by David Wyllie
First published 2021
Gregor Samsa awakens in his bedroom to discover his body has changed into that of a massive insect. His limbs are now spindly and wire-thin. Hard segments cover his back. His familiar room feels alien. When his family finds him, they respond with revulsion and shock. His sister Grete becomes his caretaker, delivering meals and maintaining his space. His parents refuse to accept their son's new form. Gregor loses his job as a traveling salesman, eliminating his family's income source. Confined to his room, he relies entirely on others. The daily care becomes an increasing strain on his relatives. His physical change compels every family member to examine their beliefs about obligation, affection, and personal cost. The transformation extends far beyond Gregor's altered body, remaking all connections within the household and revealing the true nature of familial bonds under extreme pressure.
Genres: drama, classic-literature, literary-fiction, 20th-century, european-literature, psychological-horror
Vibes: alienating, dark, introspective, thought-provoking, tragic, unsettling
Tropes: body-horror, family-burden, loss-of-agency, social-alienation
Setting: Bedroom
Period: 20th-century
60 pages · Paperback · Independently Published
Content warnings: body-horror, emotional-abuse, mental-illness