“Logic is no doubt unshakeable, but it can’t withstand a person who wants to live”
Welcome to the first post of my book review series! With my Goodreads goal set at devouring 40 books a year, this series will serve as a compass, guiding us through the highs and lows of my reading adventures. I promise to be your trusted guide, offering insights into the treasures I discover along the way, while fearlessly navigating the treacherous depths of literary disappointments. Today we’ll be starting off strong with one of said glittering gems and my most recent read: The Trial by Franz Kafka.
My English teacher described this book to me as “bizarre” and “trippy” and “something that will really make you think.” So, of course I had to read it! In the wake of completing the novel, I 100% agree with my teacher’s evaluation of it in that it truly did bend my mind. I’m talking full right angle, my protractor is broken now, kind of twisting.
First things first, Kafka’s writing style is incredibly captivating. So much so, that I somehow consumed this novel in the matter of one sitting. No food. No water. Just me and this book. His descriptions are intensely vivid; I could practically feel the protagonist’s confusion and frustration. The dialogue is sharp and witty. And the absurdity of the settings in which there are attics filled with law offices in virtually every building Josef K. enters let me traverse the dreamlike world that Josef K. himself navigates.
Not to mention the characters are incredibly developed and captivating. Our main protagonist, Josef K., is a relatable mix of cluelessness and determination. I can’t help but root for K while I try to solve the mysterious trial alongside him. The other characters like the enigmatic lawyers and bizarre witnesses are equally intriguing, with their odd quirks and cryptic motivations. If there is one description I can boil this book down to it is this: it surely keeps you on your toes. There is no predictability to the combined absurdity of the plot, setting, and characters.
Most importantly however, I believe The Trial has persisted this long in popularity because of its complex exploration of themes like guilt, justice, and the absurdity of the human condition. While I couldn’t personally relate with Kafka’s comments on perilous judicial systems (considering my nonexistent experience interacting with them as a 17 year old goody two shoes), I resonated with his messages on the powerlessness of the individual in a faceless society.
I’m a control freak- I openly admit that. My first three weeks of summer have already been consumed with planning and executing seemingly nonstop workouts for rowing and basketball, micromanaging every single one of my businesses and projects, all while fretting over every component of my impending college applications. Kafka’s message in The Trial, however, stands at stark contrast to my attitudes. My interpretation may be painted by my current stresses and experiences, but I view Josef. K’s ultimate crime as his implicit desire to be controlled. Sure, Josef. K appears to have control during the trial in that he doesn’t take action he doesn’t desire and that the painter Titorelli literally says, “the court wants nothing from you, it receives you when you come, and dismisses you when you go.” When all is said and done, however, this facade of control shatters into a million teeny tiny pieces that would be a hassle and a half to sweep up; when Josef K. is executed, he accepts the court’s argument not because he is guilty, but because it is necessary. We do have predetermined destinies, but only if we will them. Josef K. did not will his- he denied his freedom. This newfound contemplation of power and control is equally comforting and disconcerting.
Flipping the switch to less existential, philosophical, life has so much meaning and so little meaning talk, let’s discuss why this book failed to reach five stars in my mind. We love classic literature because it makes us think. But, in many cases, we also hate classic literature because of its portrayal of women. This book was no exception. The few female characters seemed to exist solely as objects of desire or as instruments of manipulation for Josef K. Their voices and agency were overshadowed and undermined. For me, it was disappointing to see such limited one-dimensional representations of women in a novel that delves into incredibly complex themes of power and justice.
Recognizing these faults and separating them from the impact this book had on me, no book I’ve read before captivated me as much as The Trial. It is haunting and thought provoking and unsettling. I cannot help but eagerly track my Amazon order that arrives this week with The Metamorphosis and The Castle in tow. I’m incredibly excited to continue my adventures into Kafka’s mysterious worlds, and I wholeheartedly believe that you dear readers should give him a shot too! Happy reading! 😊😊
Hi 😊, very interesting post thank you!