Raoul’s Response to Chapter 4 of The Trial

           Now that we have read four of Kafka’s stories, and watched a Kafka movie, I believe that I am starting to understand Kafka’s writing. I do not find myself asking, “what the hell did I just read?” at the end of every chapter. But do not get me wrong, I still hate Kafka’s writing style and would never read him for fun.

One of the really annoying things Kafka did in The Trial was make three characters with basically the same first name - Fräulein Bürstner, Fräulein Montag, and Frau Grubach. It was already bad enough that they have German names. Why does Kafka do this? He had a choice; it is not like this novel is based on a true story. So, why would Kafka pick the same name three times? I am sure that there is some significance behind the selection of these names; however, for now it is just confusing me.

After Reading Chapter 4 of The Trail, I found that the chapter does not really fit into context with the rest of the book. The last chapter ended with K. leaving the court office and the trail being his largest concern. However, in this chapter K.’s largest concern seems to be Fräulein Bürstner.

K.’s obsession with Fräulein Bürstner makes K. seem like a creeper. He repetitively tries to make contact with Ms. Bürstner, but “she always managed to allude him”. Joseph K. sitting in his room on the sofa with the lights out and the door open waiting for Fräulein Bürstner makes him seem like a rapist. Why is K. hiding in the dark? It is clear that he cannot be seen from outside the room because the maid closes the door thinking that the room is empty. Fräulein Bürstner is also creped out by K.; she is clearly avoiding him. Fräulein Bürstner even makes Fräulein Montag talk to K. for her, and basically tell K. to not talk to her. But instead of listening to
Ms. Montag, K. goes into Fräulein Bürstner room uninvited. Luckily Fräulein Bürstner was not in the room because if she were, she would have probably been scared and yelled, which would have gotten Joseph in trouble. Joseph K., already in legal trouble, could have been in more legal trouble.

(By the way I believe that the Captain was sent by the government to observe K.)