The novel finally shifts back to
the novels main focus, K.’s trial, but like most of the novel not much gets
resolved. For about half of the chapter K. rants about his incompetent lawyer.
He complains that his lawyer is useless and will not resolve anything. He says
that rather than actually discuss his case or try to defend K. he simply
rambles about nothing. K. also states that his lawyer tells him to not defend
himself, which seems very strange and not helpful at all. Thankfully K. notices
how absurd this is, and therefore shows his frustration with his lawyer. Unlike
K., Huld believes that K needs a lawyer because it will help him build
“friendly ties” with court officials. Unlike the rest of the novel when he has
been writing off the importance of his trial, K. begins to actually worry about
his trial. He begins to realize that he cannot act above the law, and that he
actually has to do something about his trial. The trial begins to mentally
consume K. and leaves him completely exhausted. I feel bad for him because his
situation is very frustrating to say the least. Later in the chapter K. meets
with a businessman who tells him about a court painter who may be able to help
him. When K. goes to visit the painter, he reveals a great deal about the court
and the court processes. The painter reveals to K. that an accused person is
rarely, if ever, given definite acquittal. This seems strange because in our
court system a person is either guilty or non guilty but it seems as if in the
legal system there is a lot more gray area. The painter basically tells K. that
the most he should hope for is that his case stays in its early stages and
never gets fully resolved. This chapter reinstates the corruption seen
throughout many previous chapters. There is the constant reinforcement of the
importance of getting on the friendly side of court officials. Similarly it
seems as if when the court accuses a person, there is rarely any hope for the
accused.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Maya's Reaction to Ch 7
The seventh chapter of The Trial went from actually pretty normal to classic Kafka weirdness. When the manufacturer suggests that K. visit Titorelli, I thought that it might be a step forward for K. in sorting out everything related to his trial. Being that Titorelli paints judges, I thought that he might have some information about them that everyone else in the book seems to lack. Unfortunately, all the suggestions that Titorelli proposes are dead ends. They all seem pretty pointless to work towards, especially because one apparently doesn’t even exist in the real world. Titorelli explains to K. that an actual acquittal is basically a myth. K. trying to achieve an apparent acquittal seems completely useless because he can be arrested again at any other point. The likelihood of that in his society is probably pretty high, so he would just end up right back where he started. K. trying to achieve a protraction would be incredibly stupid considering he is trying to get out of the trial. A protraction would just put him in legal purgatory, leaving him living in a non-stop trial.
Earlier blog posts by the group expressed uncertainty as to whether the legal system in K.’s country is this way because of a totalitarian government or because his country is underdeveloped. Personally, I think that all of these extreme versions of legal “red tape” K. has experienced thus far in the novel are on purpose. It cannot be just K. experiencing this much difficulty with the legal system. I have now been lead to believe that K.’s country is run by a government that is not underdeveloped at all, it's one that fears losing power to the point that it must have complete control of those under it. This notion is only further supported by the fact that K. even considers quitting his own job and spending all his time and energy figuring out his trial.
The heavy air that is hard to breathe in makes a reappearance in this chapter as well. It was just as weird at the second time, but it is hard to say that it has no meaning behind it as it has happened more than once. Is it a symbol of the oppressive “atmosphere” K.’s trial has brought upon him? Or is it K. displaying physical symptoms of being pressured by his need to beat the problematic court system?
Kaylee's Reaction Ch. 7
As
we return to The Trial, Chapter 7 continues the bizarre process of K.’s
trial. At this point in the novel, I would probably give my left arm just to
know what the heck K. is being charged of. Not really, but seriously. However,
I know very well that we most likely will never know. I am still skeptical that this is all one freaky mind
trick/dream. In contrast to the previous chapter, K. is now obsessed with the
trial, as it is taking up his entire life. The rate of their progress on the trial has absolutely
exhausted K.’s spirit and ability to rise above the dilemma. I honestly feel sorry for K. at this
point because the situation he is in is extremely frustrating. I can’t imagine
living a life as he is, I would feel suffocated with idea that I am free, but
hold no power simultaneously. I’m not sure if dropping Huld was the best move
on K.’s part, but I guess now matters are in his own hands. As if we weren’t
already aware of it, this judicial system is nothing like our own because the
defendant would never work as his own lawyer or representative. As K. continues
to struggle, my empathy grows.
When
K. meets with the manufacturer it is frustrating because K. is aware he is an
important client, yet he zones out anyways. His trial is literally consuming his
thoughts and beginning to jeopardize his career. To make matters worse, his
Assistant Manager is being annoying, making K. even more insecure in his
position. However, the introduction of Titorelli brings new light to K.’s case,
as K is presented with new options. Although the encounter brings K. anxiety
and feelings of suffocation, at least he has a new connection with the courts. Some
of the things I thought were strange in this chapter were: the continuation of
Leni and K.’s relationship, the girls outside of Titorelli’s apartment, and the
tiny doorway that K.’s leaves out of the Titorelli’s apartment. In addition, when
leaving, Titorelli tells K. that there are court law offices in nearly all
attics (wtf) and covers K.’s face with a handkerchief as he exits the building.
How much more sketchy can you get.
Ryan's Chapter 7 Reaction
Fortunately,
the plot of The Trial shifts its
focus mostly onto K.’s actual trial and some steps are taken to further K.’s
current predicament. In the last section, as well as the beginning of this one,
K. wonders whether he actually needs a lawyer, to which I thought a lawyer was
unnecessary, and he decides it would be better to just defend himself. However,
Huld says lawyers are good because of their personal relationships with judges,
but not the top judges. Huld’s insight proves the corruption that exists in
this society, since a citizen hires a lawyer with the intention of their lawyer
swaying the opinion of the judge due to a friendship. Furthermore, Huld’s
remarks gives a slight glimmer of hope that the society is not completely
corrupted, because there is a separation between lawyers and the top judges.
Huld advises for K. to let him handle it, even thought only baby steps are
being made.
I think this chapter highlights K.’s
inability to get things done, he is presented with opportunities to fix things
in his life and get himself out of trouble but despite stating the problems, he
does nothing to remedy them. For example, K. states he should get rid of his
lawyer and write his own defense, upon deciding to do so, he suddenly cannot
muster the energy to sit down and write his defense. Furthermore, in his job at
the bank, K. knows the vice president of the bank acts in a rather subordinate manner.
For example, the vice president whisks away K.’s clients at a moment’s notice
and interrupts K.’s meetings. However, K. has yet to call out the vice
president on his wrongdoings, allowing the injustices to continue, much like in
his own court case. Also, several times through the novel, other people do
things for K. while K. sort of stands by and does not oppose. For example, in
this chapter, the painter basically forces K. to buy his paintings and K. does
not object, he simply buys the paintings then throws them in a drawer.
There have been several recurring
images and atmospheres throughout The
Trial that are worth nothing. For example, on two separate occasions when
talking to people with the intention of helping his trial, the air in the room suddenly
becomes oppressive and dense. The first time was when K. was in the court
offices and another time in this chapter while talking to the painter. Another
recurring image is portraits of lawyers that K. sees in his lawyer’s office and
then meets the painter who has them in his own office.
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