The Cockroach

Ian McEwan's satire shows us the world we live in.

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In the face of Brexit, Ian McEwan, the bestselling author, felt despair as he was in favor of remaining in the European Union. What he experienced as a citizen inspired him to write this short novel, following the model of Franz Kafka's Metamorphosis. In his book however, the insect has taken over the body of the British Prime Minister.

In this parallel universe, as in real life, there are also two political antagonists: Clockwisers and Reversalists. The latter seek to establish a reversal flow of money, a rather radical economic theory. Perhaps as radical as choosing to leave the European Union? One might wonder since this new law would impact every aspect of life.

“There drifted through the PM´s mind a number of compelling answers, though he did not utter them. Because. Because that´s what we´re doing. Because that´s what we believe in. Because that´s what we said we´d do. Because that´s what people said they wanted. Because I´ve come to the rescue. Because. That, ultimately was the only answer: because”.

Ian McEwan puts forward the question of what is considered shame in politics? What legitimacy are our leaders providing?

Like Kafka, the author strives to depict modern times. From a political standpoint, readers are left with a sense of meaningless emptiness, a lack of resolution since no one really can give us the answers we are after.

With insights into real-life characters, McEwan reflects in his writing the crazy world we live in.