Carefully read the Metamorphosis and outline the central themes. Central themes addressed by the Metamorphosis include alienation and isolation, guilt, money and power, bureaucracy, duty and obligation. Other themes are addressed in the novel as well. Write down examples in the novel that illustrate each of the themes.
Select one or two central themes for the essay. A well written essay should be focused and concise. Avoid attempting to address all the themes in the essay. Select one or two themes that you find the most insightful or interesting. Many literary critics regard alienation and isolation as the central element of Kafka's story. The German literary critic Walter Benjamin placed the emphasis on the conflicts surrounding duty and obligation.
Show how the themes are developed during the course of the story. For example, how is Gregor's physical isolation in his bedroom after the metamorphosis foreshadowed by his work as a traveling salesman prior to the metamorphosis? If you decide to focus on the theme of duty and obligation, consider the conflicts between Gregor's duty and obligations to his family and his family's duties and obligations to him. Is Kafka suggesting that we have moral obligations or is he criticizing the idea of obligation.
Write a rough draft of the essay. Once the ideas and thematic approach have been outlined, you are ready to write the essay. The first step is to write a rough draft. The actual writing process helps to think through and clarify your thoughts and ideas.
Critically read the rough draft of the essay. Delete repetitive words, sentences, and ideas. Clarify gaps or inconsistencies in your interpretation of Kafka. Organize the final version of the paper into a clear introduction, a main body, and a conclusion. The introduction should contain a concise and strongly written thesis. Tell the reader exactly what your take on Kafka is.