In your essay, be sure to:

• Formulate a clear, defensible thesis that states your position on how Kafka constructs his critique.
• Use at least three specific scenes or passages from the novel as evidence (e.g., Josef K.'s arrest, his interactions with Court officials, his meeting with the painter Titorelli, or the final execution scene).
• Examine how literary and narrative techniques — such as unreliable perspective, surreal imagery, circular logic, and tone — strengthen Kafka's thematic message.
• Address a counterargument: some readers see Josef K. as partly responsible for his own downfall. Engage with this interpretation and explain why your view is more compelling.
• Conclude by linking Kafka's critique to a wider philosophical or historical context (e.g., existentialism, totalitarianism, or Enlightenment ideals of justice).

• Present a clear and defensible thesis regarding the Court as a symbol of institutional power.
• Analyze at least two specific scenes or passages in which Josef K.'s experiences with the legal system highlight his diminishing agency, identity, or rational autonomy.
• Explore how Kafka's narrative techniques — such as unreliable perspectives, circular reasoning, or complex settings — reinforce the theme of institutional dehumanization.
• Consider a counterargument: some readers argue that K.'s downfall is partly his own doing, driven by his pride or complicity. Engage with this perspective and discuss whether it strengthens or complicates your main argument.