A Marxist and Psychological reading of Kafka’s “Before the Law”

When discussing Franz Kafka’s “Before the Law”, two members in my group used the psychological approach presented in Gardner’s work “Literary Criticism and Theory” to make sense of Kafka’s piece. They interpreted this reading as simply being a mind game in which the gatekeeper torments the country man to his death. Members in my group came to this conclusion by focusing on the portion in which they thought the country man became the most delusional/tormented, such as when the man “asks the fleas to help him persuade the gatekeeper” to let him into the law (Kafka). They also believed that the end of Kafka’s piece alluded toward something more psychological since the gatekeeper reveals that “‘no one else can gain entrance, since the entrance was assigned only to [him]’” (Kafka). My peers then explained that the country man was supposed to pass some sort of test in order to be let into the law. 

Using a Marxist approach offers a different reading of Kafka’s piece since Marxist Criticism speaks on socialism. One is able to get a better sense of who/what the gatekeeper and the “man from the country” represents through this approach. The gatekeeper is then seen as being a private owner, which may represent the wealthy and their greed, as well as their decision to not allow other individuals (man from the country) into their world. Though laws often include restrictions, this approach helps one realize that “the law” may possibly represent freedom, equality, and a place that may never be reached unless a community becomes unified with one ideology that benefits every individual. “Before the Law” then takes the reader through a country man’s journey in which he attempts to be let into this elite world which in turn speaks on the bigger issue of society and how difficult it is for a commoner to move up in class or to simply do better. Though it focuses on one country man, I believe he represents other individuals that are in similar situations. Overall, the reading using a Marxist approach seems to be more true and useful since Kafka’s piece closely follows the type of characters, plot, theme and overall message Gardner explains as being used to “forward a socialist political program” (169). 

Gardner’s piece on Marxist Criticism, mentions that “literary characters [can] be divided into powerful oppressors and their powerless victims” (169). Kafka’s “Before the Law” focuses on such literary characters, the oppressor being the gatekeeper who holds the authority to grant entry into the law and the “man from the country” being the powerless victim trying to get in. Though the man continuously asks and tries to get in, the gatekeeper simply “laughs and says: ‘If it tempts you so much, try it in spite of my prohibition, But take note: I am powerful’” (Kafka). Throughout the piece, the gatekeeper lets it be known that he is much more powerful than the man and getting through him is the only way the man will ever be able to gain access to the law. The man from the country has been a powerless victim from the start, but it is much more evident before his death when he can no longer see and is also unable to “lift up his stiffening body” after his many failed attempts (Kafka). 

Gardner also states that Marxist critics look at plots and themes that “uncover the economic forces that drove them” and he also mentions human interactions being economically driven (170). The plot and theme revolve around two people and a factor that separates them both, but most importantly a factor that prevents the man from entering the law, which the reader can assume it to be wealth/status. The gatekeeper is powerful and he is also described as wearing a fur coat which shows his high status. Though the members in my group believed the coat was meant to show how delusional the country man was, other descriptions Kafka includes make it clear that he wants the characters’ statuses to be noticed. As the gatekeeper continues to interrogate the man, there is a scene in which money and valuables spark interaction between them. The man attempts to win over the gatekeeper by “spend[ing] everything, no matter how valuable”, which also shows that the man may not have much since he does not convince the gatekeeper to let him in (Kafka). Their interactions seem to continuously involve some sort of exchange and it is clear that wealth, status and division are used to support the broader idea of socialism. 

Gardner mentions that stories revolving around socialism have the “sole purpose to expose the inequalities that underline all societies” and “raise the consciousness of readers and move society closer to a socialist state” (170). The conclusion and somber like tone throughout the story makes the reader sympathize for this dying man who has failed to enter the law. It creates a feeling of hatred toward the gatekeeper, especially once “the gatekeeper sees that the man is already dying” and “shouts at him, ‘Here no one else can gain entry […] I’m going now to close it” (Kafka). This makes one question why the gatekeeper could not have just let him in and encourages the reader to want equality and a community for all, without a gatekeeper or rather private owners, which shows aspects/ideals of socialism shining through the story. 

Although the language and the setting of Kafka’s piece could have alluded more to a community and maybe have been more literal about the law and gatekeeper, I think the majority of the elements in the story can be approached and best understood using Marxist Criticism over a psychological approach.