Term Paper: the Trial

John Hoffman

World Literature, Period 2

April 26, 2012

As history repeats itself, it gradually reveals bewildering aspects of the human condition. The fall of emperors, Pharos, and Kings sprouted the seeds for the upcoming generation of following dictatorships. It's a predictable circle that is unstoppable because of human nature's thirst for power. Franz Kafka, author of The Trial, noticed countless similar trends in human nature and intertwined the ideas in to the themes of his books. In The Trial, an oppressive government plays an antagonist role in gloomy European city fighting against Joseph K., the protagonist, for he symbolizes certain aspects of human nature that cannot coexist with such a government. For the first time Joseph K. has to succumb to the power of another; this unpreventable shift of sovereignty reveals Josephs helplessness and overwhelming madness.
            Kafka's was born and lived for many years in the city of Prague. Through the years of 1883 to 1924, Kafka’s life, Prague bared suffered. Until the year 1918 the city of Prague was under the Austro-Hungarian Empire which suits the unique setting in the novel. Joseph is a manager of a bank and it is blatant that he is well off and a successful man. Through the trial he seems to have supporters and family with power to contribute in this case. This leads to the assumption that throughout his life he has had power, control. The opening scene of the novel sparks the fire the Joseph K. never broke free from. Joseph was arrested for unknown reasons, by unknown people and his fate undecided (unknown). “He realized at once that he shouldn't have spoken aloud, and that by doing so he had, in a sense, acknowledged the stranger's right to oversee his actions (Kafka, 1)”. Already it is seen that in this era life’s are being watched and sentences a phrased for safety. K is in disbelief that this could happen. He is not told who would do this and it is so absurd that he believes it to be a joke, yet the bigger part of the quote is how K is disappointed because he allowed the other man power. The frustration and anger portrayed in his reactions only show how more and more he is becoming mad with just such little rebellion.

The ending of the novel is a mystery to all. Joseph’s actions are suicidal. Suicide because he was mad and the madness started the day of his arrest. Being the wealthy man that he is he worked hard at the bank. The majority of K’s life revolves around the success of the bank. “But instead of working, he … without being aware of it, left his arm outstretched on the desktop and remained sitting motionless with bowed head (Kafka, 112)”. The trial has now become an obsession. This obsession restrains him from working successfully and edges him further on a path of insanity. Thought out the novel K’s rival is the assistant manager at the bank because K feels threatened by him. With K being busy with the trial and having a wondering mind it is clear that K needs time off and the assistant manager seems to be the only replacement. The fact that K. is sent off to do easy work out of the office such as accompanying a client through the city is unbearable for him. Ordered out of the office, leaving important clients waiting and left to be dealt with his nemesis at work is piled on to K to a point where he cannot handle any more. For a power hungry man to be stripped from all the control he has in the matter of months will devastate anyone.

In every time period there are the romantics that are driven mad because of love. In other cases the loves drives men mad. The dual companionship between two people means the sharing of power. It is obvious that Joseph’s characteristics prevent him from this task. In this unfinished novel Joseph has his unfinished relationship (affair) with Fraulin Burstner. Burstner leaving with no explanation, which appears to be a repeating theme, enraged Joseph. He comes home and she is not there. He frustration is seen when he repeatedly tries to contact her and waits up for her but no sign. Later finding out that she thought it would be best to end it this way. Though K and Burstner play mind bobbling games as shown when “K. … rushed out, seized her, kissed her on the mouth, then all over her face, like a thirsty animal lapping greedily at a spring it had found at last (Kafka, 176). These situations when Burstner allows Joseph to take control to have the power he ultimately desires only toils with him more for when she snaps back in to reality and takes back what is rightfully hers he doesn’t understand. Joseph believes he should have all the control in every situation and for the most part he has but when taken away along goes his sanity.

