Now i shall discuss Kafkas use of techniques such as surrealism, symbolism, physical movement and dialogue in developing the aspects of this dad-son relationship.
Its of key importance that the reader knows when reading this short story, that its meant to be an autobiography of Kafka, his father and their relationship together over the years. The story can start off very randomly, with Georg (the main character) sitting next to an open window, starring outside while writing a letter to a friend in Russia. Before the father-son topic is reached, the story goes through different points and distinct characters, that at first they dont add up to the real meaning, but as you finish the story you get that every character, action, place, and thing are symbols for proving the stories purpose; the strained relationship of a dad and a son.
Comencing with Georg´s friend who lives in Russia, we can depict that perhaps Kafka used this character as a symbol for Georg´s alter ego. All the clues are evident in the story as to see why the friend would be a FOIL to this main character; they were opposites. While Georg may seem a bit lazzy and tranquil with an ordinary life where nothing really suprises him and is as monotonous as could be, his friend is depicted as an adventurer, who wants to go and see the world, take risks in life and just write (another possible symbol describing Kafka), very bohemian. Then the destainment that Georg screens as he is thinking of writing to his friend, shows that he rathers not share his life with his friend, (unconsciously mabye) because he is making up excusses of not hurting his friends feelings as to what he is missing, instead of telling him the truth and not be psychologically afraid of screening a monotonous life in comparisson. Currently, while the reader has just approached this part, he could think of these comparissons, but not yet joined the rest of the symbols.
Later on we find out that Georg is engaged to be married with a wealthy woman named, Frieda. The dialogue used to describe the woman, was very dry, although very thoughtfuly descriptive, it was lacking emotion; felt almost dragged, like it was an obligation to write about her. Also, the conversation that Kafka wrote, between Georg and Frieda is very cold, almost manupulative from her part: ¨ he himself had become engaged a month ago to a Miss Frieda Brandenfeld, a young woman from a prosperous family. He often spoke to his fiancée about this friend and about the unusual relationship he had with him in their correspondence. “Then there’s no chance he’ll be coming to our wedding,” she said, “and yet I have the right to meet all your friends.” “I don’t want to upset him,” George replied. “Don’t misunderstand me. He would probably come, at least I think so, but he would feel compelled and hurt and would perhaps envy me—he’d certainly feel unhappy and incapable of ever coping with his unhappiness and would travel back alone. Alone—do you know what that means?” “Yes, but can’t he find out about our wedding in some other way?” “That’s true, but I can’t prevent that. However, given his lifestyle it’s unlikely.” “If you have friends like that, George, you shouldn’t have gotten engaged at all.” “Well, we’re both to blame for that, but now I wouldn’t want things to be any different.” And then when she, breathing rapidly under his kisses, kept insisting “Still, it truly does upset me,” he really thought it would be harmless to write everything to his friend. “That’s what I am and that’s just how he’ll have to accept me,” he said to himself. “I can't carve out of myself another man who might perhaps be more suitable for a friendship with him than I am.” Frieda represents the anchor, that keeps some part of Georg wrapped in the comformity of society, yet at the same time, this anchor looses its tight grip and Georg is automatically left with indecision about his friends life (his adventuring soul) and his own. This dialogue serves as many symbols: Frieda as an anchor and a liberator, the comparisson of both lifes, showing his hidden unresolved issues with the way he lives, and a foreshadowing that he might not end up copping with his feelings.
Following, comes the father-son scene. Here, Georg is feeling bias about whether writing to his friend his casual non descriptive letters, or the actual heart felt letter telling him the truth of his ¨great life¨ and engagement. Being confused with that idea of right vs. wrong, Georg decides upon visiting his father and perhaps he will be able to help him to clear his conscience. Georg´s mother had reccently died, and also it would be nice to see how his father was doing in her absense. Both him and his dad talked a lot during work and even had lunch together, but Georg hadnt been to his dads place in a couple months. ¨His father was sitting by the window in a corner decorated with various reminders of his late lamented mother and was reading a newspaper, which he held in front of his eyes to one side, attempting in this way to compensate for some weakness in his eyes¨; this dialogue shows loneliness, apperantly Georg has been giving a cold shoulder to his father´s situation.
As the reader is introduced to the description of the father´s place, ¨dark and with the window closed¨ one automatically relates it to the setting description in the begining of the story, where Georg is looking out from the open window; this one however is closed and with it all the hopes laying outside. In my opinion, the room symbolizes either Georg´s head when he´s in his fathers presence or his fathers dark comformed minded head.
Foreshadowing can happen at this stage, if one knows about Kafkas biography with his dad, one knows that at this point he will begin relating about that same thing. His father starts acting rude to his son, very untrusting, telling him that he is no one compared to his friend in Russia, he tells Georg that he doesnt deserve a friend like that, someone whom he lies to. As the dad compares, Georg is left speechless and feeling catatonically depressed. All this symbolizes Kafkas opinion in his father giving up on the son; the father is critizicing every dull and superficial aspect of his life and compares it to the warmth and freed living of his friend. However other symbols, such as the old breakfast at the table, or the defected underwear that his father was wearing, shows how time slowly helped rotten their relationship, if Georg hadnt abandoned his father, then maybe he would have cleaned everything up and his dads hope for a different life would have changed.
The story ends by Georg running out feeling dead and depressed, then finally reaching a bridge and Kakfa finishes up giving the story´s conclusion a sense as if Georg had commited suicide.
¨He leapt out the front door, driven across the roadway to the water. He was already clutching the railings the way a starving man grasps his food. He swung himself over, like the outstanding gymnast he had been in his youth, to his parents’ pride. He was still holding on, his grip weakening, when between the railings he caught sight of a motor coach which would easily drown out the noise of his fall. He called out quietly, “Dear parents, I have always loved you nonetheless” and let himself drop.¨ I dont believe it was him literaly killing himself, i think this stood as a symbol for giving up, and letting depression take you over. The las sentence of the story was my favorite, ¨At that moment an almost unending stream of traffic was going over the bridge.¨ this means that although his mental or symbolic life had just ended, it wasnt and end for everything else, time was still moving.
¨The Judgement¨ has deffenetly marked a place upon my favorite literary works, and i wouldnt change the meaning of the stories written by Kafka, they are all so mysterious and full of questionable symbols. I can conclude that at some level this can describe a father-son relationship in general; father always knows best and might never be pleased with your work because you can do better, while you are young and think you know everything so you drive away from your roots and might think you lost your way.
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