Natalie's Final Term Paper

The Trial recounts the story of a man, Joseph K., convicted of a crime he knows nothing about in a country whose legal proceedings are mediocre at best. Nearing the end of the novel K. is met by a priest who tells him the story of “Before The Law”. In this story the protagonist attempts to seek knowledge and access to the law, but is denied access by the gatekeeper. The story “Before The Law” mimics and draws parallel comparisons between itself and K.’s situation. This parable was added by Kafka in order to draw attention to the greater meaning in the novel. The story of “Before The Law” mimics what occurs to K. in The Trial by Franz Kafka. The gatekeeper symbolizes K.’s arrestors and the low ranking court officials, the countryman symbolizes K, and the door, along with whatever is behind it, represents the law and K.’s trial.

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. Eventually 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. K. learns of this story through the priest near the ending of the novel. 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. The guard is standing by the door, which although is open, he will not let the countryman enter. 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. And later K. walks into both his arresting officers beating beaten for no particular reason. In both cases the guards are following through with their orders without questioning exactly what they are doing. they are blindly accepting their orders. 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. The countryman learns of these higher ranking officials by the gatekeeper who tells him that he cannot let him in because there are even higher ranking officials whom he's never met behind the door and that they are very intimidating. K. learns of these higher ranking officials through his arresting officers and through the judges he meet. Similarly Leni tells him of the higher ranking judges. Despite everyone knowing of them, they keep themselves hidden. 

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. In one instant K. encounters a judge, and hoping that he has met someone of higher rank asks Leni “What rank is he”, to which she replies “He is an examining judge”. He then states “”just an examining judge one again” said K in disappointment, “the senior officials keep themselves hidden. But here he is sitting on a throne.” (Kafka 84) This exchange of words with Leni shows not only K.’s struggles, but the struggles of most citizens which is the fact that they only ever meet low ranking officials and therefore have no way to further advance their cases. When the Priest finishes telling K. the story of the law he also addresses this fact. He says that it is the doorman who has been cheated because he has been guarding something he doesn’t even know, blindly following orders. Similarly the simple-minded individuals who arrest K. do not know why he is being arrested, nor do they question it. They simply act with the instructions they are given. It also shows how it ends up negatively since they both end up being whipped even though it is not really their fault.

In a conversation between the gatekeeper and the countryman, the countryman attempts to bribe the gatekeeper into letting him through the doorway. The gatekeeper respond’s “I’ll only accept this so that you don’t think there’s anything you’ve failed to do.” (Kafka 151) In many ways this phrase parallels the courts treatment towards K. and all others who have been arrested. K. is given a court hearing, but soon after K. realizes that he was set up to fail. Instead of a just trial, K. is meant to stand up and defend himself in a front of a room filled with people whose mind’s are already made up. It takes K. a while to realize that each person in that room is wearing a similar pin, meaning they are all affiliated with the court. Although some are yelling in favor of K., they are not impartial, they already have made up their minds and sided with the court. This also ties into the corrupt mature of the courts. When k. Is arrested his arresting officers take some of his stuff, even though they aren't meant to do that they justify their actions by stating that everyone does it. Similarly the courts are in shabby, run down  apartments. Despite this the judges are rich. Meaning that they are probably taking the money from the courts for their own personal use. 

Parallels can also be drawn between the countryman and K. The countryman and K. differ from other people in their societies. When the countryman asks the gatekeeper: “Everyone wants access to the law, says the man, how come, over all these years, no-one but me has asked to be let in?” (Kafka 147) It seems from this comment that throughout the many years the countryman has been waiting outside of the doorway, nobody else has been asked to be let in even though he knows everyone wonders about this. This parallels K.’s own situation. Throughout his trial he meets many other arrested people and it seems that they have succumbed to their fate instead of attempting to fight for their freedom. In both instances K. and the countryman are anomalies within their societies, these examples are seen in Block and other characters. K. and the countryman are two individuals who go against the general masses. They are the only two that by doing so question the laws in their societies which can be why they both end in similar ways. 
Another similarity exists between K. and the countryman in the way that they act.  The story of the law also states: “Over the first few years he curses his unhappy condition out loud, but later, as he becomes old, he just grumbles to himself.” (Kafka 150) The countryman waited for many years outside of the door even though he was not allowed in. At first he is very loud and keeps asking the doorman questions, and is very loud and outspoken. He questions why the guard will not let him in and tried varies different things to be allowed in. Later in the novel he just sits quietly on his stool and does not say anything. Similarly K. was first very loudly opposed. He tells everyone about his ranking in his bank and how important he is. He questions the validity and importance of the court and attemps to change his cases status.  Later he becomes less and less loud, and begins to accept what happens to him. The ending of both characters are also similar K and the countryman both end while waiting to get something accomplished.

The final similarity is between the door, along with whatever is behind it, and the law in K.’s society. In the story of the law the priest states that “the law was supposed to be accessible for anyone at any time.” (Kafka 147). Yet despite this no one knew what was behind the doorway, not even the guards at the door. The countryman waits many years outside the door yet he is also not allowed to know. The door is also open, but the countryman is not allowed to enter. Simbolizing that the law appears to be open and easily accesible, but is actually closed. This is similar to K. At the beginning of the novel K. is discussing how he thought he knew the laws, yet once he becomes arrested he realizes that he actually has no clue what they are. Similarly, it is not just K. it is also the rest of the accused people. During K.’s first hearing with the judge he attempts to see the book on his desk, but when he does the judge says that he cannot because it is the book of laws. This seems strange because in most places the law is easily accessible for everyone, yet hear the person whom is meant to uphold the law is the one who hides it from him.

The Trial recounts the story of a man who has an encounter with the law. He is one day arrested for a reason he is never told. This man’s struggles with the court system and the lawyers represent the similar struggles that the countryman experiences in the story of the law. In the story of the law, the countryman attempts to gain entry into the law by entering the doorway, but despite his efforts he is not able to enter. Even though he is not able to enter, it is stated that the law is meant to be accessible for everyone. Similarities exist between the gatekeeper in the story of the law and the judges and policemen in the trial. In both cases these officials seems to be following orders blindly. None of them really know what is happening, for example what is behind the door or why K. is arrested, yet they still follow their orders blindly. Another similarity exists between the countryman and K. Both are stuck in similar positions with their attempt of learning the law, and they both end in similar ways. The are also parallels between the door and the law in K.’s society which should be open to everyone but are closed off.

Works Cited:

Kafka, Franz. The Trial . New York: Schocken Books Inc. , 1998. Print.