Loneliness in the Work of Franz Kafka
Agreed Approach: Explore the idea of loneliness and isolation in the works of Franz Kafka, In particular “The Trial”, “The Castle” and “The Metamorphosis”. Discuss how he creates this effect through the use of several literary techniques and emphasises it through the overwhelming air of ambiguity and absurdity that prevails through his work.
Throughout the last century there have been several authors that have not only had a profound effect on the literary landscape, but have revolutionized the way we think about the world as a whole. Franz Kafka must be considered amongst the most influential of this elite group. His writings were revolutionary not just in terms of plot, but In terms writing style. He wrote about the most absurd of concepts (For example a travelling sales mans sudden transformation into a giant, grotesque bug) and related them to the struggles of everyday life, something that he knew all too much about. As a Prague born, German speaking Jew, born in 1883, Kafka grew up in a time period where anti-Semitism was beginning to take root (1889 was the year of the Panama affair. The collapse of the Panama Canal project was blamed firmly upon Jewish financiers. Kafka’s two uncles Worked for the company and were subjected to French Anti-Semitism, sparked by French investors losing money in the fiasco.) so from an early age was exposed to mankind’s tendency to discriminate against those whom are deemed to be different.
This was not only apparent to Kafka in the wider issues of the Jewish faith, but in his own personal life. As a shy and retiring young man, Kafka found it difficult to attract friends. It has been suggested however by Max Brod (Perhaps Kafka’s one true friend and the man who would later publish his work) that this was not the cause of any character failings, but in Kafka’s own selectiveness when it came to friends. Words were treated as a luxury ,used only upon people who Kafka felt were good hearted, who lived live as it should be
Throughout the last century there have been several authors that have not only had a profound effect on the literary landscape, but have revolutionized the way we think about the world as a whole. Franz Kafka must be considered amongst the most influential of this elite group. His writings were revolutionary not just in terms of plot, but In terms writing style. He wrote about the most absurd of concepts (For example a travelling sales mans sudden transformation into a giant, grotesque bug) and related them to the struggles of everyday life, something that he knew all too much about. As a Prague born, German speaking Jew, born in 1883, Kafka grew up in a time period where anti-Semitism was beginning to take root (1889 was the year of the Panama affair. The collapse of the Panama Canal project was blamed firmly upon Jewish financiers. Kafka’s two uncles Worked for the company and were subjected to French Anti-Semitism, sparked by French investors losing money in the fiasco.) so from an early age was exposed to mankind’s tendency to discriminate against those whom are deemed to be different.
This was not only apparent to Kafka in the wider issues of the Jewish faith, but in his own personal life. As a shy and retiring young man, Kafka found it difficult to attract friends. It has been suggested however by Max Brod (Perhaps Kafka’s one true friend and the man who would later publish his work) that this was not the cause of any character failings, but in Kafka’s own selectiveness when it came to friends. Words were treated as a luxury ,used only upon people who Kafka felt were good hearted, who lived live as it should be