Monday, February 18, 2008
Little story
The countryman in this story represents the general cultural self. He embodies all of the desires and strife of our society, and in return is given nothing. He is not allowed to reach the law. He is not able to feel justice. He also, is the one obeying the doorman. He does not try to enter, but instead accepts what he is told- even when the law is there for the taking.
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2 comments:
This is a cursory glance at the assignment. While it could be an interesting introduction to a larger piece, it is completely insufficient to stand on its own.
Who is the gatekeeper? What is Kafka impressing on the reader about the self vs. the subject? Where do we see the self manifested in the story? How does the countryman embody society's strife if he is the only character?
I am expecting much better next week.
This story begins with the countryman believing he is unique. There is an assumption that if he asks for admittance, he shall be granted it. He is immediately denied, which results in the rest of the countryman's life dedicated to reaching the Law. The countryman is indeed a reflection of the cultural "subject," as he continuously obeys the gatekeeper. But why does he obey the gatekeeper? The gatekeeper is not the Law...
That's a good question! The countryman spends the rest of his life begging for entry to the Law. He tries time and time again, and is denied without reason. The countryman also, time and time again, obeys and respects what the gatekeeper says to him. Not once does the countryman try to sneak in, argue with or question the authority of the gatekeeper. The countryman does this because, in true essence, the gatekeeper is the Law (for the countryman). The authority held by the gatekeeper is given only by the countryman. The countryman truly believes that he is not able to enter or reach the Law because of this single man. He then obsesses over this, completely forgetting about the abundance of other gatekeepers in every hallway inside. The story becomes less about admittance to the Law and more about acceptance from the gatekeeper.
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