The philosophical stance about the existence of being and the meaning of life has been a widely discussed subject among philosophers and critics. Existentialism says that a man can construct his own meaning of life by making judicious use of his awareness, free wills and personal responsibilities, but absurdism believes that there is no meaning of life out there. The focus of this study is to explore the absurdist and existential aspects in Kafka's fiction The Metamorphosis (1915) and The Trial (1925). This is qualitative comparative research, and the data which have been collected for this purpose is through purposive sampling techniques. In this study, Camus' theory of absurdism and theory of existentialism has been adopted as a theoretical framework. The study explores in what ways the traces of absurdism and existentialism are present in Kafka's fiction The Metamorphosis and The Trial. The findings show that characteristics of absurdism and existentialism are found in both the works of Kafka and are comparable with each other. For future recommendations, a comparative stylistic analysis of these selected novels can be carried out.

This study explores Kafka's "Metamorphosis" using a modernistic lens. The study employs a qualitative method, analyzing textual lines through the ideas of modernism presented by Berry (1995). Findings reveal that Kafka employed experimental writing techniques of symbolism and stream of consciousness to depict elements of hope and the human connection with himself. Moreover, "Metamorphosis" contains modernistic themes of dehumanization, existential crisis, fear, violence, and absurdity. All these themes signify the degradation of Samsa to the extent that he ultimately meets his death. This study paves the way for academia to perceive literature in a broader sense rather than confining it to a single lens of interpretation.