class="">The Trial after Franz Kafka

The existential topic proposed by the author is that of the Being who lost his self due to endless pride, undermined by the hang-up of his own superiority, victim of an identity and spiritual crisis. Nowadays, Man lost conscience of his bond to the Universe, hypnotized by his own self. A self which, under the burden of his inflamed ego, is eventually turned into mere remains of a false identity, founded on illusion.

The forefront of the existential theme illustrates, in Josef K.’s case, a rigid behaviour and secret carnal desires that he pulls out of pain, trying to repress his fury, hate, guilt, pride, fear… And so much more! The absurd, nightmarish system of Justice amplifies those paradoxical desires, offering a fertile and generous environment for experiencing them intensely. But at the same time, the very same system is a machine which stimulates his pride. Thus, the appearance of the illusion of his ephemeral legitimacy as a moral, faultless being…

The second front of the existential theme brings the topic of terms paired such as: to have and to be, a conflict which, in K.’s case, translates into the dissipation of his authentic existence in favour of an illusory accumulation of justifications. The irresistible urge to go seach for “to be” is absolutely necessary, but it will eventually be unachievable, because the character fragments his own existence endlessly. (Mihaela Panainte)