The Metamorphosis

A novella by Franz Kafka

If there’s one

piece of fiction which takes the reader right into a gripping tale with its very first sentence, it could be Franz Kafka’s We see the protagonist Gregor Samsa waking up one morning to find himself changed into a monstrous vermin. No, he isn’t dreaming, as we too might think; it’s a reality.

A travelling salesman and a workaholic, who is in a rat race to support his parents and sister, and eating whatever he can in between like a scurrying bug, what else can he be transformed into? As we read on, we realise how work-related stress and obsessions, especially in a capitalist society, can ruin one person’s life.

It’s a life marred by guilt and withheld love; a life imprisoned by debts and commitments; a life that seems to have no significant

Mohammed Al Hinai

Drifting Pilot meaning except death. It’s exactly 100 years since Kafka scripted this great work, and human beings still get transformed into nameless vermin, replaceable cogs in a machine, and die as nonentities. shatters the present day society’s notions about ambition, hard work, success, and significance of each and every individual whether at work or at home.

Here, Gregor has exhausted himself as a provider, and suddenly can work no more due to this irreversible illness. The situation demands his idle parents and sister to work and become the providers. Now it’s their turn to scurry and become ambitious. Gregor, in spite of his transformation, thinks like human, but other members in the family, who were all parasites till then,

Why Do You Love It?

It’s my urge for adrenaline. And fortunately we have a facility here where I can enjoy drifting in a safe environment.

How Did You Get Into It?

I was doing drifting on the streets of Al Mabelah. One day I landed in jail after the Royal Oman Police picked me during a drifting session. It changed my life forever. It forced me to abandon drifting on the streets. I began using the OAA arena to polish my skills. And I made some podium finishes in OAA’s Drift Challenge.

How Can I Get Into It?

It is dangerous to drift in public places. You may escape accidents, but you may end up in jail. It will cause big problems in your personal life. You should practice the sports in a safe environment, like the Oman Automobile Association drift arena. Many youngsters feel that the safe environment will take the sheen out of the sport. But it is not true. The rules are made to protect the drivers.

What’s Your Pro-Tip?

First time drifters must notify the attendant and receive a track orientation and all drivers must be registered to drive. They should be wearing long pants, covered shoes, a shirt that covers the shoulders, and a racing helmet. Racing suits are strongly encouraged and helmets must remain on and strapped as long as your vehicle is on the track. Anyone, who has a valid licence, can use the arena. But they have to comply with OAA’s rules and regulations. Those who wish to take part in drifting competitions should become a member of OAA and obtain competition licence. At present, the country has only one dedicated drift arena at the Oman Automobile Association (OAA) campus that meets the essential safety conditions. The drifting arena provides a safe environment for drifters to polish their skills and also ensures safety of spectators. Contact OAA: Phone: (+968) 24510239, (+968) 24510 630, E-Mail: info@omanauto.org, omanauto@ omantel.net.om, Web: www.omanauto.org start scurrying like insects and wish to get rid of him.

The family’s lack of interest in taking care of Gregor becomes clear when Grete, his sister who was kicking some food into him daily, asks a servant to take over. Gregor slowly realises the need to stop bothering his family and stops eating. He has lost his taste for food. But the true hunger remains: the hunger for love.

Gregor’s hunger for love swells which can only enhance his family’s revulsion towards him. The three lodgers the Samsas take in are privileged to dine in the parlour while Gregor is in total misery in his room, all alone. When his sister screams that ‘it’ (Gregor) must go from the house, it’s time for his ultimate realisation on his life’s whole purpose, in an era of industrialism. And the readers can start searching for parasites and abusers in disguise in their life.

Kafka, through this work, makes the readers ponder seriously at the life’s true meaning, which gets lost or distorted by the concepts of work, and victimisation at workplace or in the society.