Kafka and Existentialism
You should be taking notes…
Biography
 Franz Kafka – born in 1883 to a middle-class
Jewish family in Prague (now the Czech
Republic)
 Eldest of six children; witnessed the death of
two younger brothers
 Strained relationship with parents. Father
was domineering and cold. Mother was noncommittal.
Biography
 Despite his strained relationship with his
parents, Kafka was emotionally dependent on
them all his life.
 Developed an inferiority complex partly due to
his relationship with his father. Suffered from
depression and anxiety.
 Struggled with feelings of isolation – was a
minority (Jewish), frail and sensitive
Biography
 Studied law, became an insurance salesman
in order to support his family
 Felt his job was meaningless, was frustrated
at having to support his family
 Contracted tuberculosis in 1917, died in 1924
from starvation when he could no longer
swallow.
Daddy Issues – Kafka’s Father
 Hermann Kafka was determined,
domineering, selfish, and aggressive.
 Worked as a traveling salesman, but was
able to rise out of this lowly position to start
his own business.
 Like Gregor’s father, Kafka’s dad was
manipulative and had violent tendencies
Mum’s the Word
 In the story, Gregor’s mother is a passive,
delicate woman who faints when confronted
with intense situations.
 Kafka’s mother was similar to this, looking at
her son with sympathetic eyes, but never
attempting to restrain her abusive husband
“Kafkaesque”
 The word has made its way into common
usage and is now understood to mean
anything having to do with alienation,
absurdity, anxiety, or isolation– themes that
characterize Kafka and his works.
Kafka and “Isms”
 Because Kafka’s work is so rich and
ambiguous, it has been adopted by many
different schools of thought: Expressionism,
Existentialism, Surrealism, etc.
 While Kafka did not accept the label of
existentialism, many scholars agree that The
Metamorphosis is a seminal existential text.
Existentialism – Reactionary Roots
 Existentialism was, in part, a reaction to the
more linear thinking of the Rationalists – the
school of thought that dominated most of the
18th and 19th centuries.
 Many new thinkers came to see the world as,
not a rational place, but an irrational, hostile
place, where the greater part of one’s energy
is geared for survival—physically and
socially.
The Rise of Existentialism
 Existentialists began to explore the individual and
his/her desire to make rational decisions despite
living in an irrational world.
 In essence, the existentialists claimed that there was
no underlying order or logic that would reveal the
great truth of existence.
 Thus, they sought to define existence from the
INSIDE out, focusing on the individual’s subjective
experience.
What is Existentialism?
 Existentialism is defined by the slogan:
EXISTENCE PRECEDES ESSENCE
 This means we have no predetermined
nature or essence that controls who we are,
what we do, or what we value.
 We are thrown into existence without a
predetermined nature, and only later do we
construct our essence through our actions.
Existence Precedes Essence
The Existential Condition
The Existential condition is characterized by
three main things:
 1.) Facticity (throwness): We are not the
source of our existence, but find ourselves
thrown into a world we don't control and didn't
choose. We find ourselves in a world that is
indifferent to our concerns.
The Existential Condition
 2.) Anxiety: We are burdened with the task of
choosing our own nature and values (i.e. our
essence).
The Existential Condition
 3.) Despair: We are faced with the lack of any
external source of value or meaning. We
must despair of any hope of external value or
meaning.
These three things lead to…
EXISTENTIAL ANGST
Free Choice
 Ironically, much of existential angst comes
from our freedom to choose.
 Existentialists believe that free choice is the
ultimate prize, but also the ultimate burden.
 Mastery and command of free will are
existential ideals.
All is not Doom and Gloom
 The existential problem: How can (wo)man
be happy in a world devoid of external
significance and meaning?
 The existential solution: The loss of
external value allows us to get value from
within ourselves. These values are greater
because they cannot be taken away by
external forces.
All is not Doom and Gloom
 The existential problem: If we are free to
choose our own values instead of taking them
from external sources, can we do anything
we want, no matter how evil or selfish?
 The existential solution: In order to act
freely, we must not let our action be
determined by any of our particular desires or
interests. We must act as any free agent
would act, hence we must act as we would
like other people to act.
Existential Elements in The
Metamorphosis
 1.) Difficulties of Communication – a prime
source of existential angst.
 2.) The Irrational World – at any moment,
everything could change. There are no
givens or universal truths. There is no
certainty.
Existential Elements in The
Metamorphosis
 3.) The Grotesque: Not necessarily
physically. These are victims of social
castigation; outsiders.
 4.) The Look: Being conscious of being
observed has a profound effect on the way
we act and feel. Social judgment can play a
large part in existential angst.
Why the Doom and Gloom
Reputation?
 The reputation comes from a branch of
existentialism called absurdism.
"You will never be happy if you continue to
search for what happiness consists of. You
will never live if you are looking for the
meaning of life."
—Albert Camus
Absurdism
 Camus: Life is virtually meaningless, as it
lacks purpose.
 Camus thus suggests two absurdist options:
1. live indifferently in a world in which one
acknowledges this meaninglessness
2. resort to becoming a religious subscriber.
Absurdism
 Says the Absurdist: Happiness and meaning
are unattainable, for happiness in many ways
comes with knowing one’s purpose. The only
logical option is to live indifferently.
Absurdism
 The Absurd: A senseless pursuit of meaning
in a universe that lacks purpose and reason.
It makes no sense to search for happiness or
meaning, because this futile task hinders
one’s ability to live life to its fullest.