https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl To demonstrate understanding of the big ideas explored in Kafka’s The Metamorphosis, step either into the shoes of Gregor, our main character, or into those of another character such as Grete, the mother, the father, the charwoman, or the boss. Compose a letter expressing your thoughts and feelings. Say what “needs to be said.” Show your knowledge of the text by including relevant details. Begin your letter of at least 10-12 sentences with “Dear… ,” and be sure to sign it at the end. en-us 2019-02-21 16:08:07 UTC 2019-03-01 00:32:02 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336375102 Dear Grete,
Firstly, I would like to apologize for abandoning you and the family with my unfortunate "illness". However, nothing more can be done about my physical state, and it can be firmly believed that I will not be returning to my former physical being before the time of death. I write this as I lay in exhaustion on my bedroom floor, with father's apple lodged into my back. I wanted to write this to you now because I believe that, as I lay here upon my bedroom floor, I lay on my death bed. I never told you about my plans to send you to music school to study violin. Little by little, I began taking small chunks of my paycheck and setting it aside for your music school tuition, so that one day you would be able to attend and shine brightly there. You are an extremely talented, bright young woman, and I wish I could see you truly blossom playing violin at the Conservatory. I also want to thank you for taking care of me for the past few months, and I feel extremely guilty for being so helpless and scaring you away at times. All those countless times you had to clean my room and go out of your way to feed me have not gone unnoticed, atleast not by me. Moreover, I could always understand you when you spoke, for I can still understand English, however, I cannot speak English due to my physical state. I heard all of the times you quietly mumbled to yourself and defended me to father. I cannot begin to express how much shame I felt as I watched you, my baby sister, have to take care of me, a full grown man (will full grown insect). No matter my psychical state, it is difficult for me to accept that you had to put your dreams aside to care for me, however, I will forever be grateful for your kindness. Anyways, I left all the money I was going to use for your tuition behind the picture of the woman in furs on my wall. Once again, I am truly sorry for ruining your life, along with mother and father's. Tell them I'm sorry and that I love them.


                                With much love,
                                            Gregor]]> 2019-02-28 13:28:00 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336375102 https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336375480 Dear mother,

I know I am too late to appeal to Grete, who has adopted my mind in addition to her own, or father, who cannot acknowledge my presence with even a hint of empathy. I want you to know that I understand both your words and what you are going through. When you suggested to let my furniture remain, you filled me with a sense of hope. I know how frightened you are of what I have become, but I know you know deep down that I am still your boy. I only feel sickness at seeing the nervous wreck you have become. You may love father, but you also know that he holds you and Grete back. I am so glad to see you two out in the working world, though I wish I could help relieve some of your fatigue. Grete most likely has not mentioned to you that I am ignoring my food. She does not want to worry you, nor does she want to suggest that she is not capable of taking care of me. I fear I don't have much time left, but I want you to know that I see potential in you just like I do Grete. Do not fear my father as you do me, do not fall into grief when I am gone, and do not let Grete be tied down as you were. No matter what happens, know that I love you.

Forever your little boy,
~Gregor]]> 2019-02-28 13:28:57 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336375480 19hanashiann https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336376954 Dear Grete,
Although you may believe that my unfortunate transformation has taken away the Gregor you once knew, I am still here and wanted to leave a few last words with you. As I lay on my bedroom floor in exhaustion, I wanted to thank you for all the kind gestures you have done. You are truly the only family member who treated me with nothing but kindness as you continuously fed me and moved the furniture so I would have more room. Not to mention, I have heard all the times you defended  me from father. Although I cannot speak, I can still hear. However, I would like apologize for the happenings that occurred after my transformation. Ever since I became a young man, all I wanted to do was support the family so you, Mother, and Father could live comfortable lives. I've failed to keep up with my duties as my transformation has driven you, Mother and Father to go to work. I promise you that you will not have to live the life I was living in and you won't have to work to support our family. Before my transformation into this bug, I had never mentioned my plan to send you to the Conservatory. You truly are a talented violinist, and I refuse for that to go to waste! Slowly by slowly, I've saved money up for your tuition and fortunate, I have saved enough for you. Your kind gestures toward me will not go to waste as I have left money for you at the bank. I made a separate account for you. I don't have much time left as I am getting weaker by the minute and exhaustion is taking over. I hope you can understand how sorry I truly am for bringing this unfortunate occurrence onto the family. Please don't let this letter bring you sadness, only joy because I know you are going to do great things in this world and one-hundred percent make me proud.
                                 Love your brother,
Gregor]]> 2019-02-28 13:32:03 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336376954 https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336377189 Dear Gregor,
I feel as though I have things to say before you are gone for good. Your wretched situation has turned our lives upside down. I've lost my brother to an ugly and disgusting bug! It has forced our elder father into work and I have had to risk my own safety just to take care of you. Not to mention our poor, innocent mother has been experiencing severe anxiety over this transformation. Although at one point I felt sympathy for you, that is long gone. It seems as though now, you are just a bug and no longer the Gregor I once knew and loved. I feel pity for our family which at one point was perfect. I imagined it would be lonely without you however, since you left it has never been happier. Surely you can understand the situation you have put us in and can understand why I feel the way I do. I am so thankful for all of your support in my music and I will forever cherish the moments we had together as brother and sister. However those moments are over now and it is time for father, mother and I to move on since you are never coming back.
With love,
Grete]]> 2019-02-28 13:32:42 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336377189 19furtadom https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336378204 Dear Grete,

