beast!

Gregor, come

Did you enjoy it?

Did he, did he eat anything?

Look what you've done

I'll never get that out of these trousers again

Is there hot water?

What am I going to wear? I wanted to go out

Heat up some hot water, will you

Yesterday he left it all untouched

But today he enjoyed his meal

Already in the course of that first day

his father set out the family's financial situation and prospects

to his mother and sister.

Now and then he rose from the table

and produced from his till

which he had rescued from the collapse of his business five years earlier

some certificate

or some savings book.

It had even happened that

various family jewels which the mother and sister

used to wear exuberantly at functions and celebrations

had been sold.

Gregor was now informed comprehensively,

since his father repeated his explanations several times

that in spite of all misfortune

an admittedly miniscule capital remained

which, in the meantime, had increased a little

because the dividends had not been touched.

Behind his door,

Gregor nodded eagerly

rejoiced at this unexpected foresight and thrift.

What's he doing now?

Would you like me to get you a beer?

I don't mind fetching it

Or I could ask the janitor's wife

Please let me see Gregor

He is my misfortunate son, after all

Can you not understand

that I must be with him?

No

Come in, Mother. He's nowhere to be seen.

And won't it seem that by removing the furniture

we indicate our giving up any hope of a recovery

and that we're ruthlessly abandoning him

No

Go away

Hello, what...

What has happened?

Mother fainted

But she's better now