Truth in Kafka's The Trial

Truth in Kafka's The Trial

  • Submitted By: kizduhelyk
  • Date Submitted: 09/06/2014 10:38 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 1505
  • Page: 7

 What is truth? Often times, the truth is hard to find, define, or comprehend. Therefore to illustrate human truths or to create a more universal setting, authors often use various literary devices to guides their readers. Franz Kafka uses a number of literary devices on The Trial. The Trial is about a man named Joseph K. who undergoes a trial. He does not know what he has done nor what he is being charged for doing. The crime itself is never revealed either. In the novel, truth is unknowable. It can only be grasped by interpreting the metaphors and symbols Kafka uses. By interpreting the metaphors and symbols Kafka uses, the reader is enabled to unveil the truth or purpose of the devices in the story.
A perfect example can be found in the first page of the novel. In the very first line, Kafka begins his story by stating the conflict of the story. Kafka narrates, “Someone must have been telling lies about Joseph K., without having done anything wrong he was arrested one fine morning” (Kafka 1). Throughout the story, the protagonist is simply referred to as “K..” The opening line is one of the very few times in which Kafka presents his full name. In fact, Joseph K. is not his full name either. The period that follows the letter “K” marks his last name as an abbreviation. Without giving the main character a specific name, and referring to him with only a single letter, Kafka allows the character K. to be more universal. Because of K.’s namelessness, he can be anyone. Kafka wanted his readers to be able to relate to or identify with the protagonist. Any man or woman can be K., undergoing an unknown trial.
Speaking of an unknown trial, the trial within The Trial is an extremely important concept. When K. is first arrested, he asks for the reasons as to why he is being arrested. The two warders whom were arresting him, simply respond, “We are not authorized to tell you that” (Kafka 6). K. tries to discover what crime he has committed time and time again as the...

Similar Essays