Franz Kafka, a former government insurance office worker who now is known as one of Europe's greatest 20th century writers with such great novels as Metamorphosis and The Trial would state that the creation of the human race was due to the product of one of God’s bad day and how nothing really matters or makes sense. Kafka characters commonly seem to struggle to understand and navigate the strange complexity of the systems and norms of a society, which can lead to alienation and oppression. Through his exploration of communication and language in his work Kafka shows the importance of literacy and effective communication in understanding and navigating the world. Kafka's purpose in expressing these ideas is to critique society’s oppressive stents and to highlight the absurdity of life. Which is why his intended audience is mainly focused on those who are open to questioning societal norms and are as well willing to consider the consequences of a lack of effective communication.
Kafka uses the literary device of symbolism to critique society’s oppressive and irrational systems with his work similarly showing the same issues which his characters seem to struggle to understand and escape from these systems as well. As seen in his novel “The Metamorphosis,” Kafka uses the transformation of Gregor Samasa in a bug “As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.” as a symbolic interpretation for the dehumanization and ostracization of individuals who don’t conform to social norms. Same thing, in Kafka’s short story “The Judgement,” the father’s condemnation of his son can be symbolic of applying social pressure to conform to the expectations of society, even if it means that he'll have to sacrifice familial relationships. Through these symbols Kafka critiques society's oppressive and irrational systems. Kafka also employs the literary device of allegory in his works. As seen in his novel “The Trial '' the trial serves as an allegory for the arbitrary and absurd nature of the legal system. By using these literary devices, Kafka makes a critique of a society that is powerful and accessible to readers. By using these symbolic terms and allegory, Kafka exposes the many flaws and adsurbitties of society’s oppressive and irrational systems and encourages readers to question the norms and expectations that are implicated on them from society. His purpose for all of this is to provoke that and inspire change ultimately leading to a more just and equitable society.
Kafka’s views on illiteracy can be inferred from his writing which often deals with the struggle to communicate and understand language. As seen in Kafka’s novel “The Trial '' the main character Josef K. is trapped in a bureaucratic legal system that he cannot comprehend, and his attempts to communicate with the other characters are met with confusion and frustration. “They're talking about things of which they don't have the slightest understanding, anyway. It's only because of their stupidity that they're able to be so sure of themselves.”. Similarly Kafka’s short story “A Report to an Academy” a monkey that learned to speak and act human still struggles to convey his experiences to a group of scientists. With Kafka’s use of storytelling it is effective in highlighting the importance of language and communication with the world around us. With the protagonist;s struggles in “The Trial” Kafka shows the issues of a legal system that is inaccessible to those who lack the ability to understand its language. In a similar way in “A Report to an Academy,” Kafka shows how an inability to communicate proficiently can lead to alienation and oppression. Kafka's use of storytelling greatly helps convey his views on the importance of language and communication skill in order to be able to understand and navigate the world around us. Through this use of structure and plot, Kafka emphasizes the importance of effective communication and the potential consequences of illiteracy or an inability to communicate effectively. These stories serve as a warning against the dangers of systems that are inaccessible to those who lack the ability to understand their language.
Kafka’s view on illiteracy can also be reflected in his personal life. Kafka was able to speak multiple languages and when he worked as a government insurance agent he would see the many advantages inherent in language. In a letter that Kafka wrote to his friend Max Brod, he states "I know that behind every word I speak or write there stands another word that I should have chosen or omitted' (qtd. in Pawel 161)". With this quote Kafka shows that he was very mindful in the way language is being used and how it can shape our perception of the world. Kafka realized that the choice of words is very important and even a slight alteration can have a greatly significant impact on the meaning of his message. This supports Kafka’s view on the importance of having effective communication and his awareness of the power dynamics inherent in language. Kafka would frequently write about his struggles with expressing himself through language and his frustration with the limits of language in order to fully capture his thoughts and emotions. He realized language was a tool of power and control and with the ability in order to efficiently use langaueg could be used to oppress or empower indidivudals. By demonstrating his own struggle with language and the power dynamics inherent in communication, Kafka sigmifies the importance of effective communication and the role it plays in shaping our understanding of the world.
Franz Kafka’s writing provides a valuable insiht on his views on illiteracy and the importance of effective communication. With his exploration of language and communication in his work as well as his personal experience as a writer Kafka shows the significance of literacy in being able to understand and navigate the world. As well as critiquing the society’s oppressive systems and irrational norms which can be applied to the issue of illiteracy and its impact on those who are unable to communicate effectively. Kafka’s work still remains relevant today and his insights into the manor importance of language and communication are crucial for being able to understand and address social epidemics like illiteracy.
Works Cited Page
Kafka, Franz. "A Report for an Academy." The Complete Stories, edited by Nahum N. Glatzer, Schocken Books, 1995, pp. 297-307.
"The Judgment." The Complete Stories, edited by Nahum N. Glatzer, Schocken Books, 1995, pp. 59-80
. "The Metamorphosis." The Complete Stories, edited by Nahum N. Glatzer, Schocken Books, 1995, pp. 89-131.
"The Trial." The Complete Stories, edited by Nahum N. Glatzer, Schocken Books, 1995, pp. 165-308.
Pawel, Ernst. The Nightmare of Reason: A Life of Franz Kafka. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1984.: