Kafka's The Trial
The idea that Kafka writes surreal, nightmare visions of a horrifying world is a very popular reaction to his work, and in short stories such as Metamorphosis, there is an indisputable surrealism. However, like with the political interpretation of The Trial, it seems to me that Kafka is being pigeon-holed in a way that leaves many other outstanding themes unresolved. The sense of the ominous presence of inhuman forces lurking behind every corner, the ultimate futility of human plans, the persistent search for the perpetually absent Transcendent, and the lack of any finality all suggest that The Trial is a nightmare, a very frightening one indeed. K. is never able to reach the higher level officials, nor is he able to communicate with knowledgeable people in the field of law. It really make
And as the interaction between the two becomes more strenuous, Joseph K. doesn't discover why he was being executed, he doesn't meet any of the decision makers in his case, and he is murdered for a reason unknown to the reader. suddenly woke up from this dreadful nightmare. 's case; instead the only solution is his death. Finally, and although this might not have been the initial plan of Kafka, when the story was collected, it was not complete, and therefore there is practically no ending. The different factors that lead to thinking that The Trial is a reflection upon a nightmare combined with the story's overall mood which Kafka sets up through the different aspects of urban life reflected by the rickety attics, crowded apartment buildings, and breathless small filthy rooms spread darkness and fear that further enforces such an analysis of the story. So there we have it: Kafka is a surrealist who offers us glimpses of nightmares by telling us the truth of our relation to law and authority. is led into thinking that this will make a difference for his case.
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