The Trial - Franz Kafka....................................Diego Vicentini - Scott Kossman - Jonathan Jordan
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
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.
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I agree with Jon, the institution controls K throughout the novel. When K starts to question everything it is to late. At that point K just accepts the fact that his downfall will be caused by the institution which he trusted. Even at the end of the novel, similar to the stranger, K accepts his punishment and does not fight back at all.
ReplyDeleteThe institutions are corrupt, but according to Kafka, there is no way to avoid or change this corruption.
DeleteThis is true. I think at first you begin to read and you think it is absurd not to know anything about the trial, but maybe what Kafka is getting at is that it makes no difference. The story would have been exactly the same if he knew everything about the trial, the outcome would have been the same. The government, and their idea of justice, would have overruled and prevailed over him as an individual, leaving them to decide for his fate. All of this gives that sense of helplessness as an individual and lack of free will, seeing the extent to which an institution can control your life.
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