Franz Kafka's "Jaeger Gracchus"

Paper Summary:

This paper explain that, in deciding how to interpret Franz Kafka's "Texte Zum Jager Gracchus Thema", the most obvious clue appears in the title in word 'Gracchus', which has the same meaning as the Czech word 'Kavka', 'jackdaw'. The author suggests that at least some elements in the Jager Gracchus character are autobiographical. The paper points out that, in the cited quotation in German, that Kafka appears to be expressing his awareness of both the attraction and the dangers of searching his wound, or in other words, scrutinizing himself. The author stresses that, in "Texte Zum Jager Gracchus Thema", Kafka explores the existential concerns of the Jewish people who have lost their link with faith and thus also God. The paper includes many quotations in German.

From the Paper:

"The dilemma here is clearly that of Kafka; while he has a job, he is the Burgermeister, responsible for the angst of the Jager Gracchus who is neither living nor dead as a result of the lack of commitment on Burgermeister's part. The Jager Gracchus knows that the Burgermeister cannot remain in Riva, ''Es gibt hier nur zwei ... Du bist auf" He would be taking the wrong turn himself if he pretended that he could remain in this hedonistic, sensual (woman breast feeding baby, people doing normal stuff) paradise of Riva. He can't."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Ritchie Robertson, Kafka: Judaism, Politics, and Literature, (Clarendon Press : Oxford, 1985) p. 186
• Corngold, Stanley, Kafka: The Necessity of Form, (Cornell University Press: New York, 1988) p. 134
• Herbert Tanker, Franz Kafka, An Interpretation of His Works, (Haskill House Publishers: New York, 1967) p. 216

More papers on Franz Kafka's "Jaeger Gracchus":

• Essay # 33747 : "Biography of Franz Kafka"
• Analytical Essay # 89661 : "Franz Kafka's "The Trial"

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