<Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis begins with a shocking event. One morning, Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman, wakes up and finds that he has changed into a huge insect. His back has become hard like a shell, his stomach is round and brown, and he has many small legs. At first, he thinks it might be a dream, but he soon realizes that it is real.
Even though Gregor's body has changed, his mind is still the same. He does not think much about his strange appearance. Instead, he worries about going to work on time. Gregor works as a travelling salesman and earns money to support his parents and his younger sister, Grete. His family depends completely on him. He does not enjoy his job because it is tiring, but he continues working because he loves his family and wants to pay off his parents' debts.
Gregor looks at the clock and realizes that he has overslept. He has missed his early train. He becomes worried because he has never been late for work before. He fears that his boss will be angry and may even send someone from the office to find out why he is absent.
Soon, Gregor's mother knocks on his bedroom door and tells him that it is time to go to work. Gregor tries to answer, but his voice has changed into a strange squeaking sound. His mother thinks he is simply feeling sick. Then his father and sister also call him. They become worried because Gregor is still inside his room. Gregor tells them that he will come out soon, but they cannot understand the difficulty he is facing.
Gregor tries hard to get out of bed. This is very difficult because he now has many tiny legs instead of human arms and legs. He rolls from side to side and struggles to move. After many painful attempts, he finally falls onto the floor. Although he gets hurt a little, he is happy that he has managed to leave the bed.
A little later, the chief clerk (manager) from Gregor's office arrives at his house. He wants to know why Gregor has not come to work. Standing outside the locked door, the manager complains that Gregor has become careless in his work. He even suggests that Gregor cannot be trusted with the company's money. Gregor feels deeply hurt because he has always been an honest and hardworking employee.
Gregor tries to explain that he is only feeling unwell and will soon come to the office. However, his strange voice sounds like the noise of an insect. Nobody understands what he is saying. His family and the manager become even more frightened.
Gregor's mother becomes very upset and begins to cry. His sister Grete runs to call a doctor. His father asks for a locksmith because he wants the bedroom door to be opened. Everyone in the house becomes anxious and confused.
Gregor decides to open the door himself. Since he has no hands, he uses his strong jaws to turn the key. It is very painful, but after great effort he finally unlocks the door.
When the door opens, everyone sees Gregor's insect-like body. The manager is shocked and slowly walks backwards. Gregor's mother faints with fear. His father becomes angry. Nobody can believe what they are seeing.
Gregor still hopes that the manager will listen to him. He tries to follow him and explain everything. But the frightened manager quickly runs out of the house. Gregor realizes that he may lose his job, which is the only source of income for his family.
Seeing the manager leave, Gregor's father becomes even angrier. He picks up the manager's walking stick and a rolled newspaper. He chases Gregor back towards his room. Gregor tries to move, but it is very difficult with his new body. As he squeezes through the doorway, his body gets badly hurt. Finally, his father pushes him into the room and shuts the door. Gregor is left alone, injured, frightened, and helpless.
The first chapter ends sadly. Gregor has become an outsider in his own home. His family cannot understand him and reacts with fear instead of sympathy. Through Gregor's story, Kafka shows how loneliness, family responsibility, misunderstanding, and the pressures of modern life can make a person feel isolated.>