h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

First off, I'm curious how one can say this story is "obviously" a story about anything? This story is so outrageously surreal that to claim an obvious interpretation is ridiculous. For example, this story does not have to necessarily be about alienation; one other interpretation is Kafka's view on society's horrid treatment of the generally downtrodden (which would be one reason why he chooses to begin with what would normally be the climax of the story). It cracks me up to see the author, after discussing the "obvious" meaning of the story, to launch into a completely different interpretation.

I have a question concerning this second interpretation, though... one thing the discussion failed to address was the apple lodged in Gregor's back (or side). Well, that and the fact that the story is written in the third person, which makes it a little harder to conceive Gregor's own insanity than if the story had been written from his own perspective. But, as far as the apple... if Gregor was in fact, still human, how would an apple become lodged in his skin in the first place?