failure

Gerard 2022-03-13 08:01:01

In Kafka's novel The Trial, why kill K with a knife, not a gun or dynamite? Because it is related to the theme of the novel.

The novel "Trial" tells that bank clerk K was arrested one morning. The charges were unclear. For this reason, he searched the court and lawyers to no avail, and was finally sentenced to death. This work exposes the absurdity of modern legal society and describes the powerlessness of modern people living in it. The novel reveals ruthlessness, indifference and alienation between the lines, which is exactly in line with the tool of the knife. The knife gives people a cold and sharp feeling. Killing with a knife is very consistent with the tone of the novel.

Orson Welles' adaptation of The Trial, on the other hand, kills K with a dynamite explosion at the end. An explosion is a series of chemical reactions that instantly generate a huge amount of light, heat and impact, which visually makes people feel a sense of frenzy and destruction. While Orson Welles' filmic style of indifference and alienation is a perfect fit for Kafka's novel, the explosion at the end is enough to wash away the pictorial alienation the film creates. This is a sad fly in the ointment.

The movie would be perfect if the ending stayed true to the book and killed K with a knife instead.

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Extended Reading
  • Lourdes 2022-03-21 09:03:26

    7.7/10 1. Expressionist photography creates absurdly surreal labyrinthine dream cages, how could I have imagined that it didn't fascinate me. 2. Wells couldn't help but mention his name at the end of the film, and the title of narcissist really lives up to its name.

  • Lee 2022-03-20 09:03:07

    I sin therefore I am, sin is itself. The more Citizen K pursues the true meaning of life, the deeper his ill will, and the more he pays attention to life itself. Although K did not fully understand the legal world, every time K further violated the law, there was always something in K's heart that called him to realize the existence of the law and called him to face the trial. This force towards the Dharma is K's guilt. Although it is often ignored by K, it does not work all the time.

The Trial quotes

  • Joseph K.: I only came here because I wanted to see if the inside of this famous legal system was as loathsome as I guessed it was. And now I'm too depressed to want to see anything more. I just want to get out of here and be alone.

  • Joseph K.: Don't they check up on you at school?

    Irmie: They try to.

    Joseph K.: You sneak out after hours?

    Irmie: You're not the only crook in the family.