Uniforms are forced upon countless people. It is believed that they keep control, order and express superiority while suppressing creativity. Schools, businesses, and even the government officials wear uniform. The uniforms seem to keep people in control, containing rebellion while riding of creative (antagonizing) ideas. In the corrupt government in The Trial, all of the members of the court not only wore uniforms but also had a symbol that joseph noticed. Joseph thinking has figure out there secret and master plan realizing that they are a group of corrupt official fails to understand that he desires to be a part of them. Noticing there power because of what he has been through he wants what they have. He wants a uniform and a symbol of his own. He wants power. “You can't defend yourself against this court, all you can do is confess. Confess the first chance you get. That's the only chance you have to escape, the only one. However, even that is impossible without help from others, but you needn't worry about that, I'll help you myself (Kafka, 97)” Joseph is unable to defend himself because there is no one to defend himself to. When he speaks he is not being listened to but judged instead. There is nothing to benefit him there is only that can hurt his case.

The novel The Trial is interlocked with eerie settings, buildings, and even the people themselves. In several different occasions Joseph finds himself in the government buildings, and each time has its own peculiar reaction. He seems to fall ill or hurt his case in some way. In the example when he follows the one official in the beginning of the novel to the offices in the attic he becomes so weak and helpless that he is escorted out by the help of the officials. This is the ultimate sign of weakness when it is of the graciousness of the enemy to help oneself. Joseph aware of this tries with all his might to do what he can on his own but the offices are a black hole to Josephs power. For a second incident when he sees the painter of the portraits he leaves his place through the back attics in which the air is so thick he falls ill again. This is a clear representation of what the court is doing to Joseph. The courts take him down and drive him mad.  When Joseph visits the lawyer with the help of his uncle, his in once again placed amongst others in a room that he fails to think and wonders off for hours with the lawyers mistress. These actions are detrimental to his case and is obvious that he should have not done what he had done but yet he fails to realize that and has to be shunned by his uncle. He loses his power to his family and is criticized like a child to a childish affair he started.

It is in every human to make mistakes. In Josephs case his poor choices become more than mistakes. It becomes sabotage. Joseph realizes the loss of control and power and it appears that he dwindles down to reality that he cannot live without it. ‘Try to realize that this vast judicial organism remains, so to speak, in a state of eternal equilibrium, and that if you change something on your own where you are, you can cut the ground out from under your own feel and fall, while the vast organism easily compensates for the minor disturbance at some other spot – after all, everything is interconnected – and remains unchanged, if not, which is likely, even more resolute, more vigilant, more severe, more malicious (Kafka, 112). Joseph faces the fact that this is out of his control. There is a society and for once he has met a force that he cannot beat. He goes out of his way to fire his lawyer who is doing all that he can to slow down his verdict (which is all one can do) which Joseph is aware of but he is not satisfied. He wants for the end to come. He wants to face his maker and finally accept his fate because living in this helpless state isn’t living at all for him.                    

            Facing defeat can be the hardest thing for a man. To accept and understand what is to come can be unbearable and especially when unpreventable. "Both methods have this in common: they prevent the accused from being convicted." "But they also prevent an actual acquittal," said K. softly, as if ashamed of the realization (Kafka, 169). K understands that there is not chance of being released form the charges that are brought against him because he does not even know what the charges are. He is still in the same place he was in the beginning. While the court has come closer and closer to their verdict Joseph has gone nowhere. Even block for states it when he says that every ones facial expressions says their own verdict and Josephs face says GUILTY. When talking to block they talk about “Great Lawyers” and how they are a “dream”. These lawyers are the ones that can get a man off a case but these “great Lawyers” are inaccessible because they don’t exhist.

            To conclude this case Joseph is to be found guilty. Joseph without being heard a verdict knows he is to be found guilty. Through the process of this trail Joseph has changed. By then end of his case he has accepted his fate and not only that but agrees with it. As the two man carry Joseph away his struggle is that of a show. He doesn’t want to accept his defeat but knows there is no other choice. He doesn’t want to be portrayed as a failure but when the opportunity comes to escape with the police officer he leads the chase the opposite was. Not seizing the opportunity settles the case. He is to be stabbed for what he has done and accepts this because there isn’t anything more he could want than to be the head of this corrupt government. To control his to be killed and who is to live is the power of god. The ultimate power. Josephs ultimate goal.

Works Cited

Kafka, Franz. The trial. Definitive ed. New York: Knopf, 19571956. Print.

"The Trial Justice and Judgment Quotes Page 3." Shmoop: Homework Help, Teacher Resources, Test Prep. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. <http://www.shmoop.com/the-trial-kafka/justice-judgment-quotes-3.html>.

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