Natalie's Next 500 words

The story “Before the Law” recounts the story of a man who wishes to enter the law through a doorway. The door sits open with a guard at the door. The man learns that no one has ever attempted to enter the Law, and therefore curious to learn what is behind it he attempts to enter. As the man tries to enter the doorway the guard stops him and lets him know that he cannot enter just yet. The man waits many years outside the doorway, but each of his attempts is dismissed by the guard who states that he cannot let the man in. The guard reveals that he himself does not know what is behind the door, but that his orders say he must not let this man in. Before the man is about to die he asks the guard why no one else has attempted to enter the doorway even though all men are curious about the Law. The guard tells him it is because no one else would have been able to enter since it was specifically made for him and now that he is dying the guard must close it.

The story of The Law is introduced in the final chapters of The Trial and is essentially a story within a story. The story of “Before the Law” acts as a commentary on the idea of truth and existentialism. Moreover, the parable draws attention to the greater meaning found in The Trial, and therefore in many instances draws parallels with the novel itself.

The gatekeeper guarding the doorway acts as a parallel to K.’s arresting guards and all the judges K. encounters. When the countryman encounters the gatekeeper he tells him he cannot enter, but he has no reason behind this refusal. Later in the story it is revealed by the gatekeeper that he is a low ranking official, and that the higher officials are the one’s who gave him these orders. In fact the gatekeeper states that he does not know what is behind the doorway. Similarly when K. is first arrested his arresting officers cannot tell him the reason for his arrest because they do not know it. In both cases the guards are following through with their orders without questioning exactly what they are doing. Another similarity between the gatekeeper and the judges and arresting officers is that neither K. nor the countryman ever come in contact with higher officials. Although they are mentioned they never truly meet them.