Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion
This topic is about
Franz Kafka- The Complete Short Stories
Buddy Reads
>
The Complete Short Stories of Franz Kafka
date
newest »
newest »
Connie wrote: "I read the title story in The Country Doctor collection. There are many symbols that probably could be interpreted by a Kafka specialist, but I'll just write some thoughts about the..."I think there are many biographical pieces to the story. It was written in 1917, around the same time that he was having more serious health issues. According to some sources, in 1912, Kafka was considering suicide. In the story the patient is incurably sick and implores the doctor to let him die. Then there's the mysterious groom, whose fiancee is unknown, but who's advances on Rosa are inappropriate. Kafka was very conflicted about sexual relations, tending to visit prostitutes and distance himself physically from his women friends, maintaining relationships primarily via letters. I may be grasping at straws, I'm not sure.
The wikipedia entry has an interesting analysis. And it fits in with Kafka's novels of an anti-hero being trapped by circumstances and then guilty for being unable to act, even though there was nothing he could have done.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Count...
Klowey wrote: "Connie wrote: "I read the title story in The Country Doctor collection. There are many symbols that probably could be interpreted by a Kafka specialist, but I'll just write some tho..."Thanks for the link and biographical info, Klowey. I haven't read the other stories in the collection yet, but wonder if there is any connection between them and the title story.
Connie wrote: "Klowey wrote: "Connie wrote: "I read the title story in The Country Doctor collection. There are many symbols that probably could be interpreted by a Kafka specialist, but I'll just..."I hadn't noticed any. I think they were just put together in a collection.
I apologize for not getting back to our discussion sooner. I am always rushing at the end of the month to finish books to which I have committed for the month just like my beginning of the month is a rush to get all the books for the month started. I especially want to get back to Klowey on the "otherness," that we can identify in and with Kafka.I am almost finished with The Country Doctor stories, except for "A Message from the Emperor," which is excerpted from "The Great Wall of China. The stories in The Country Doctor are quite interesting I think in discussing Kafka and if anyone else is reading the stories. I would like to discuss some of the stories individually and will put up another post on some thoughts. I was so impressed with the stories I hadn't read from Country Doctor, I figure why not read another collection?
I am pushing "The Great Wall of China," into June originally intending to read The Bucket Rider" and "The Burrow," as well but since these stories were published in the posthumous collection The Great Wall of China and other Stories I am going to read that volume for June if anyone wants to join. Here is a contents description:
Longer Stories
Investigations of a Dog
The Burrow
The Great Wall of China
The Giant Mole
Short Stories and Fables
The Hunter Gracchus
The Married Couple
My Neighbor
A Common Confusion
The Bridge
The Bucket Rider
A Crossbreed
The Knock at the Manor Gate
The City Coat of Arms
The Silence of the Sirens
Prometheus
The Truth about Sancho Panza
The Problem of Our Laws
On Parables
A Little Fable
Aphorisms
"He"
Reflections on Sin, Pain, Hope, and the True Way (collection The Zürau Aphorisms, 109 entries from The Blue Octavo Notebooks)
Anyone else up for more Kafka stories?
Great analysis of "The Country Doctor." I was approaching the story more as an example of surrealism, a movement now defined by shared elements of related and unrelated artists that we can loosely put under the term. The related artists and origins of the term can be seen here :https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SurrealismBut like Existentialism, Surrealism encompasses artists that were not associated by the merits of similarity in their work. Kafka warrants that I think. Surrealism reacts against the order and accepted of the time and challenges by depending less on specific interpretation and more on multiple meanings, complexity of meaning and the possibility of nonmeaning. I see a lot of this in "The Country Doctor." I don't mean my approach to be a negation of yours but an alternative to any pat solution, summation, interpretation, or judgement.
In reference to this approach I am linking Susan Sontag's essay,
"Against Interpretation," and recommend taking a look at Milan Kundera's Testaments Betrayed: An Essay in Nine Parts. Both of these go into further explanation of what I mean if you are interested.
https://static1.squarespace.com/stati...
