Franz Kafka: The Master of Alienation
Few literary figures have captured our imagination like Kafka. He was born in 1883 in Prague, where he also died in 1924, after a time of illness. One hundred years after his death, he is still considered one of the most famous, and important authors in the world. His books have become classics.
Most of us probably have an idea of him as a person, and of his writing. If you are asked for one word to describe the name Kafka, what would it be? Please leave a comment below. For me, it would probably be 'depressing', and 'anxiety', if I may add another word. Kafka's works show a portrayal of alienation, bureaucratic absurdity, and the human condition. His stories lingers between reality and nightmare (Metamorphosis?) and our questions are not always answered.
A Life
Kafka came from a middle-class Jewish family in what was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He worked as a legal clerk and wrote in his spare time. Very little of his works were published during his life time, and, on his death bed, Kafka asked his friend Max Brod to burn his manuscripts. Luckily, Brod ignored Kafka’s wish and the manuscripts survived.
Major Works and Themes
The Metamorphosis (1915)
 Kafka's most famous work tells the story of Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning transformed into a giant insect. Through Gregor's dehumanising transformation, Kafka explores themes of family obligation, isolation, and the loss of identity.

I read this novel in November last year. My reflections: 
- for someone like me who does not like insects it was a rather terrifying read. What does Kafka want to say with the novel? Alienation: people who are different are looked down upon? Work - the employer takes out everything they can from you? Family - he worries about the family which he supports. Once the family realises he cannot work anymore, they take their act together and start working themselves, and manage very well. Using other people for their own means?
The Trial (1925)
 In The Trial, Josef K. is arrested and prosecuted by a faceless bureaucracy for a crime that is never revealed to him. Its surreal logic and dark humour highlight the individual’s powerlessness when facing the legal systems. 
I read this many years ago, and can still feel the anxiety of Josef K. when the legal system navigates around him, not giving him any power to face, or oppose it.
The Castle (1926) 
This unfinished novel follows a man named K. who struggles to gain access to a mysterious castle. The story reflects Kafka’s obsession with unattainable goals and the human desire for meaning in a confusing world.
Is Kafka relevant today?
I think most people would say, yes. His name has even entered into the cultural sphere with the word: Kafkaesque - meaning situations that are absurdly complex, illogical, and oppressive. We have probably all been facing authorities where we have been trapped by the system, making us think that Kafka is not so far away. His stories remain relevant in our modern world. We are also confronted with legal systems, not to talk about digital systems, probably giving us anxiety, misunderstanding and fear, from time to time. Could reading Kafka give us hope? Although obstacles are arising for his protagonists, they are still fighting, despite of the absurdity around them. Does Kafka want to say that there is hope, in spite everything?
I am also following a German-Austrian TV-series on Kafka, which I hope will give me an insight into his life. I will re-read The Trial and then go on to read The Castle. I want to know what Kafka can tell me today. Have you read anything by him? Please leave a comment with your thoughts.
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