About “Before the Law”
"Before the Law" is a short story by Franz Kafka that was published twice during his lifetime. It is most recognized as a parable within the posthumously released novel The Trial. In the novel, the story is told by a priest who is judging the protagonist, Joseph K. The parable serves as an allegory for K.'s guilt. Since the nature of K's crime is never explained to him, the story functions as an alternative to revealing the charges against him. The tale is meant to illustrate the mystery of his accusation. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)
Book details
- Published
- 1915