O processo

by Franz Kafka

Portuguese language

Published Jan. 6, 1963 by Livros do Brasil.

(30 reviews)

Written in 1914 but not published until 1925, a year after Kafka’s death, The Trial is the terrifying tale of Josef K., a respectable bank officer who is suddenly and inexplicably arrested and must defend himself against a charge about which he can get no information. Whether read as an existential tale, a parable, or a prophecy of the excesses of modern bureaucracy wedded to the madness of totalitarianism, The Trial has resonated with chilling truth for generations of readers.

37 editions

The Weaver Reads reviewed The Trial by Franz Kafka

Goodreads Review of the Trial

5 stars

Content warning Spoilers ahead!

Kafka's The Trial is a great novel that really resonates with me. It seems incomplete, as my version has a series of fragmented chapters at the end that could add more to the novel, but don't require it. The book is undeniably existentialist, and the networks and mechanisms of control that pervade all of the characters' lives are palpable. Nothing makes any sense to anyone, although they all pretend like it does.

The crux of the matter, and the over-arching message, seems that it can be found in the Parable of the Law, in the penultimate chapter. The door was open to the man the whole time, but he wouldn't enter it because of the doorkeeper's presence. The doorkeeper merely told him that he couldn't right now. The doorkeeper's mere statement was a control mechanism keeping the established order in place. The man from the country could have said "fuck it" and walked through. Neither K. nor the priest seriously ask why he didn't walk through the door--they quibble over personalities, who is deceiving who, how the law works, and so on. But, the man could have literally just entered the Law.

The quibbling reminds me of my own life--whether "out there" or inside of myself. There's so many discussions and thoughts about why or why I don't do what I want. There's the constant pressure to explain, to justify, to defend, and so on. It's as if my whole life is on trial. But, I could just do them.

Did you see the "as if" statement in the last paragraph? Kafka uses a ton of them, to hilarious effect. Kafka is funny, and he makes a mockery of us all.

Anyways, I'll end with a final quote.

"'No,' said the priest, 'you don't have to consider everything true, you just have to consider it necessary.' 'A depressing opinion,' said K. 'Lies are made into universal systems.'"

Michael @ Knowledge Lost reviewed The trial. by Franz Kafka (The Modern library of the world's best books [318])

Review of 'The trial.' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I decided to read The Trial was because I saw that next week’s lecture made reference to this book as well as Orwell’s 1984. These books weren’t required reading but I’ve read 1984 and I thought it would be a good excuse to read The Trial, because I’m pretentious like that. I really enjoyed Kafka’s The Metamorphosis so I was excited to have an excuse to read his famous unfinished novel. The Trial tells the story of Josef; a chief financial officer for a bank finds himself being arrested and prosecuted by the authorities. The twist in the book is that the nature of his crime is never revealed to the accused or the reader.

Kafka appears to like to write philosophical novels; in The Metamorphosis he explored the idea of human identity and social acceptance. With The Trial I get the feeling maybe this is a look religion and the idea that life is just a big trial. Or maybe this is just an existential novel. In any case there are a lot of different aspects this book offers for exploration and these books were you can pull out different interpretations are often books I tend to love.

This is a quick read and now that I’ve read my second Kafka novel, I now understand his appeal. I’m not sure what to read next but I can’t wait to explore some more of his works. Like many classics the descriptive prose’s takes you away and you just find yourself being immersed in the story. This helps with a book that really requires your full focus.

Overall I’m satisfied with the ending of this unfinished novel, the last chapter does feel like it brings the story to an end but I can’t help but wonder where Kafka would of gone next. There was a bit of inconsistency throughout this book, with the timing and narrative but this never seemed to be a problem, it just added to the dark and gloominess of this novel. If you’ve not read Kafka, I highly recommend you give him a go, there is such a joy in reading a novel like this.

sdogood reviewed The Trial by Franz Kafka

Review of 'The Trial' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

At least as I understood it, The Trial is a black comedy that contrasts the disconnectedness of individuals from larger societal agencies. As governments and corporations have become larger and more powerful, the world has become increasingly Kafkaesque, surreal and full of bewildering mini-trials to accompany their big-brother trials. Humans evolved under social conditions where tribal elders were accessible, but mass culture leaves people isolated and disempowered, and unable to form relationships of reciprocal influence. Kafka portrays all this in a way that reveals the absurdity of the modern individual's plight.