Can one speak of Kafka's heroes as "characters"? If so, why is it so hard to define their characteristics? If not, how is the reader persuaded to accompany them on their existential journeys, accepting their behavior as falling within the realm of human logic? This study argues that Kafka's fiction has two conflicting premises: the subjective impossibility of human existence, foreclosing all hope of "meaning" in individual actions; and the ordered structure of human thoughts which assign meaning to the smallest event and ...
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Can one speak of Kafka's heroes as "characters"? If so, why is it so hard to define their characteristics? If not, how is the reader persuaded to accompany them on their existential journeys, accepting their behavior as falling within the realm of human logic? This study argues that Kafka's fiction has two conflicting premises: the subjective impossibility of human existence, foreclosing all hope of "meaning" in individual actions; and the ordered structure of human thoughts which assign meaning to the smallest event and analyze endlessly the behavior of other people. Kafka's characters are always, either potentially or actually, moving in both directions at once, earnestly building up a continuous logic to their actions while skeptically dismantling their own pretensions to existence. The device of the circumscribed narrator, congruent with the hero, knowing only what the hero knows, yet not identical with him, enables Kafka to contain both fundamental tendencies in a single sentence. Although Kafka is widely read, his works seem to give rise very easily to misconceptions; this study is designed primarily to facilitate an intelligent reading of Kafka. Without imposing answers of its own, it seeks to foster an awareness of the problems of perspective and presentation which Kafka engages.
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Add this copy of Kafka's Narrative Theater to cart. $13.78, good condition, Sold by Books From California rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Simi Valley, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1974 by Pennsylvania State University Pr.
Add this copy of Kafka's Narrative Theater to cart. $25.99, very good condition, Sold by Books from College Station, TX rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from College Station, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1974 by Penn State University Press.
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Seller's Description:
Very good. No dust jacket. Clean copy, some shelfwear. This book has been decessioned from a university library. Includes Notes for each Chapter. Library binding. Cloth over boards. 228 p. Penn State Series in German Literature. Audience: General/trade.
Add this copy of Kafka's Narrative Theater (the Penn State Series in to cart. $29.50, good condition, Sold by Second Story Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Rockville, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1974 by The Pennsylvania State University Press.
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Book. Octavo, xvi, 165 pages. In Good plus condition with a Good minus dust jacket. Spine is pink with white print. Dust jacket has edgewear with small tears at spine ends and flap corners, toning to spine. Boards in black cloth. Light wear to spine caps and corners. NOTE: Shelved in Netdesk Column G. 1379011. FP New Rockville Stock.
Add this copy of Kafka's Narrative Theater to cart. $43.33, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 1990 by Penn State University Press.
