Natalie's Reaction

Chapter four of The Trial, Miss Burstner’s Friend, had little if almost nothing to do with what has been going on. This chapter never mentions anything about K.’s trial nor does it have anything to do with what has been going on. I had almost completely forgotten about K.’s interaction with Mrs. Burstner or Mrs. Grubach, and if it had not been for this chapter I probably would have forgotten it. This chapter does little to further the plot and I am not exactly sure what was the point of this chapter, hopefully it will later be expanded in the book. Basically K. keeps trying to talk to Mrs. Burstner, he goes to really great lengths to communicate with her but she will not talk to him. Then he basically stays in his room waiting to talk to her, which seems creepy because one would think he had better things to do. Also a whole weekend goes by and he is not called by the courts for a hearing nor does he pass by. Clearly nothing has progressed in his case, and at this point I do not think much else will. Mrs. Grubach also has a strange relationship with K., she seems to hold him in very high esteems and always cares about what he thinks. I feel like maybe she might have some deeper feelings for K. and that is the reason why she acts the way she does around K.

I think this chapter was pointless. Had K. succeeded in speaking to Mrs. Burstner maybe something may have occurred, but honestly nothing happens. It ends the same way it started, K. is in the same position and nothing has really occurred or progressed.