Natalies Reaction

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.