Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of The Metamorphosis. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Gregor Samsa, who woke up transformed into a giant insect, dies alone in his room after being wounded by an apple his father threw and rejected by his family. His family feel relief, take a tram to the countryside and notice that his sister Grete has grown into a young woman ready for marriage.
Quick facts
– Book: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
– First published: 1915
– Type: A novella
– Tone of the ending: Bleak
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Gregor, a travelling salesman who supports his parents and sister, wakes one morning as a monstrous insect. His family is horrified. Grete feeds him at first, but they grow resentful.
What Happens at the End of The Metamorphosis
Money is short, so the family takes in three lodgers and moves junk into Gregor's room. One evening Grete plays the violin for the lodgers, and Gregor, moved by the music, crawls into the living room. The lodgers see him, announce they are leaving without paying, and the family is humiliated. Grete declares that the creature is not Gregor and that they must get rid of it. Gregor, weak from hunger and the rotting apple lodged in his back, crawls back to his room and dies peacefully that night, thinking of his family with love. The cleaning woman sweeps out his body. The parents and Grete write letters to excuse themselves from work and take a tram into the sunny countryside, making plans for a smaller flat and noticing that Grete has become a lovely young woman.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Gregor dies.
- The family is relieved.
- Grete grows up.
- The ending is ironic.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Gregor Samsa | Dies |
| Grete Samsa | Ready for marriage |
| Mr. and Mrs. Samsa | Relieved |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows alienation and the conditional love of family.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers debate what Gregor's transformation means: illness, disability, depression, or the way a family treats someone once he stops earning money. Kafka insisted that the insect should never be drawn on the book's cover.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Alienation. Gregor is isolated.
Family. Love depends on usefulness.
Identity. Gregor loses himself.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of The Metamorphosis as bleak. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Franz Kafka to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are bleak will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Franz Kafka closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading The Metamorphosis with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about alienation, and do you agree with Franz Kafka's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as bleak, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces alienation and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Franz Kafka leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in The Metamorphosis often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of The Metamorphosis earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
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Books to Read After The Metamorphosis
- The Trial by Franz Kafka
- Notes from Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Related: The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like The Metamorphosis You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of The Metamorphosis?
Gregor Samsa, who woke up transformed into a giant insect, dies alone in his room after being wounded by an apple his father threw and rejected by his family. His family feel relief, take a tram to the countryside and notice that his sister Grete has grown into a young woman ready for marriage.
Is the ending of The Metamorphosis happy or sad?
Most readers call it bleak.
What does the ending of The Metamorphosis mean?
The ending shows alienation and the conditional love of family.
Who wrote The Metamorphosis and when was it published?
The Metamorphosis was written by Franz Kafka and first published in 1915.
Is The Metamorphosis worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy novellas. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Franz Kafka prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read The Metamorphosis before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.