Also I think Kafka's "Cares of a Family Man," is related to this.
I'm glad you brought up Kafka's "Cares of a Family Man," Sam. When I was reading it, the story seemed playful until I got to the fourth paragraph with the sinister He lurks. The last paragraph hints that Odradek has some continuity with his family's life through the generations:Am I suppose, then, that he will always be rolling down the stairs, with ends of thread trailing after him, right before the feet of my children, and my children's children? He does no harm to anyone that one can see; but the idea that he is likely to survive me I find almost painful.
So Odradek could represent family/cultural/religious heritage and traditions which will live on after the death of the family man--or it could just be a surreal story. Kafka does not give us enough information to identify or classify an Odradek so we just have to use our imaginations. An Odradek could just be an invisible "unknown something" in the narrator's imagination.
Wikipedia has an article about the many interpretations of the story which I skimmed. There are all sorts of political and emotional interpretations:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Car...
Sam wrote: "I apologize for not getting back to our discussion sooner. I am always rushing at the end of the month to finish books to which I have committed for the month just like my beginning of the month is..."Yes, I am. I'm keeping a record on my Personal Page and would like to read all of Kafka this year, except The Trial and Amerika, which I'll to do next year. I'd like to add his diaries and letters too, but am not sure I can fit them in this year.
Now I need to figure out where all the stories in this new collection you mention:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gre...
fit into into my supposed complete set The Complete Stories.
You can see what I've read on my Personal Page; but in any case, I'm happy to follow along with any schedule. I share your feelings about scrambling at the end of the month. I'm also in the Short Story group so we have one story a week for that.
Sam wrote: "Great analysis of "The Country Doctor." I was approaching the story more as an example of surrealism, a movement now defined by shared elements of related and unrelated artists that we can loosely ..."I'm not sure if your comments were to Connie, me, or another, but I agree with your take. I've wanted to read the Sontag essay so thanks for the link.
My masters thesis was on Surrealist painting, so I am familiar with the movement. I think Kafka's work is definitely anchored in surrealism (with a small s). One of the common themes of Surrealism was a simultaneity of opposites. A film critic once described Surrealist film as viewing a narrative and then just as you feel you can believe in it and are grounded, it shakes you up and dismantles your 'reality.' Then it starts over, same thing. So that you keep being seduced, but your desire is never satisfied. One of the main tenets of Surrealism was "Keep your desire at arms reach, and you will recreate it endlessly." Though Kafka is perhaps less poetic and more dark.
In The Castle and from the film version I've seen of The Trial, the protagonist, K, could never get answers for his job (TC), his arrest (TT). The frustration (via bureaucracy) was very surrealist. And I can see this theme in many of his stories. I also love the absurdity and humor he adds.
Connie wrote: "I'm glad you brought up Kafka's "Cares of a Family Man," Sam. When I was reading it, the story seemed playful until I got to the fourth paragraph with the sinister He lurks. The last paragraph hint..."What a marvelous story. I think to myself: who else could have written a one-page story, so simple, yet so rich that the interpretations are many times longer than the story. It's so playful, poetic, existential. As an object 'without a definite meaning' it's almost a comment on itself, on the story itself.
And the sound of the word.
I just love it.
Given the title of the story, I also wonder about the section in his letter to his father where he talks about his fears and disappointments on marriage and the unrealized potential of having a family. If you search on the sentence: "However I had no foresight at all about the significance and possibility of marriage for me" the next couple of paragraphs are what I'm referring to.
https://www.prosperosisle.org/spip.ph...
I would love to see if any of you think the anxiety of the father in this story could be related to Kafka's feelings as expressed in the letter.
Klowey wrote: "I would love to see if any of you think the anxiety of the father in this story could be related to Kafka's feelings as expressed in the letter. ..."Interesting question, Klowey! In "Cares of a Family Man," there seems to be some protective fatherly anxiety that he will not be alive when his children need him.
