Power and Powerlessness in the Novel The Trial
The Trial by Franc Kafka is a novel ebbed with mystery. The story is about the arrest, arraignment, and execution of a bank chief financial officer by the name Josef K. His arrest is under peculiar circumstances as there are no formal charges against him. The inspector informs the man that he has to attend a series of court sessions to earn his freedom. Due to the physical and psychological strain of his trial and quest for the truth, Josef loses himself. The book ends with his sentence to death at night to alienate him further. The novel is a reflection of the growth of bureaucracy, abuse of power, and the oppression of the society members.
Power is tyrannical and aberrant. Josef (the protagonist) is at war with an authority that defies rationality and human morals. The themes of power and powerlessness are recurring in the story, and this is evident from the first chapter. Josef’s arresting officer’s laugh at him when he asks for his breakfast. They go as far as devouring his breakfast with no consideration of his needs. It shows how authorities in modern society act to impose power on individuals under their rule (Kafka, 2019). It also outlines how power is concentrated on a few people in the society who have no one to hold them accountable. Those in power take without asking; they feel entitled to everything they stumble upon. However, the novel still portrays Joseph as an influential figure in his personal capacity. Nevertheless, he agrees to go into his room to await further directions as he understands that he has power at this point. One of the policemen admit to not understanding the law themselves when Josef presents his identification card for inspection, and this is proof that the law enforcement officers take joy in exerting their power instead of understanding the law to serve justly.
The location of the court also brings a lot of questions to mind. It is a rundown area with no signs to point out the actual building. A courthouse should be easily accessible to the public it serves and structured to ensure order while trying and executing those accused. Josef is chastised for being late to his trial, and the magistrate refers to him as a house painter, thus demeaning his position. Josef exerts his power by calling out the court officials on what he believes is a preconceived notion that he is already guilty. Josef is also aware that he is not the only one who suffers the fate of an arrest with no inkling to his mistakes. Therefore, he reproaches the judicial system and its evils against the people in society. The man speaks on behalf of accused individuals who feel too scared to question the justice system. It is a contradiction of freedom that Josef has permission to conduct his daily affairs as a free man yet, he is in a personal prison which he cannot free himself. The constant battle to prove his innocence has affected his life and work. He always lived life in the present with no worries of the future but he has to change his ways and fight to have that future.
There is a definite power struggle between the accused and the magistrate as Josef wonders how a man of irreproachable conduct such as himself got into that situation. In The Trial, Kafka shows that bribery from authoritative figures is not a menace only faced by society today. Still, it was also an experience in the early onset of modern society. One of the arresting officers asks Josef to give him his clothes for “safe-keeping,” otherwise, his clothes may get lost in storage or sold off. The magistrate in charge of Josef’s trial takes advantage of his position as he is confident that no one can question his actions. He has obscene literature books on his desk instead of the expected law books. The main subject of the novel also speaks of the power that women hold. He had witnessed how the court was full of “skirt-chasers.” “Show the examining judge a woman in the distance, and he’ll run right over the desk, and the accused, just to get to her as soon as he can” (Kafka, 2019, p.115). Josef believes that a woman can help him sway the judge in his favor. It is a testimony to the abuse of power by the judge and other authorities as they exchange sexual favors for special treatment.
The protagonist feels powerless due to his arrest with no idea of what his crimes are, yet no one feels the need to let him know. The arrest is a random act of violence to Joseph, who is sure he has done no wrong, but the society is out to get him. He further feels powerless when forced to get a change of attire so that he can meet the inspector who he had been waiting to shed light into his situation. It is unfair and demeaning to ask a man who holds power in his own right to dress to appease the inspector. Josef also feels powerless as he is unable to explain to Miss Burstner and his uncle the nature of his crime only that he has to go to court. Further, he loses his identity and is dominated by the unfairness of the bureaucratic system, which seeks to make him confess to a crime he is not aware of; neither is he guilty.
The court exerts its power by withholding summons to Josef to appear before it after he directly addresses it and calls out the actions of the judge and the arresting officers. Here, the court is acting to remind the accused that they are the law, and they can act in whichever way they wish without the fear of consequences. Josef is powerless against the law. He tries to access and understand the law by seeking advice from individuals he deems understand his plight. It is evident when Josef seeks the services of a lawyer who eventually proves ineffective. He also asks for painter Titoreli’s opinion and even the priest (Kafka, 2019). However, none of his actions bears fruits as he is ill-starred as he is of the assumption that there is the law and its officials are the advocates.
Josef does not understand that these advocates are the law, and they hold all the power against him. It is a give and receive power system, as evident from the painter who paints portraits of judges to appease them. The protagonist deals with the bureaucratic system in the wrong way. He imposes his opinions on them, yet they prefer to exchange favors. By rejecting help from the lawyer, who is a figure of authority, Josef succumbs to the power of the law. He