Ryan Chapter 8 Reaction

Aside from Kafka’s natural, unusual style of writing, I noticed a point about the novel that I have not seen in most novels I have read. I am well into the book, yet Kafka continues to add new characters into the story at will. It seems as if every character, apart from K., has a life span of only a few chapters. In this next chapter, we are introduced to Block, who is also on trial and also has Huld as a lawyer. Block basically serves as a look into the future for K., as Block has devoted his entire life to his trial and has gone so far as to taking money from his own company to cover his fees. Maybe this is what the government wants, to keep its citizens at the bottom by giving them no option but to stop their lives and spend all their time on a trail with no basis. Leni also returns in this chapter but only as a distraction from K.’s trial. Furthermore, it seems as if every time K. meets someone new, they gives him advice about his trial, whether its the painter telling him to talk to Huld or Block telling him to hire shysters. However, all these pieces of advice clearly lead K. basically nowhere as he meets with Huld to fire him. Block’s current predicament indicates that if K. continues on this path, he will end up becoming a victim of the system sleeping in a tiny room hoping to see his own lawyer. Ironically, even though Block is not happy with Huld’s services, he is dismayed to learn that K. plans to fire Huld, probably because Block never thought to do so. This chapter ends rather abruptly due to the fact that Kafka did not finish writing the chapter, or the actual book for that matter. I think this chapter mainly serves as a reality check for K. to really get his shit together about his trial. I am glad K. fired Huld, Huld was a shady character and even worse lawyer, even though the system might make Huld’s job rather difficult. I am interested to see what step K. takes next, after seeing Block’s situation I would not be surprised if K. just gave up trying to defend himself and leave his case to the system.