However, in "The Letter to His Father," Kafka seems frightened by marriage, and thinks that most people just fall into the role of parenting and don't succeed as good parents. He expresses his personal fear and lack of confidence in the letter. We also know from other sources that Kafka was afraid that he would have to give up his precious writing time if he devoted time to marriage.
Connie wrote: "Kafka was afraid that he would have to give up his precious writing time if he devoted time to marriage."I did not know that, or I forgot. Thanks for the comments.
Since I have not got to "The Great Wall," stories, I offer up "Eleven Sons," for discussion. This short piece must be interesting for those considering the father role in Kafka's stories. The note on this story itha Kafka told Brod--" The Eleven Sons are quite simply eleven stories I am working on this very moment."Connie will see a similarity because Cheever plays off this theme in "A Miscellany of Characters That Will Not Appear." a recent read in our Cheever stories read.
In real life, I don't think I have ever met a father that mentioned every small flaw in all their children like the father in "Eleven Sons." Maybe that was the point of the story--the father would never be satisfied with his children, and would leave all eleven sons feeling that they were coming up short.
Connie wrote: "In real life, I don't think I have ever met a father that mentioned every small flaw in all their children like the father in "Eleven Sons." Maybe that was the point of the story--the father would ..."I just finished a reread of this story. I kept thinking - you'd almost have to had lived with a narcissist [assuming Kafka's father in this case] to even know how to write something like that. It was practically perfect. Writing with that level of detail, annoyance, careless humiliation must have required a lot of exposure that became etched in his memory to drawn on.
Or, maybe these were ideas for new stories. I am wondering how to interpret Kafka's comment that each son represented a story he was working on. I feel a bit like a psychological mess after reading it. I think I may have meant that with some angry sarcasm . . . I'm not sure. Thoughts on the story idea line?
My review is just a long quote from someone else's analysis (something I rarely do). In this case I really liked the phrasing and additional insights it revealed.
Comments on that are welcome.
Oh yes, a 4 stars, 4 solid ****s
I'm moving on to Description of a Struggle and then finishing the last two stories book in this collection: Kafka Four Stories: A Country Doctor, the Hunger Artist, the Little Woman, Report to the Academy.Open to chat about any Kafka story.
Klowey wrote: "Connie wrote: "In real life, I don't think I have ever met a father that mentioned every small flaw in all their children like the father in "Eleven Sons." Maybe that was the point of the story--th..."That's an interesting idea that it represents eleven unfinished stories, the idea that Sam was also alluding to. I can imagine that an author would find fault in some stories he was writing, and not be able to fix them so he's satisfied with his work.
Klowey wrote: "I'm moving on to Description of a Struggle and then finishing the last two stories book in this collection: Kafka Four Stories: A Country Doctor, the Hunger Artist, the Little ..."</i> </i>I'll try to read [book:Description of a Struggle tonight since it's on my list for June.
Connie wrote: "Klowey wrote: "Connie wrote: "In real life, I don't think I have ever met a father that mentioned every small flaw in all their children like the father in "Eleven Sons." Maybe that was the point o..."I like to look at this story as having multiple possibilties. For example is Kafka referring to real stories he is working on, ideas for stories he has, or does he imagine a narrator working on stories and it is only an idea for this one work? On criticisms--are the criticisms actually Kafka's, or are they perceived critisms Kafka imagines or anticipates?
I think how we answer those questions give us slightly different feelings about the piece. I do think we can accept the statement about the children being metaphors for the artist's creations to be
true whether in actuality or imagination.
And I'll read Description of a Struggle tomorrow.
Description of a Struggle is a three part early work composed of a collection of fragments. In the first part, the narrator and an acquaintance leave a tavern to walk in the cold night. The acquaintance appears to be the inner consciousness (or more confident side) of the narrator, rather than a separate person.There are several sections to the second part such as when the narrator rides on the shoulders of the acquaintance like a horse. A walk in a magical forest fantasy world reminded me of a Manga movie fantasy.
