Alienation and Corruption in “The Trial” by Franz Kafka

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Introduction

Franz Kafka is one of the most reputable authors who have explored alienation and corruption in their literary works. Although human beings alienate themselves for their advantage, they can suffer from their actions. Meanwhile, totalitarianism and corruption are detrimental to social and economic development. Franz Kafka explores the two themes by narrating the stories of protagonists in his works. The themes are evident in his “The Metaphor” and “The Trial”. However, the latter gives a wider perspective of alienation and totalitarianism in contemporary society. Franz Kafka in “The Trial” argues that alienation and corruption can benefit specific individuals, they encumber personal and social development.

Plot Summary

Freedom and enjoyment of other human rights are anchored on the effectiveness of a country’s criminal justice system. Therefore, a compromised system can be hurtful to many powerless individuals. Franz Kafka was a visionary German-language writer with epic works including “The Trial” and “The Metaphor”. “The Trial” was posthumously published in 1925, and is regarded as the most pessimistic of his works. The novel explores the life of a young man, Joseph K., who is intertwined in the mindless bureaucracy. Consequently, he becomes synonymous with anxiety and a sense of alienation. “The Trial” is a replica of the biased contemporary criminal justice system.

The novel starts with the story of Joseph K., the protagonist who is under arrest during his thirtieth birthday. The opening sentence gives an overview of the main issue the novel discusses. Franz Kafka starts his novel by stating, “Somebody must have slandered Joseph K., for one morning, without having done anything wrong, he was arrested” (Kafka 2). The absurdity of K.’s situation is that the inspector, before whom he is summoned, does not know the charges put against him. The situation worsens when the protagonist is not informed of his hearing dates and is scolded by the judge. The novel ends with Joseph K. not knowing why he was arrested and the criminal justice system in which he found himself ensnared.

Literature Review and Thematic Analysis

Franz Kafka utilizes various themes, making his novel interesting and a true depiction of contemporary society. Alienation, corruption, power, sex, and totalitarianism are the most explored themes in the novel. The novel criticizes totalitarianism in which the government has absolute control of a citizen’s everyday life. Additionally, the author is scornful of the government that fails to be accountable to individual citizens. According to Franz Kafka, misuse of the power of lack of effective principles of governance. While exploring corruption in the criminal justice system, Franz Kafka presents how alienated and anxious the victims of such systems feel. Therefore, corruption and totalitarianism breed anxiety and loneliness in the society members.

Alienation

Alienation is a sociological and psychological issue that can be detrimental to a person’s relationship with other members of society. There is no clear-cut trajectory on the definition of alienation since it involves an individual’s emotions, friends, and society at large. However, the term can be described as a situation in which a person withdraws and becomes isolated from their social environment (Rotenstreich 32). Alienation is associated with various emotions which include a feeling of helplessness, meaningless of the world, and difficulty in speaking and associating with others. Therefore, alienation leads to disappointments and hopelessness in the systems that make up society.

Cultural, social, and self-estrangements are the common forms of alienation that affect an individual. According to Zhang and Lee, cultural estrangement involves a feeling of being removed from the established values of society. Social estrangement includes a belief that society does not value the dignity of a person. For instance, people feel undermined in a community that grants privileges to a specific race but is biased against others. Meanwhile, self-estrangement manifests as being out of touch with oneself in various ways, and inability to form a personal identity (Ioris). Although the three forms of alienation, as defined by various scholars, manifest differently, their effects are common.

Alienation in “The Trial”

Franz Kafka portrays his nightmarish stories to him and the whole human conditions’ acquittances. The novel presents the incompatibility of the “divine law” and human law, and the protagonist’s, Joseph K., inability to understand the discrepancy. Although Joseph K. tries to come to terms with his society’s reality, he is hopelessly caught in the mechanism of his contriving, and a series of accidents and incidents. In “The Trial”, the protagonist is intertwined between the good and evil of society, but can neither understand their scope nor resolve their contradiction. Consequently, it is difficult for Joseph K. to give a clear answer to his identity and personality in life. The protagonist’s anxiety and the feeling of loneliness are exacerbated by the compromised nature of the criminal justice system.

The author views society as all-compromising but indifferent, risking the enjoyment of freedoms and natural rights by the powerless. Joseph K. is one individual who is treated differently from the privileged members of society. The novel starts with a story of how Joseph K. was arbitrarily arrested. Joseph K. struggles to understand why he was arrested, and why the inspector tells him that he has done nothing wrong. Franz Kafka explores the theme of alienation through the trial of Joseph K. who is seemingly isolated by society.

