Comment on Ben's post

Camille Kelleher

Ben and I both posted about similar topics, the presence of the three institutions from last week’s lecture in this weekend’s reading. The emphasis on being born into guilt is definitely highlighted in this story because K’s trial is so random and unanticipated. Also, K’s inability to get out of this situation, irrelevant to the skills he has gained over his lifetime, only supports Kafka’s emphasis on predetermination. It is like we all born and die equal under the haze of undeserving guilt. I think that the only way I can make my life well spent is by accomplishing tasks and goals in my life that are separate from societal boundaries. As long as I achieve happiness at the end of my life, then I won’t remorse on my regrets.

Along with Ben, I think the least addressed pillar is the Church because K does spend some time with his uncle. I don’t like the uncle because he is very rude, malicious, and a social climber. I think that if a person associates himself with other people to improve his status then it only reflects badly on his personality because he didn’t progress as a person and achieve goals like those other people. The pillar’s motivating factors are implicit in the story when the uncle brings K to the lawyer’s house; however, I am surprised that the uncle waited for K after he disappeared with Leni. I figured, in regards to the threats we discussed in class, that the uncle would leave K behind and let him fend for himself because K disgraced and embarrassed him in front of his “colleagues.”