Another fantasy section involves a fat man who was being carried on a litter by four strong men. They drown as they attempt to cross a river, but the fat man floats down the river on the litter. Then the fat man tells a story about an emaciated man who prays as he beats his head on the floor of a church. The supplicant seems to be putting on a performance instead of genuinely praying.
In the third part, the narrator returns to his walk with the acquaintance. The narrator has some social anxiety and awkwardness when talking about women in various parts of the story.
Description of a Struggle is a group of story fragments which combine realistic and fantasy elements in a dreamlike experience.
Sam wrote: "Connie wrote: "Klowey wrote: "Connie wrote: "In real life, I don't think I have ever met a father that mentioned every small flaw in all their children like the father in "Eleven Sons." Maybe that ..."Oh yes. Now I can see it. He was probably so used to his father's criticism that he used that approach to critique his own work. And yes, it could also be how he fears others might criticize it.
I read somewhere that he would read his stories (maybe even if not finished) outloud to his friends at the cafes, and they would all laugh at the humor in them, Kafka too. I think his friends liked his work.
Was there ever a hint at which stories might correspond to which sons? I can imagine it was fleeting too, his thoughts while writing them, not necessarily after they were finished.
What a clever story idea that was.
Connie wrote: "Klowey wrote: "Connie wrote: "In real life, I don't think I have ever met a father that mentioned every small flaw in all their children like the father in "Eleven Sons." Maybe that was the point o..."Kafka told Max Brod: "The eleven sons are quite simply eleven stories I am working on this very moment." The story was written between 1914 and 1917.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleven_...
I am almost finished reading A Country Doctor (collection). Just missing Ein Bericht für eine Akademie (A Report to an Academy). I am taking a break, to read the other group reads for June. A Country Doctor: I had trouble understanding this story. Usually I look for what things symbolize. Here it is the action: the Country Doctor being pushed around by events unable to do anything. He is prevented from taking real action by not understanding what is going on and events happening too fast.
The Next Village: This story! Wow! It is super short and super depressing. Because it is true: Life is too short to visit the neighboring village. It gets stressing and depressing when you start to think about everything you do: Is life too short for this?
Eleven Sons: Such a chocking way to talk about his sons – or even other people. Wikipedia had a inside into why (do not read before you read the story!): (view spoiler)
I consider it a huge spoiler as it completely changed my view of the story knowing that.
I would like to read some of the unpublished stories as well. Specifically I already have my eyes onInvestigations of a Dog "Forschungen eines Hundes"
The Burrow "Der Bau" (Danish: Bygningen)
Anyone want to make a suggestion for a time plan?
I suggest chronological order. It would also be a great help if you can include the original title of the story.
I think Sam and I are reading Description of a Struggle. I just finished "A Report to the Academy" (and my complete collection has a an additional section to it that I'm reading.
I've read "The Burrow" and am up to talk about it anytime.
My Personal Page has my status. Happy to add any story after those.
I found another interpretation of part of "A Country Doctor" by chance in an old library book Biblical Images in Literature: The Bible In Literature Courses when I was looking up information about different book with Biblical elements. In Kings, both Elijah and Elisha cure a sick boy by lying in bed with him in separate instances. There is also a mention of the Biblical passages in this online article by a grad student, Vera Saunders. I copied and pasted a paragraph. The t's seem to be printing as squares:
A Country Doctor - First it starts in normality - then the horses in a pigsty attended by a man
who bites the servant girl - the man then makes the horses drive off (with the doctor unable to
control them) so that the man can finish his violence towards the girl. Whilst the doctor - as in a
dream - finds himself suddenly ten miles on - at the paent's house, sll concerned for the
servant girl, but whisked away to the proposed desnaon. Now come more people into the
story, who strip the doctor and put him next to the injured paent, channg a verse to explain
that they expect this acon to heal the boy - reminiscent of Elijah and Elisha, which would have
been part of Jewish scripture [as well as biblical].
1 Kings 17
Amplified Bible (AMP)
19 He said to her, Give me your son. And he took him from her bosom and carried him up into
the chamber where he stayed and laid him upon his own bed.
