La historia del joven Gregorio Samsa, convertido de la noche a la mañana en un insecto, tiene elementos de la peor pesadilla (la naturalidad con la que asume la transformación irreversible, la inminencia del inevitable desenlace), pero puede ser leída como una parábola sobre la vida familiar. No es extraño entonces que La metamorfosis sea hoy un texto de culto entre los jóvenes.
Set against the backdrop of a young man's inaugural voyage to the East, the story is narrated by Charles Marlow, a recurring character in Conrad's works. The narrative explores themes of youth and adventure, contrasting with the maturity and aging depicted in the other stories of the collection. This autobiographical tale, first published in 1898 and later included in a 1902 volume alongside "Heart of Darkness," marks a significant moment in Marlow's chronological development within Conrad's literary universe.