Examining Kafka's "Before the Law" with Physiological Theory and Marxist Approach

The reading of Kafka’s “Before the Law” may easily form different interpretations by its readers. Though, it does demonstrate strong hints that signify the text could fall within Marxist Approach. By discussing the text within a group, my group agreed that the reading expressed and followed a Marxist Criticism approach. My group was convinced with this approach mainly because of the elements within the text that demonstrate an issue of economic base or a superstructure.

Upon analyzing the text, my group first pointed out the relationship between the gatekeeper and the man. For example,the gatekeeper is said to often be “questioning [the man] about his homeland and other things” (Kafka) whenever the man attempted to be let inside within the gate. Furthermore, the gatekeeper explained to the man that there would only be more experienced or difficult gatekeepers after him. My group decided that this relationship structure between the man and the gatekeeper sets a class struggle. Together, we argued that the gatekeeper has been establishing himself within a position of power because he is able to decide if the man would be able to be let within the gate.

Furthermore, the man himself sets himself in a submissive role by placing himself as someone responsible for creating a means of production. The text illustrates the man “spending everything, no matter how valuable to win over the man” (Kafka). My group then argued that this specific scene demonstrates how the man has become obsessed trying to get within the gates. He is illustrated offering everything he has earned with receiving nothing in return. This then reflects and demonstrates a real life economic base of how those in a submissive position continuously create a means of production with earning nothing in return. Lastly, it exemplifies how the man has no control within their relationship or the situation because he cannot make decisions himself and lets the gatekeeper decide for him.

However, the ending of “Before the Law” does not fit the elements of class struggle or an economic base that my group discussed from the Marxist approach. Instead, the ending scene in which the man gets a gate of his own seemingly fits the approach of a psychological theory. This is due to the subtle hint of a deeper desire from the author himself. The man himself questions why “no one except [himself] has requested entry” into the gate (Kufka). Furthermore, the man presented stages of childish behavior before his death. This then allows readers to begin to question the unconscious desires from the author that created the man’s motivations. His constant obsession with entering the gate may symbolize how the author internally desires to be accepted into a specific community similar to the man; his desire may be passed down to the character of the man.

Despite this possible approach, however, the Marxist approach argument is the better approach to take with this reading. By analyzing the ending scene with the elements of reification and alienation from the Marxist approach, the text may embrace the Marxist approach. Most individuals interpret the ending as the man given a compensation or reward for being loyal to the gatekeeper; however, upon a closer examination of text, this scene can also be interpreted as the man an alienation. This element from the Marxist approach is expressed by having the gatekeeper physically separating the man from himself and the other gatekeepers. Furthermore, the previous childish behaviors that could fall under a physiological theory could instead be illustrated as a reification. This loss of humanity is initially formed with the man’s obsession or focus on “his only obstacle” into passing the gate. This loss of humanity also leads the man to his death because his sense of reality is indirectly said to deteriorate as he adapts childish behavior. The man does not try to find different solutions and focuses on pleasing the gatekeeper in order to allow to pass the gate. On one occasion, the man is said to realize that the gatekeeper carries around fleas in his fur collar (Kufka). This detail exemplifies how the man could be focused entirely on the gatekeeper, and how his oppressed position allows him to lose his sense of humanity; the man works hard to examine the gatekeeper and create a means of preferred means of production to be let within the gate.

Overall, it is mainly the relationship between the man and the gatekeeper that allow readers to fit the Marxist approach within the ending. By realizing how an obsession became a loss of the sense of humanity and isolation, it is seen how the text embraces the Marxist approach.