Franz Kafka: The Trial

Summary of Chapter 1
     The first chapter of the novella The Trial we are introduced to the main character Josef K.  He woke up on his thirtieth birthday to a few different men who inform him that he is under arrest.  These men offer K. no explanation to why he has been arrested.  After a few hours K. is sent to the Inspector who informs him that he can go about his business. K. went to his weekly places; the bank, a beer hall, and to visit a waitress named Elsa.  K. returns to his lodge and meets up with a lover named Fraulein Burstner.
   
Paraphrase in Chapter 2 (Page 21)
     On a Sunday K. was told about his hearing for his case.  He was told that that the cross examinations would happen one after another.  Most of the proceedings were quickly ended, but sometimes they take longer.  Since this is how the trials are run they decide to hold a bunch of few short hearings.  They chose Sunday so K.'s work was not bothered.  K. actually wanted another date.  Instead of the morning the examinations could have been held at night.  Since K. said nothing about the hearings they were left to be on Sunday.  K. was told to show up "without fail" and was given the number of the building where he was supposed to show up.

Questions.
     Josef is the main character of the novella and is under arrest on his thirthieth birthday (Kafka 3).  The novellea never specifically tells the reader what he is arrested for.  My theory is that K. is under arrest for guilt and judgement.  My reasoning for this is because I belive the legal system has no idea what they are doing because they have arrested him for no particular reason.  The legal system seems to have no idea what they are doing because they make K. come to multiple hearings (Kafka 21).  This seems to be that Kafka is reflecting his life with his father.  His dad use to come home and yell at him for no reason.  The legal system is "yelling" at K. for no apparent resason.  An example of this was when K. was first arrested.  The men who arrest him never gave him a reason or any indication to why he was being arrested (Kafka 3).

Nihilism
     The rejection of morals, relgion, and the belief that life is basically meaningless is Nihilism.  Kafka describes this through K.'s lack of intrest in his trials.  For example, K. does not care much about the trial and does not feel the need to dress his best.  K. does not take a bath because it will "speed up the process" (Kafka 8).