The Metamorphosis is a short novella that can be read in one sitting. It is a masterpiece of style, symbolism, and imagination that will haunt you long after you finish it.
The Trial
The Trial is Kafka’s first novel and one of his most acclaimed works. It tells the story of Josef K., a bank clerk who is arrested one day for an unspecified crime. He is subjected to a series of absurd and incomprehensible trials by a mysterious court system that operates behind the scenes of society. He tries to defend himself but finds no logic or justice in the process.
The Trial is a dark satire of bureaucracy, law, and authority. It exposes the absurdity and futility of human existence in a world that is governed by irrational and arbitrary rules. It also explores the themes of guilt, paranoia, and freedom.
The Trial is an unfinished novel that was edited and published by Max Brod after Kafka’s death. It is divided into ten chapters that vary in length and coherence. It is a complex and challenging work that requires careful attention and interpretation.
The Castle
The Castle is Kafka’s last novel and one of his most enigmatic works. It tells the story of K., a land surveyor who arrives in a village that is dominated by a mysterious castle on a hill. He tries to gain access to the castle but faces constant obstacles and delays from the villagers and the castle officials. He becomes obsessed with reaching the castle but never succeeds.
The Castle is a metaphysical quest for meaning and identity. It explores the themes of bureaucracy, religion, sexuality, and power. It also reflects Kafka’s own struggle with his Jewish heritage and his relationship with his father.
The Castle is an unfinished novel that was edited and published by Max Brod after Kafka’s death. It consists of twenty chapters that are incomplete or fragmentary. It is a dense and ambiguous work that invites multiple interpretations.
Other Works
Besides these three novels, Kafka wrote many other works that are worth reading. Some of them are:
- The Judgment: A short story about a young man who receives a shocking verdict from his father.
- In the Penal Colony: A short story about a torture device that inscribes the sentence on the body of the condemned.
- A Hunger Artist: A short story about a professional fasting artist who starves himself for public entertainment.
- Letters to Felice: A collection of letters that Kafka wrote to his fiancée Felice Bauer between 1912 and 1917.
- The Zürau Aphorisms: A collection of aphorisms that Kafka wrote on small pieces of paper while staying at his sister’s farm in Zürau.
- The Blue Octavo Notebooks: A collection of notes and sketches that Kafka wrote in eight small notebooks between 1917 and 1919.
Conclusion
Kafka is one of the most influential and original writers of the 20th century. His works are timeless and universal, and they resonate with anyone who has ever felt alienated, oppressed, or confused by the world. Reading Kafka is not easy, but it is rewarding and enlightening. If you want to discover the works of this genius, you can start with any of the books mentioned in this article.
