The Trial Franz Kafka About the Author Franz

The Trial Franz Kafka

About the Author Franz Kafka • Born July 3, 1883 in Prague • Grew up in a middle class Jewish Family • Younger brothers, Georg and Heinrich, died in infancy • Grew up as the only son with three sisters • Studied at the University of Prague • Burned 90% of his work • Died of Tuberculosis on June 3, 1924 at the age of 40

Kafka’s Influences • Father • Had a temper • Lacked appreciation for literature • Max Brod • Met Kafka at the University of Prague • Disregarded a letter written to him by Kafka, that asked for all of his works to be burned unread after he died • Edited and published all of Kafka’s materials

The Trial • Published in 1925 • Originally written in German • Synopsis: • Joseph K is arrested from his house. Joseph K. and the guards both do not know what the arrest charges are. The court system appears to be very bias and unprofessional, so Joseph K. denounces it. There also seems to be a lot of bribery and corruption within the system. Joseph K. is faced with a case that he will never win.

Themes • Power • Breaking the will of man and destroying self-worth • Isolation/Alienation • Being an individual rather than conforming to societal standards, makes Joseph K. an outsider • Corruption/Bribery • Sex and seduction are used often in order to persuade the court/judges • Authoritarian Oppression • Authority has control over everyone’s actions and outcomes • Conformity • Everyone has to act and behave in a certain way • No individuality

Quotes/Characters • “Logic may indeed be unshakeable, but it cannot withstand a man who is determined to live. ” • “The only thing for me to go on doing is to keep my intelligence calm and analytical to the end. ” • Joseph K. • Chief financial officer for a bank • Forced to defend himself in a corrupted court system against an unknown crime • Huld • Joseph K. ’s defense lawyer • Says that the court system is not a place for common sense • Joseph K. becomes skeptical of Huld and decides to drop him

Connection • Franz Kafka’s The Trial, explores a more darker side of world literature. It deals with oppression in a more societal standard viewpoint. If someone does not fit into this mold, they are cut of society. This novel allows people to see how the government can diminish individuality. • Kafka’s The Trial also shows how different forms of oppression leads to people trying to take more control over their life and ending up falling more into a downward spiral. • Gives a different outlook on how people of authority treat individuality and how different types of people handle that control over their life. • The Trial gives an appreciation for all works of literature. This novel had a very likely chance of not being published, but because of Max Brod it was. • Connects to The Meursault Investigation because they both center around the injustice of not only the court system but also society as a whole.

Sources • Batuman, Elif. "Kafka’s Last Trial. " The New York Times, 22 Sept. 2010. Web. 23 Feb. 2016. http: //www. nytimes. com/2010/09/26/magazine/26 kafka-t. html? _r=1. • Biography. com Editors. "Franz Kafka. " The Biography. com Website. A&E Networks Television. Web. 23 Feb. 2016. <http: //www. biography. com/people/franz-kafka-9359401>. • Epstein, Joseph. "Is Franz Kafka Overrated? " The Atlantic Media Company, July-Aug. 2013. Web. 23 Feb. 2016. <http: //www. theatlantic. com/magazine/archive/2013/07/is-franz-kafkaoverrated/309373/>. • Klingensmith, Taylor. "The Nature of Man and Joseph K. " The Kafka Project. Mauro Nervi, 18 Jan. 2011. Web. 23 Feb. 2016. <http: //www. kafka. org/index. php? aid=199>. • "Max Brod". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. , 2016. Web. 23 Feb. 2016 <http: //www. britannica. com/biography/Max-Brod>.