Exploring Metamorphosis Through a New Lens: Diary Entries from the Author’s Perspective
In our Book Club, 1st-grade high school students have been reading Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, and this month, they took a unique approach to engaging with the text. Students Mariana Gonzalez and Benjamin Saez crafted powerful diary entries from the perspective of Kafka himself, reflecting on the author’s inner turmoil and his experiences while writing the story.
Mariana’s diary entry delves deep into Kafka’s struggles with his emotions, family, and the fear of revealing his true self. She beautifully captures the tension Kafka may have felt as he wrestled with societal expectations and the burden of living inauthentically. Through Mariana’s writing, we see Kafka’s inner conflict between the desire to express his feelings and the fear of being misunderstood and rejected by his family.
Benjamin’s entry takes a slightly different angle, highlighting Kafka’s sense of helplessness and fear of losing control over his identity. Benjamin imagines Kafka confronting Gregor Samsa, the protagonist of Metamorphosis, and expressing his frustration with being unable to break free from his father’s expectations. Benjamin’s writing portrays a battle between the two, with Kafka fighting to assert his voice and control over his own story, while Gregor represents the oppressive forces Kafka felt trapped by.
Both entries reflect the students’ ability to engage critically with the text, drawing parallels between Kafka’s struggles and their own understandings of identity, family, and freedom. This exercise not only allowed the students to deepen their comprehension of Metamorphosis, but also gave them a platform to express their own insights into the themes of the novel, all while honing their writing skills in English.
We’re thrilled to see how Mariana and Benjamin have brought Kafka’s experiences to life through their writing. Their work demonstrates the power of literature to foster empathy and critical thinking while strengthening language skills.
Stay tuned for more updates as our students continue exploring Metamorphosis and other works that challenge their understanding of the world!
