The Castle by Franz Kafka


The Castle by Franz Kafka, first English publication in 1930 translated by Edwin and Willa Muir.

The title alone gives credit to the novel's Gothic credentials, although neither the reader, nor the protagonist, K, ever gain entry to the castle. Although unfinished, the novel is a masterpiece of petty bureaucracy, frustrations, a ludicrous class system, secrets, jealousies, futility and, of course, doomed love.
K, a land surveyor arrives in the village beneath the castle, seemingly having been offered work by castle officials. He quickly discovers that the appointment was a mistake and there is no work for him. He is neither needed nor wanted. Having come so far, K is unwilling to accept the situation and decides to stay and attempt to speak with the official in charge, believing he can resolve the problem. Most of the petitioning of officials takes place in the Herrenhof inn, often at night. K is informed that he cannot stay at the inn, the rooms are only for castle officials, and must stick to the taproom. He meets Frieda, the barmaid who claims to be the mistress of the official he is trying to meet, and instantly falls in love with her. She leaves her position at the inn and goes with him. Later they are offered jobs as the school janitors. 
K discovers that he is being deceived, not only by the officials, but by the villagers. He has been given two hapless assistants, who cannot be trusted around Frieda. There is a cautionary tale within the story, where K is told the history of the messenger Barnabas' family. One of his sisters refused the advances of a castle official, tearing up his letter. The family were immediately shunned by the village. The father, a successful cobbler, lost his clients. He also lost his position as a fire officer. Years of trying to appeal to officials to make amends led to mental illness and physical deterioration.
Frieda eventually leaves K, returning to the taproom at the inn. The novel remains unfinished, but with the suggestion that K may take up residence with the chambermaid Pepi and her friends.
In true Gothic fashion, the isolated nature of the village gives a claustrophobic effect, heightened by the fact it is winter and constantly snowing. The ridiculous scenarios create an unnatural atmosphere, verging on dystopia. Secrets abound and the reader is never entirely sure who is lying, or indeed if anyone is telling the truth. Is K right to persist in his endeavours, or has he simply been driven mad?

Gothic Rating:

Isolated setting:                                                   ðŸ•±

Brooding atmosphere:                                        🕱

Mental illness:                                                    🕱

Religious reference:

Supernatural element:                                        🕱

Murder:

Family secret:                                                    🕱

Genius/madness:                                               ðŸ•±

Doomed love:                                                   ðŸ•±


The Castle by Franz Kafka has a Gothic rating of   ðŸ•±ðŸ•±ðŸ•±ðŸ•±ðŸ•±ðŸ•±ðŸ•±



 

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