20 And Elijah cried to the Lord and said, O Lord my God, have You brought further calamity
upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?
21 And he stretched himself upon the child three mes and cried to the Lord and said, O Lord
my God, I pray You, let this child’s soul come back into him.
22 And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the soul of the child came into him again, and he
revived.
2 Kings 4
Amplified Bible (AMP)
32 When Elisha arrived in the house, the child was dead and laid upon his bed.
33 So he went in, shut the door on the two of them, and prayed to the Lord.
34 He went up and lay on the child, put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his
hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself on him and embraced him, the child’s flesh
became warm.
35 Then he returned and walked in the house to and fro and went up again and stretched
himself upon him. And the child sneezed seven mes, and then opened his eyes.
https://www.academia.edu/39161682/On_...
I asked perplexity about Vera's approach I found this:"her specific association of biblical stories with Kafka's "A Country Doctor" in the provided sources. However, the academic discussion around Kafka's story does engage with the idea of biblical and theological themes, which would be relevant to Sanders' approach.
The article "A Theology of Illness: Franz Kafka’s 'A Country Doctor'" by Aaron Manson explores how the story can be read through a theological lens, discussing themes of duty, faith, and the blurred lines between the roles of doctor and priest. The analysis notes Kafka's skepticism toward both Jewish and Christian concepts of duty and redemption, and highlights how the story complicates the notion of moral and spiritual healing, not just physical healing. The text draws parallels between the doctor's role and biblical or religious expectations, such as the need for a "savior" rather than a mere physician, and references to biblical passages and Jewish ritual (e.g., circumcision, ritual slaughter)."
http://www.shirleymohr.com/JHU/Sample...
J_BlueFlower wrote: "I would like to read some of the unpublished stories as well. Specifically I already have my eyes onInvestigations of a Dog "Forschungen eines Hundes"
The Burrow "Der Bau" (Danish: Bygningen)
Any..."
I am reading these following stories in order from the first posthumous collection The Great Wall of China and other Stories edited by Max Brod and Hans-Joachim Schoeps published in 1931. Wikipedia link below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gre...
Longer Stories
Investigations of a Dog
The Burrow
The Great Wall of China
The Giant Mole
Short Stories and Fables
The Hunter Gracchus
The Married Couple
My Neighbor
A Common Confusion
The Bridge
The Bucket Rider
A Crossbreed
The Knock at the Manor Gate
The City Coat of Arms
The Silence of the Sirens
Prometheus
The Truth about Sancho Panza
The Problem of Our Laws
On Parables
A Little Fable
Aphorisms
"He"
Reflections on Sin, Pain, Hope, and the True Way (collection The Zürau Aphorisms, 109 entries from The Blue Octavo Notebooks)
Sorry to be so slow to comment. Summer heats slows me down dramatically and it seems everything is competing for attention right now.
Connie described "Description of a Struggle," but I would like to add that this story is closer to the surrealism that defies meaning and I am linking Luis Bunuel's, "Un Chien Andalou" (1929) for a comparable surrealist narrative in film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8yKT...
Somewhere along the line we should be talking about Max Brod, Kafka's friend, and executor of his literary works after Kafka died.
"Description of a Struggle," was supposedly a work that got Brod to continue on with writing, according to a Wikipedia entry on the stroy.
Also I am linking Kafka: The Early Years by Reiner Stach the first of a three volume biography that has received much praise.
I'm a little behind, trying to finish up deadlines for some other groups. I'll be back soon.
I too am behind, and trying to catch up on June and prepare my July reads. That said, "Investigations of a Dog," is very interesting and I am curious what others think of the story. My English translation also had a prose style that was a little different from some of our other works with longer sentences more resembling writings on philosophy which is a theme of the story and I am curious if that is true in the original or whatever translation you are reading. I will revisit this story in the first week of July and then plan to move to "The Burrow."
I am a lot behind. And both July and August looks busy to me.