You've always been so kind to me in my times of need, especially recently, when I think I've needed you the most. I fear the unfortunate body that my metamorphosis has left me to live in will be the one that I inevitably die in. That being said, I feel compelled to tell you some things in the form of a letter, as it seems you can't understand my speech. Firstly, I'm grateful for your faith that this monstrous vermin in place of me is in reality still me underneath. The belief that I am gone increases more and more each day in the eyes of our parents, I don't think I would have survived this long without your care and protection. I wish desperately that I could continue to work to provide for the family and importantly to send you to music school to develop your already striking talent on the violin but I can't imagine an employer who would take me. It pains me to think of our father or mother being forced to work but I don't think there will be any alternative. I'm writing this letter simply to tell you that I'm sorry to have left the family in such a position and that my gratitude for what you have done for me is unending. I wish you the best in your life, and hope you will grow to be a successful woman.
Sincerely,
Gregor]]> 2019-02-28 13:35:09 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336378204 https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336378482 Dear Gregor,
I know this letter comes much too late-- that anything I say now is useless-- but these words need to be said, even if whatever grave the Charwoman chose out for you prevents you from hearing them.
I am so sorry I gave up on you.
I wish I could say that I no longer believed you were my son and that that is why I allowed you to waste away-- but that is far from the truth. The moment you came out of your room for the first time and I saw you, a part of me recognized you immediately as my son-- but it took me a while to acknowledge that part of me because it was swamped by fear, disgust, and your father and sister's insistence that I should not be exposed to you.
I should have been seen you then. I should have ignored the wishes of your father and Grete, I should have insisted on seeing you-- on being there for you-- I should have demanded your door be unlocked at once and invite you back into the family parlor...
But you know me, Gregor. You know I am weak-willed-- you've known it from the day I stopped persuading your father to get a job and allowed you to take his place as the family provider-- but don't think this means that I don't-- didn't-- care about you.
I tried to show you this-- by helping Grete clean out your room, by saving you from your father's wrath-- but in the end, when I resigned myself to your father and sister's belief that you were no longer our Gregor, perhaps I just didn't care enough.
I am so sorry my son,
with love,
your mother]]> 2019-02-28 13:35:48 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336378482 https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336379170 Dear Gregor,

If you want to have a job tomorrow when you wake up, I suggest whatever stunt you're trying to pull is suppressed by the time you finish reading my letter. I don't have the time, patience, or quite frankly the sympathy to deal with your insubordination. I've caught wind about the absence of our chairwoman as a result of the mental trauma you've inflicted. I don't know what possessed you to chase her from your house, but her absence is costing me a tremendous amount of money. Speaking of money, your parents still have a considerable outstanding debt to me. You're an asset to our company, but a replaceable asset. The debt of your parents outweighs the value you bring to my business. I would hate to start a cease and desist process, but I'm not of afraid of you. I'm not afraid of anyone Gregor. Consider this a warm and rare extension of patience for you to get yourself on the train and to back to work tomorrow, as planned. 

Cordially,
Your Boss]]> 2019-02-28 13:37:24 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336379170 https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336381032 Dear Gregor,
I should have told you how I truly feel about you when I had the chance. Now, since you're gone, It's far too late. However, I'm writing this letter on my own expense, I believe it will take all the weight off my shoulders. I know It seemed as if I resented you throughout your life, especially when you transformed into a bug. You worked a terrible job just to pay off our debts, and I never once thanked you for it. I was angry for what happened with my business and I realized that I shouldn't have been blaming anyone but my business for what happened. I show resentment towards you, but in the back of my mind I knew I was proud of you for taking up a position to help us. I'm also proud of your sister for helping you when you most needed it. I couldn't stand to look at you because I no longer saw my son. I felt angry when I figured out what happened to you because you couldn't go to work and help us anymore. I never wanted to go back to working, however I did it for the family because we needed the money. All of the work just added more stress and anger upon me. I apologize for the way I treated you, but I know it's far too late to tell you that. 

