It’s a Nightmare: Dreamlike Elements in Kafka’s The Trial

Franz Kafka’s The Trial portrays the trial of a man accused of a crime he does not believe he committed by a court reliant on influence to the exclusion of evidence. This man, Josef K., becomes inextricably entangled in trying to influence the verdict of his trial through both legitimate and illegitimate channels. Josef K.’s entire experience seems, at times, like a giant nightmare--literally. The tale seems dreamlike because of the narration’s irrelevant and inappropriate physical details, claustrophobic and conspiratorial focus on K., and illogical progressions.

A poem I wrote in middle school

Re-found this one recently and thought it would be fun to share.

The Fish Angel

As I walked beside the sea
I saw a girl with golden hair
As I passed she looked at me
As though I weren’t there.

She leapt into the waves
Like a mermaid child
Seeming nearly as brave
but not quite as wild.

There was grace in her motion
As she dodged the water’s flow
And the cold of the ocean
Set her eyes and cheeks aglow.

I watched her every moment
Of the quickly passing day
And then she tossed me coral
And swiftly swam away.

The Creed of the Recovering Perfectionist

I fear that I will step awry
A fear that's kept me shackled long
I know on some days I'll get by
On others I will sure step wrong.

But if I turn the wrong direction
I can always shift my way
And if I fail to make correction
Morning brings another day.

So I go on with this in mind:
That no mistake is permanent
And if in fear myself I find
I tell myself with good intent:

That if time fails remorse to dull
Then death itself will make it null.