Term Paper Ideas

The institutions are prevalent throughout the book as seen in Kafka's other work. The main institution that is criticized is the institution of the state. K. struggles with the institution of the state and learns that the court is truly untouchable. He searches for the truth, like in the Kafka movie, but even when he finds it, there is nothing he can do. Even with the truth, K. cannot change anything. K. 's downfall is a result of the institution. Although he was killed by the court, K. let's them kill him. Although the state is meant to help its citizens, it actually brings the downfall of its citizens.

Chapter 9 The Cathedral

Josef is assigned to escort an Italian to the cultural spots of the city. One of these spots is the cathedral where he is supposed to meet the Italian, who never shows. Josef starts to doubt the court system, and the people around him, thinking that they want him away from his office so that they can look through things when he is gone. The Italian never shows, but a caretaker escorts Josef inside the cathedral where a priest, who actually works for the court tells Josef of his case being caught up in the lower courts. Josef seems to trust the priest completely, ignorantly believing some of his advice. Yet again Josef is being controlled by someone that works for the courts.

Chapter 8 continued

Later on K. tells Block that he is going to fire the lawyer, but Leni and Block try to convince him not to. It's almost as if they knew what he came for because even earlier in the chapter Block was telling K. that great lawyers do not exist. Block was defending the lawyer before K. told him he was going to fire him. K. manages to talk to the lawyer alone by locking himself in the room with him. After K. tells him he no longer wants him as his lawyer, Huld trys to convince K. to reconsider. It seems as if they need Huld to be K.'s lawyer. Huld continues by calling in Leni and Block. Kafka continues to reveal to the reader that everything is planned. After hearing a few words in between the three, the narrator reveals that K., "had the feeling he was listening to a carefully rehearsed dialogue that had occurred many times before..."(Kafka, 194). The institution of the government must be hiding something.

Chapter 8

This chapter once again reveals K.'s jealous personality. After visiting his lawyer, K. sees Leni at his house and sees that a small man, Block, is also present. K. asks if Leni is Block's lover angrily, which parallels the second chapter when K. was getting jealous of Frau. After this initial encounter, K. and Block sit down and Block tells K. about the reason for his attendance at the Lawyers house, which is a case of his own. Block tells him of his trial under one condition, K. must tell Block about his own trial. K. realizes that he had seen Block at the law offices and they talk about the incident in chapter 3. Block tells him that when one of the people there lost his composure, that it was all nonsense. It seemed as if Block was trying to hide what really happened at the offices.

Chapter 7

Josef finally begins to react to the situation. He cannot concentrate on anything because of the case hovering over him, and he becomes more and more stressed the more he thinks about it. He is told about a painter who supposedly has information about his case, so he goes to see him. The painter turns out to be the Court painter and he goes on to explain to K. the three different types of acquittals that may occur with his case. All the options seem to involve a great deal of uncertainty and indefiniteness, as he explains, the acquittals may take a long time and he may be liable for arrest at any moment for an indefinite amount of time. Again the details of this case are not clear, even the verdict. K. starts feeling overwhelmed again like in the previous chapters, with a sensation of density in the air he cannot handle and leaves.

Chapter 6 Nurse Leni

During the conversation there is a loud noise in the kitchen. Josef goes to inspect and meets Nurse Leni who also knows information about his case. They flirt and eventually have sex. She tries to control him, by giving him ideas about what to do with his case. Even the workers seem to control Josef. Yet, Josef cannot fully commit to any single women as seen by the triangle of women he has relationships with throughout the book. Again this shows the institutions control of Josef, and how he does not seem to have his own free will.

Chapter 6 Uncle Karl

Throughout the chapter it becomes clear that Josef cannot make decisions for himself. His Uncle Karl comes to see him because he has of course heard about the case. Trying to help with the case, Karl brings Josef to his friend the lawyer and they meet the Chief Clerk of the Court. The Court Clerk, the Uncle, and the Lawyer discuss Josef's situation, yet do not include him in conversation. They look down upon him, as if they can easily manipulate him. This demonstrates control of the institutions and family.