Franz Kafka’s novella The Metamorphosis explores social and economic alienation, a theme that remains strikingly relevant in Pakistan today.
In the story, Gregor Samsa awakens transformed into a strange creature and gradually becomes a burden to his family because he can no longer earn a living. Sadly, this fictional tragedy mirrors the experiences of many people in Pakistan. Unemployment, inflation, rising utility bills and limited job opportunities have left countless hardworking citizens struggling to support their families. When a person’s income disappears, respect and social standing often vanish with it.
Many educated graduates remain unemployed despite years of study, while salaried workers find it increasingly difficult to cope with the rising cost of living. Those who lose their jobs because of illness, disability or economic hardship frequently encounter neglect rather than compassion, leaving them isolated and emotionally exhausted, much like Gregor Samsa.
Kafka’s novel reminds us that people should be valued for their humanity, not merely their economic worth. The government should create more employment opportunities, strengthen social welfare programmes and ensure fair wages so that fewer people experience the loneliness, exclusion and loss of dignity portrayed in The Metamorphosis.
MUHAMMAD AHMAD MUZAKKI,
Kasur.