Sincerely,
Dad ]]> 2019-02-28 13:41:19 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336381032 https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336381614 Dear Grete, 
After the relationship we shared, it is easy to conclude you would do anything for me, despite the circumstance; so I thought. When I underwent my sudden transformation, you were there for me like no one else. Whether it was bringing me food, or providing help for me when I felt pain, or moving the furniture for my satisfaction, I always knew you were the person I could count on. While my transformation was sudden, you were the family member that kept me together, and always treating me with respect. I always hoped for your dreams to come true, and I knew my role as a family member was to help everyone financially however, I would like to apologize for my metamorphosis, as it caused a great divide in our family. While I understand why you switched on me, I wanted to let you know I came through with my responsibilities. I had enough savings hidden from mom and dad so you could become the professional violinist you dreamt of all your life. I have to go now, but I will always love you, Grete.
Sincerely,
Gregor]]> 2019-02-28 13:42:10 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336381614 https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336382389 Dear Grete,
I would like to apologize for abandoning and turning away from our family due to my sudden, unfortunate "illness" turning me into a bug. I never meant for this to happen and I'm sorry for letting the family down the way I did. Although this is so sudden, I do have a few last words for the family and especially you. I want to thank you for all the kindness you have showed me throughout this journey and for being truly the only person who has showed love. You moved my room around for my comfort, and fed me food. I'm sorry for everything that happened after my transformation and for not being able to live up to my duty as a family member to take care of you, dad, and mom. Im making sure that you will not live the tragic life that I did and you will go to school to play the violin. Your talent will not go to waste! Please take care. 

Gregor]]> 2019-02-28 13:43:28 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336382389 19gramajob https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336383266 Dear Grete, 
First and foremost I want to apologize for my failure to provide for you and mother and father. There's nothing I wish more than to be able to look out for you guys and especially send you to music school. I really wish that this transformation never happened to me because it halted me from giving you an opportunity at a passionate career, something I've never experienced. After seeing your violin playing it really hurt me to know there was nothing I could do to help you. This feeling of helplessness and shame really made me isolate myself from the family, and I apologize if I ever made you guys feel that I didn't love you. I will always appreciate you taking care of me and wanting to be the only one to help me. It made me feel special in a time when my physical appearance did the opposite. Lastly, I want you to know that I don't look at you differently after you chose to get rid of me. You've loved me and I understand your decision as I was just holding the family back rather than pushing them forward. I felt a similar feeling of being void of life. I wish the best for your future, follow your dreams and thank you for all of your help when I really needed it.

Love, 
Gregor]]> 2019-02-28 13:45:16 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336383266 19madonnat https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336383296 Dear Grete,
First off, I would like to say I'm sorry for doing this to you and the rest of the family. I don't know how or why I turned into this monstrous vermin, but I thank you for looking past my outside and making sure I had everything I needed. I feel so ashamed and guilty that I am no long able to provide for you guys, and I became an embarrassment to the family. I would also like to thank you for being the one to take care of me during this time of trouble. I want to tell you that your violin playing is the I wish nothing more than to see you go to music school and continue with your dream. I only wish I could be there to help you and watch you succeed. I hope you follow your dreams and live a happy life, and not dread going to work everyday like I do.

Love, 
Gregor]]> 2019-02-28 13:45:19 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336383296 https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336383513 Dear Grete, 
I know this is late because you can no longer understand my speech. I want you to know that the bug in my room that you concluded was not me, was actually me. I want to thank you for taking care of me as long as you did, because nobody else would. I am thankful that you had enough sympathy to at least come in my room, unlike our careless father. I know our mother cared somewhat, but not as much as you. I understand that I was a burden to the family and why you felt the way you did after a while. I thank you for trying to take care of me and making sure I was comfortable and fed all the time. I am sorry for what has happened to me, I feel ashamed and guilty of it all. I know the family needs money and I am no longer able to provide for you. I want you to know that your violin playing is the best I've heard and I have always wanted to send you off to music school. Keep studying and working hard in French. I wish you all the best and I hope your dreams get to come true for you.
              Your brother, 
 - Gregor

]]> 2019-02-28 13:45:47 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336383513 https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336388576 Dear Family,
I miss you guys and I apologize for having to leave the way I did. I wish the whole metamorphosis never happened to me and I continued waking up every morning at the same time to go to my job. Speaking of my job, I'm sorry for not being able to pay off your debt and causing you guys to have to go to work. I would like to thank Grete and Mom for being so helpful to me. Grete, you played a huge roll in giving me care when I was most vulnerable. I am so proud of her for the violinist she has become and I wish her the best of luck with that. Dad, I forgive you for when you threw that apple at my back. I wish all of you the best luck in the future and I miss you all so much. 

Love,
Gregor]]> 2019-02-28 13:55:58 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336388576 https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336528468 Dear Grete,
Although writing this letter was painfully difficult, I could not let your efforts to help me go without recognition and a "thank you."  This transformation was as much of a shock to me as it was to you, and I could never apologize enough for what has happened to me. In many ways I let both you, mother, and father down, not being able to continue my work as a salesman. Although I try my hardest, even doing the most simple of tasks is impossible for me.  That is why I must thank you for the help you provided for me when I needed it most.  You cared and helped me when no one else would.  I could never thank you enough. Although I may not be able to help you, I wish more than anything that you achieve your dreams in music and in life.  My final wish for you to help me with is to attend the music school and achieve a life that was better than mine.
Thank you for everything,
Gregor]]> 2019-02-28 17:35:13 UTC https://padlet.com/boylejulie/w8zlpdlk61yl/wish/336528468