Here is what looks realistic for me:--July:--
* Finish A Country Doctor collection
--August:--
* A Hunger Artist (1922) Also a collection. (I am skipping this. Read it recently)
* News paper items (incl "The Aeroplanes at Brescia" )
* "Description of a Struggle"
--September:--
* The Burrow (unpublished ) German: "Der Bau", also known as "The Building", "Bygningen"
* Investigations of a Dog (unpublished ).
I'm also overextended for July and August. I have copies of "The Burrow" and "The Aeroplanes at Brescia" that I plan to read in September.
I have finished the "A Country Doctor" collection.I think I can get "Description of a Struggle" and "Investigations of a Dog" read in July.
I've read "The Burrow" twice, it's one of my favs. A little repetitive but the little burrow guy is clearly OCD. ;-)
I've read "A Hunger Artist" and loved it. Looking forward to a discussion.
I'm up for any others after Mid July.
Sam wrote: "Great analysis of "The Country Doctor." I was approaching the story more as an example of surrealism, a movement now defined by shared elements of related and unrelated artists that we can loosely ..."Just finished "Against Interpretation." Thank you for the recommendation. Among other things (there were so many insightful and witty tidbits in it) it was a good reminder that just loving a work of art, even if you can't explain why, is not only OK, but maybe exactly what you should feel sometimes.
Sam wrote: "I too am behind, and trying to catch up on June and prepare my July reads. That said, "Investigations of a Dog," is very interesting and I am curious what others think of the story. My English tran..."I just finished Investigations of a Dog. I like the general idea, seeking answers to things in life that do not make sense. Naturally it reminded me of homo sapiens probably wondering about earthquakes, solar eclipses, thunder, etc. And then how early civilizations created the gods to explain the unknown.
But I had to look up some explanations of the story because I didn't actually understand that he was referring to 'circus' and 'performing' dogs at first. I suspect that during his lifetime performing animals were much more common (organ grinders and monkeys, dancing bears, etc.) It also took me a while to realize he was talking about dogs and not seeing his humans as dogs who act a bit different.
Some of the dialogue reminded me of the animal protagonist from The Burrow, but I much preferred that story. I think the subject of 'obsession' worked better for me. I didn't relate to the dog in this one very much.
Your thoughts?
J_BlueFlower wrote: "Here is what looks realistic for me:--July:--
* Finish A Country Doctor collection
--August:--
* A Hunger Artist (1922) Also a collection. (I am skipping this. Read it recently)
* News paper ite..."
I'm falling a little behind of my other reading so I'll read "Description of a Struggle" if we start on conversation on it.
I've read and can discuss any of these:
A Country Doctor collection
A Hunger Artist
The Burrow
Investigations of a Dog
Glad to see everyone back. I halted my reading when others took a summer break and will get back to it now. "Investigations of a Dog," is most interesting to me for Kafka's style in writing it which my English translation matches the convoluted prose of some philosophical writing.
I read Country Doctor and Hunger Artist back in April, and was impressed by both collections, Before The Law and Josefine The Singer being my faves from each, BTL being the quintessential Kafka for me - I think if you aren't gobsmacked by BTL you're never going to be a fan of Kafka,Josefine The Singer was new to me and I'm surprised it isn't much better known - so engaging on some levels, but "proper" "trickysy" Kafka-esque on others.
Sam wrote: "Glad to see everyone back. I halted my reading when others took a summer break and will get back to it now. "Investigations of a Dog," is most interesting to me for Kafka's style in writing it whic..."I would be interested in what you think of The Burrow since that story was also told from the point of view of an animal.
Darren wrote: "I read Country Doctor and Hunger Artist back in April, and was impressed by both collections, Before The Law and Josefine The Singer being my faves from each, BTL being the quintessential Kafka for..."Before the Law is transcendent. :-)
The first time I experienced it was with Orson Welles narrating.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv-n5qWmBno
He also directed and appeared in his film version of The Trial, which I thought was brilliant. And Welles said that it was his favorite of all the films he has made (by which I think he meant, directed).
I have yet to read Josephine the Singer, or the Mouse Folk, but I can try that one now. It gets a lot of mention.
