The Trial - Socratic Seminar
1. What does the first sentence of Chapter One reveal about Josef K from an existential perspective (review your notes so far and annotations)? Be specific in terms of addressing authenticity, anxiety, freedom (responsibility), etc. (This is just a few of the concepts that you should consider.)
2. Based on his interactions with each of the characters, as well as his unspoken thoughts, how does Josef feel about authority: both generalized and individualized? How do these feelings connect to his feelings of guilt? What might be the source(s) of Josef’s guilt? (Consider development theories and gender expectations.) Who/what might the characters represent to Josef? (From the supervisor to Grubach to Burstner to his lawyer) Consider both generalized and individualized authority that Josef has most likely experienced since he was a child to now.
3. After commenting on K’s existential struggle above, how do K’s interactions with Mrs. Grubach and Miss Burstner reveal there own struggles. Analyze them (remember to consider gender).
4. How does Josef use thinking to fool himself that he is free? Why do his exertions for control only provide temporary relief? Does he really want freedom? Does he feel ambivalence toward his own destruction? Does he wish for dependence/destruction (submission v. responsibility)? Why? Consider all the descriptions of K’s physical self and environment (home and work), as well as your answers to the previous questions.
5. In what ways does Kafka use literary elements and “organize” his ideas to convey Josef’s struggle?
6. What do K’s thoughts and interactions on the way to his first hearing reveal about questions 1 and 2? Explain why. Why does he invent a joiner named Lanz? What is the significance of the setting and the children?
7. Analyze the hearing room and the happenings in it existentially (focus on K and the other characters as well as the physical space).
8. K’s return to the hearing room even though he is not officially summoned marks a turning point in his struggle to become authentic - to deal with authority and to express love: in other words, to exercise free will. Free will is defined as “responsiveness to the appropriate rational considerations” without coercion and manipulation. What does Kafka think about free will? (Your answer will largely frame your answer to this question.) From this point on, analyze how K attempts to exercise free will. What coercion and manipulation thwart his progress? How might hierarchies (the court, gender, personal relationships, business, etc.) be institutionalized coercion and manipulation that destroy free will (or make it clear that it does not exist)? What images/symbols and examples are used to convey these hierarchies? What is your opinion on free will (connect to text)?
Consider court usher, court usher’s wife, the student, office workers, Miss Montag, the whip man, K’s uncle, Leni, Dr. Huld, the Manufacturer, the Deputy Director, the Painter, the Priest, and the Doorman.
9. Compare and contrast K with Block. Who is more authentic? Why? Relate to free will. Is the fact that Block has been under arrest for 5 years compared to K’s less than 1 an important factor to consider? Why/why not?
10. After Chapter Eight, K’s grasp of reality significantly declines. What does this signify? Who is to blame? Does K have free will? If he does not, is he still morally responsible for his actions? Why/Why not?
11. Even at his death, how does K struggle for free will? Does this make him a hero or a fool? Why?
Some of these questions will continue to be expanded and applied through the end of the book. REMEMBER TO SUPPORT WITH EXISTENTIALISM/FREE WILL AND CITE LOTS OF QUOTES!!