Criminal justice systems are supposed to be unbiased, offering all the members of society an equal opportunity to defend themselves. However, in “The Trial” the defense is manifested paradoxically since some individuals are isolated from the set principles of the judicial process. Joseph K. is treated unequally and denied an opportunity to defend himself. While the guards insist that he has committed a punishable crime under the country’s laws, they fail to specify the crime committed. Failure to inform Joseph K. of his crime proves alienation within the police system in his society. The absence of a defending chance denies Joseph K. an opportunity to assert himself, and vocally raise his concerns. Consequently, the criminal justice system has alienated itself from the common citizens and wants them to just blend in.

Moreover, Franz Kafka explores alienation in “The Trial” by showing a lack of camaraderie within the social institutions. While the protagonist is subjected to various institutions that make up the justice system, each institution acts on its own to fulfill its desires. The guards arrest Joseph K. and are seemingly doing what is expected of them by society. Meanwhile, the inspector fails to collaborate with the guards to know why Joseph K. was arrested. Additionally, the lawyers in the novel have alienated themselves from their clients. The author states, “It looks as though the advocate aims to exploit the obtuseness and cowardice of his clients for his own self-aggrandizement” (Kafaka 142). The inspector did so to excuse himself from the case and continue staying in the neighbor’s bedroom. Furthermore, the courts act isolated by failing to work closely with the inspector, guards, and Joseph K. to expeditiously solve the underlying issue.

Although alienation is shown in the criminal justice system, Joseph K. is also presented as a person who does everything for his benefit. The protagonist takes strategic actions at his workplace to fulfill his desires. He is a rival with the bank’s deputy director and does anything possible to quash him. The consequences of his actions are seen when he kisses Fraulein Burstner and later distances himself from her. At the end of the novel, Franz Kafka states that Joseph K. cares so little about Fraulein Burstner. Joseph K.’s ability to control his life comes to an end when he finds himself at the mercy of the biased judiciary.

Totalitarianism and Corruption

While totalitarianism and corruption have different meanings, they are closely associated. In a strict sense, totalitarianism means a form of governance in which individuals are under the absolute control of the government. According to Feltran (98), a totalitarian government seeks to subordinate all aspects of an individual to state authority. Congleton agrees with Feltran’s argument since he states that in a totalitarian government, the citizens are denied an opportunity to express themselves and take part in key decision-making activities. Unlike dictatorship, totalitarianism supplants all political institutions with new ones and does away with legal, social, and political traditions. “The Trial” is a perfect example of how harmful totalitarianism can be.

Corruption is a common characteristic of totalitarianism and tends to benefit a few individuals in society. Corruption is defined as dishonest and fraudulent conduct by individuals with power and typically involves bribery (Li et al.). According to Hardiman, totalitarianism results from the failure of the government to intervene in corruption and its related activities. Hardiman further argues that totalitarianism and corruption are the same things since one cannot talk of totalitarianism without corruption. In his novel, “The Trial”, Franz Kafka depicts the court system as corrupt and one that is totalitarian. Therefore, individuals have no options when brought before the court but bend as low as the judge decides.

Totalitarianism and Corruption in “The Trial”

“The Trial” follows criticism of the judicial system as presented in the similar works of the ancient Greek tragedian Sophocles to Shakespeare. While the novelist’s narration presents him as an outstanding one, it shows how well-acquainted he was with the law. The author shows totalitarianism and corruption in various ways and incidents throughout the novel. Incomprehensible legal proceedings, court vagueness, and the absence of the right to self-defense are elements of totalitarianism and corruption in the novel. Joseph K.’s encounters sum up the court system as the one guided by the principle that accusation is equal to conviction. The blurry nature of the judicial system encumbers social and personal development among those who fall victim to its processes.

Franz Kafka is satirical against the pointless, corrupt, and incomprehensible nature of legal proceedings. Joseph K. is arrested on a fine morning without a proper explanation. Although he had managed to solve his problems including the one at the workplace, he finds himself between life and death. Franz Kafka states, “The proceedings were not only kept secret from the general public but from the accused as well” (Kafka 110). Keeping legal proceedings secretive is one of the most common elements of corruption since people with power can use it to their advantage. The author uses various symbols to present the vagueness of the courts in the novel. He associates the court with words such as “darkness”, “dust”, “staleness” and “suffocation”. Franz Kafka narrates that the court is constantly surrounded by fog, symbolizing the clouded judicial system’s vision.

Totalitarianism is depicted in the novel through the description of the trial process. The courts have absolute control of the accused and their representative. The author states, “filled with sludge and lawyers are strictly forbidden to improve their situation with any structural repair or alterations” (Kafka 100). Additionally, as observed in the novel Joseph K. is denied an opportunity to defend himself. Evidence and defense are useless in the court, and all that matters is one’s connection with higher court officials. The lawyers in the novel are pursued to build a connection with those in power. According to the author, “the most important thing was counsel’s connection with the officials of the court; in that lay the chief value of the defense” (Kafka 110). As the novel comes to a close, Joseph K. is left with only one option: accept the execution as directed by the court.

Effects of Alienation, Totalitarianism, and Corruption in “The Trial”

Scholars in sociology have broadly explored the effects of alienation, totalitarianism, and corruption in society. Alienation and totalitarianism lead to intergroup hostility, political withdrawal, status-seeking, and a sense of powerlessness. The argument is consistent with the observations made in “The Trial” as narrated by Franz Kafka. Intergroup hostility involves prejudice and negative opinions against specific individuals in society. In “The Trial” the hostility can be observed when Joseph K. was arbitrarily arrested and subjected to an unconducive environment. The hostile environment and actions taken against Joseph K. exacerbated his physical and psychological pain.

Political withdrawal is manifested in various forms, and it involves key players in social progress. In “The Trial”, the author targets professions in the criminal justice system. Lawyers have a moral duty and obligation to speak up against atrocities that humans are subjected to by a totalitarian government. Instead, Franz Kafka describes lawyers as professionals who are interested in exploiting their clients and not defending them. Therefore, it seems the lawyers are politically withdrawn. Additionally, the judges have conformed to the existing system, and no longer deliver their moral and professional duty. Furthermore, the guards and the inspector have failed to operate as expected by the law. Political withdrawal is the root cause of continued totalitarianism and corruption in a society.

Status-seeking and a sense of powerlessness can be caused by alienation and totalitarianism. Joseph K. seeks to be recognized as more powerful than the deputy director of the bank he is working at. However, his ambitions are brought to stoppage when he is arrested and subjected to the harsh criminal justice system. (Kafka 3) argues that status-seeking and corruption are associated. Meanwhile, a sense of powerlessness is felt by those whom society disfavors, including Joseph K. in “The Trial”. According to Cantón-Cortés et al. (212), a sense of powerlessness can lead to psychological disorders including anxiety and depression. Therefore, alienation, totalitarianism, and corruption are detrimental to social and personal growth.

Critique of the Themes as Presented

Although Franz Kafka has effectively explored alienation, totalitarianism, and corruption in his novel, his work is not perfect. The author is limited in what the reader knows about the protagonist and the criticized system. For instance, the novel throws the reader into a bewildering world of the first trial of the protagonist without giving some background information. Consequently, it is difficult for the reader to have sufficient knowledge of the novel’s happenings. Moreover, the novelist is highly biased against the system he presents. Throughout the novel, Franz Kafka fails to mention some of the steps taken to salvage the corrupt and incomprehensible courts. Therefore, it is upon the reader to understand and come up with solutions to the overacting social problems in the novel.

Conclusion

Franz Kafka’s “The Trial” is a classic example of an alienated and totalitarian society. The novel explores the story of Joseph K. who struggles to win social status but is later subjected to a corrupt criminal justice system. Franz Kafka uses various stylistic devices including symbolism to describe the unjust court system. Alienation and totalitarianism breed corruption in the novel, making it difficult for the protagonists to be served justice. While Joseph K. alienates himself at his workplace for personal advantage, he is isolated when brought to trial. Consequently, he is not informed of his crime and is denied an opportunity to defend himself. Although the author gives a true depiction of contemporary society, his work is biased and with limited knowledge for the audience.

Works Cited

Cantón-Cortés, David, et al. “A Structural Equation Model of Depression Risk in Young Women with a History of Child Sexual Abuse.” Feminist Criminology, vol. 17, no. 2, 2021, pp. 206–222, Web.

Congleton, Roger D. “Governance by True Believers: Supreme Duties with and without Totalitarianism.” Constitutional Political Economy, vol. 31, no. 1, 2020, pp. 111–41, Web.

Feltran, Gabriel. “Centripetal Force: A Totalitarian Movement in Contemporary Brazil.” Soundings, vol. 75, no. 75, 2020, pp. 95–110, Web.

Hardiman, Michael. The Path to Mass Evil: Hannah Arendt and Totalitarianism Today. Taylor & Francis, 2022.

Ioris, Antonio A. R. “World out of Difference: Relations and Consequences.” Philosophy & Social Criticism, Web.

Kafka, Franz. The trial. Translated by Willa Muir, Verlag Die Schmiede, 1925.

Li, Jessica C. M., et al. “Financial Fraud against Older People in Hong Kong: Assessing and Predicting the Fear and Perceived Risk of Victimization.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 3, 2022, p. 1233, Web.

Rotenstreich, Nathan. Alienation: The Concept and its Reception. Brill, 2022.

Zhang, Yang, and Timothy J. Lee. “Alienation and Authenticity in Intangible Cultural Heritage Tourism Production.” International Journal of Tourism Research, Web.

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