I have been caught up with all sorts of other things. Specially The Red and the BlackAhem..., new plan for me:
--August:--
* Finish A Country Doctor collection
* A Hunger Artist (I am skipping this. Read it recently)
--September:--
* News paper items (incl "The Aeroplanes at Brescia" )
* "Description of a Struggle"
* The Burrow (unpublished ) German: "Der Bau", also known as "The Building", "Bygningen"
* Investigations of a Dog (unpublished ).
I will read these stories. I am just not moving so fast.
J_BlueFlower wrote: "I have been caught up with all sorts of other things. Specially The Red and the BlackAhem..., new plan for me:
--August:--
* Finish A Country Doctor collection
* A Hunger Artist (I ..."
As for me, I'm getting pretty booked for the rest of the year with other CUOC challenges. But I will be continuing reading Kafka next year. I hope to finish his fiction by 2026 or 2027, if you want to continue discussing it. I want to finish the short story collection first, then read The Trial and Amerika. I might read his non-fiction later.
I am still hung up on Investigations of a Dog, and will get to The Burrow by the weekend. Here is an interesting article on Investigations of a Dog.https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/ka...
Sam wrote: "I am still hung up on Investigations of a Dog, and will get to The Burrow by the weekend. Here is an interesting article on Investigations of a Dog.https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/ka......"
Reading this now. Very enlightening, not only for this story but for all of Kafka's work. Will comment more when I'm done.
I can see that reading his letters (used in the review) will probably significantly enrich my understanding of his writings.
I have read “A Report to an Academy” (1917). The last story in ”A Country Doctor”Yet another allegorical tale. This time an ape transforming it self by imitating humans.
I noticed that the human are often tease in ape, but he sees it as kindness or teaching.
I tend to think it is about the human behaving as animals, and the ape trying to become human by behaving equally bad.
Reading on the net, I see some other possibilities: a metaphor for how individuals or minorities adapt to dominant cultures. "A Report to an Academy" first appeared in a Zionist magazine. Nicholas Murray briefly suggests in his 2004 biography of Kafka that the story is a satirization of Jews' assimilation into Western culture. Ooch! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Repor...
I loved “A Report to an Academy" and was very emotionally touched by it - I think partly because I love animals and also because I have rescue parrots and worked for the parrot rescue organization. So I have first hand experience with exotic wild animals (some wild caught, some only one generation from their wild parents) having to live in a captive world despite instincts that evolved for environments very different.I can definitely see the reference to minorities, immigrants, having to adjust to the dominant cultures. Kafka's written other metaphors about different cultures and groups, such as "Jackals and Arabs."
The story also reminded me of the movie "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes" and of Stockholm syndrome.
This was one of Kafka's published (and completed) works, and I found it really solid and moving.
Catching up on Classics (and lots more!)
Books mentioned in this topic
Amerika (other topics)The Trial (other topics)
The Red and the Black (other topics)
The Red and the Black (other topics)
Josephine the Singer, or the Mouse Folk (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Reiner Stach (other topics)Will Rees (other topics)
Franz Kafka (other topics)
"The Country Doctor" seems to be a nightmare with supernatural elements, and takes place out of real time. The doctor is trying to do something good by answering the sick call, but he's ineffectual. He's unable to prevent the rape of his maid, Rosa. The doctor knows that the boy's wound will be fatal, but he's unable to help him. The boy and the parents need a man of faith to prepare them for the death, but the doctor cannot play that role either. The family seems to want a magical solution, but the doctor is not capable of performing magic. He is a failure in his own eyes and in the eyes of the community--but it's only a bad dream or hallucination. The story ends:
"A false alarm on the night bell, once answered--it cannot be made good, not ever."
It can be read only as a story, or seen with some autobiographical elements. Kafka was unhappy in his law profession, his father made him feel like a failure, and he was ambivalent about his engagement to Felice. Although he hadn't been diagnosed with tuberculosis yet, Kafka may have already suspected his health problems.