Franz Kafka was a Jew living in exile in Germany. His writings have a tone of dizzying anguish and encourage the philosophy of existentialism in his writings. Most of his writings were published after his death by his friend’s publisher Max Brod, who received strict instructions from Kafka to destroy all of his writings.
Metamorphosis
In the story Metamorphosis, the protagonist of the story Gregor Samsa transforms one morning into a giant insect. He is unable to go to work and is unable to perform his routine activities. Gregor Samsa’s family is dizzy about his plight. The Metamorphosis is a story of existential trauma and guilt. It reveals that the meaning of life is nothing. There is considerable depth in the psychological portrait of Gregor Samsa. Samsa can be compared to the Camus myth of Sisyphus who is condemned by the gods to roll a rock uphill only to discover, in anguish, that it rolls back down again. Sisyphus is forced to repeat this monotonous action. The insect is a motif that shows the rebellion against the authoritarianism of the parents. Kafka had a tense and troubled relationship with his father. Metamorphosis is escaping from the realities of life. Anguish: The very core of being is a metaphor and occurs as a leitmotif throughout the story.
the trial
The Trial is the story of a man who has a friend in St. Peter’s Burg whose business has gone downhill. The protagonist is writing an invitation letter asking him to attend the wedding. He also talks with his father about his friend. The story has no plot outline.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a narrative about the construction of the wall. The author comments on the magnificent height of the wall and how it will counter the invasion of enemies.
a hunger artist
The Hunger Artist is the story of a man who is placed in a cage and goes on a starvation fast. Crowds of people came to see it and it becomes a spectacle for the people. One cannot get to the essence of this story as it is something that never happens in real life. What is the message that Kafka wants to communicate? He Is he thinking of the hungry people of the world? I’m not sure of the answer.
The burrow
The Burrow is a strange and fascinating story of a person who builds a burrow. He admires his construction with joy. Then comes a long narrative about ways the burrow could be used. The plot is weakly thin. Is the burrow a reminiscence of man’s internal anguish? Is it a leitmotif of the human body that it has no source to gratify pleasures? The burrow is a metaphorical machine that deals with the melancholy of the human being.
Josephine, the Mouse Folk singer
The story exalts the virtues of Josefina’s melodious song. Her song is a passion for the human heart. The story is overblown and lacks the substance of a plot.
Fratricidal
Fratricide is a story about a protagonist who kills his own brother. The motives for the murder are not disclosed. The killer experiences a bitter satisfaction, an ego gratification. The killer is caught in the whirlwind of narcissistic solipsism.
the next town
The following town is a reflection of the author on the journey of life, its brevity.
the bucket rider
The Bucket Rider is the story of a man who asks for coal from the coal merchant. The coal merchant denies his request and treats him most unpleasantly.
Prometheus
There are four legends about Prometheus: the first was that he was chained to a rock for revealing the secrets of the gods to men and the gods sent an eagle to feed his liver. The second being, Prometheus overwhelmed with pain, pressed himself against the rock and became one with it. The third was that the betrayal of Prometheus was forgotten by the Gods. The fourth was that the gods grew weary of the matter.