Blog #1 Analysis on "Before the Law"

My group believes that the Marxist literary theory applies to the story. The gate and the numerous following rooms may represent society’s class system. Each advancing room is more and more difficult to get through, like how it requires more effort to go up the levels of the class system. Another reason why my group believes that Marxist literary theory applies to the story is that the gatekeeper represents an authority. He is the caretaker of the gate, and he decides who he will help get in. He can help people get in if he wants, but only if he wants. The way the countryman spends and gives so many things to the gatekeeper to win his approval is that of bribery. The indication of class can also be seen through the gatekeeper’s coat. A fur coat can be a sign of wealth especially for a countryman. However, the coat is not clean and filled with fleas. These fleas on a coat may represent corrupt wealth. Although my group’s literary theory makes sense, it fails to explain the motive behind the countryman’s determination to win over the approval of the gatekeeper.

 When I read “Before the Law” by Franz Kafka, I believed that psychoanalytic literary theory applied to the short story. Throughout the story, a man of the country attempts to convince the gatekeeper to let him passage to the gate, so he could enter the law. However, instead of forcing his way through the gate, the man continues his futile attempts to persuade the gatekeeper until he deteriorates to the point where he is no longer capable of entry. One possible explanation for the man’s lack of meaningful action can be deduced if one considers his psychological state. At first, the man wants entry into the law. When the man hears of the intensifying challenges that he would have to face once he crosses the gate, the man starts to question why the law was not accessible to everyone. However, once he looks at the gatekeeper’s attire and facial features, he convinces himself that it would be better to wait instead. As the story progresses, it starts to become apparent that the man unconsciously loses interest in entering the law and instead becomes obsessed in gaining the approval of the gatekeeper. Although the man does not outright say that he gives up in passing the gate, the man makes no effort in finding other entries though the gate. The man’s main objective is to now win over the approval of the gatekeeper as evidence by the story:

The man… spends everything, no matter how valuable, to win over the gatekeeper… During the many years… He forgets the other gatekeepers, and this one seems to him the only obstacle for entry into the law. (Franz Kafka)

This unnatural determination to win over a person can possibly be an indication of an inferiority complex. The man likely feels that he is inferior to the gatekeeper with the fur coat. Therefore, he wants to prove to the gatekeeper that he is equal to the gatekeeper. He gives the gatekeeper many gifts to show off his wealth, but to no avail. His passion of conquering the gatekeeper eventually leads to his downfall. The story is likely about the way the mind affect’s one’s actions as seen by the countryman’s abnormal effort and lavish spending to convince the gatekeeper.