I think this chapter further shows the extent of the means the government uses to control lives. They are able to have access to a room in the building where K. works to do their punishment there with the probable purpose to torture K. by making him feel guilty.
The Trial - Franz Kafka....................................Diego Vicentini - Scott Kossman - Jonathan Jordan
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Chapter 5 - The Whip-Man
This chapter can be described as strange. At the bank, K. finds the two warders from his first interrogation at the mercy of the Whipper because K. had complained about their behavior in their first encounter. K. is horrified by this and tries to bribe the Whipper so he would not perform his duty, but fail to prevent the whipping. The next day, he finds the warders again in the same room but shuts the door and leaves.
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This definitely demonstrates the theme of control by the institutions, the fact that they gain access to any facet of K's life, without having any red tape. The government is trying to get into Josef's head, as seen by the constant bothering of him at work with the whip-man. I think it also demonstrates control of the institutions because it shows how we are controlled by certain people and yet those people are controlled by others, as seen by the whipping of the warders.
ReplyDeleteThe whipping is definitely an act of the government because K. never really complained about the two men, but they blamed it on him anyway. Not only do we see that the government can control people, but we also see how much power the government has in this society. The government takes K. to court without being told what his crime is, and they can go into any place and make an imprint on an individuals life. Josef is obviously living in a society with an overpowered and corrupt government.
ReplyDeleteThis scene also parallels the Kafka movie because he finds out what is going on behind that door, but realizes that he cannot do anything about it even though he tried to bribe the Whipper. In the movie Kafka knows the truth but can only go on living his life.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you Jon, the scene parallels the movie because although he knows the truth he can do nothing about it because he knows that the government is everywhere and can do what ever they want to.
ReplyDeleteBesides everything you two have said, which i agree with, I think there is a beautiful irony in that the physical torture inflicted on the warders is used to mentally torture K. Indirect torture through torture. Beautiful.
ReplyDelete