EXPLORATION OF "BEFORE THE LAW" BY FRANZ KAFKA

             I believe religion has its complexity. When exploring religion in Kafka's parable, religion becomes more complex. Kafka's parable "Before The Law" is combination of the ambiguity and different interpretations by the readers. Kafka depicted the law as being God, and the countryman as being in pursuit. With these depictions, Kafka criticizes the institutionalization of religion.

          The characters that he mentions in his parable are: the gate, the gatekeeper, the countryman who tries to have access to the "law". Firstly, I will depict the conceptions of the law and God as I understand from the essay. The perception behind law is belief which regulates the functions of the other work as the most people say "no one is above it". The concept of law acts as an invisible hand for spiritual processes. Kafka in this parable never depicts countryman is trying to oppose a particular law, instead of prompting the viewpoint that the law is one. We can understand it in the first paragraph "a man from the country who asks to gain entry into the law" . According to the countryman, "the law should be accessible for everyone.", and there is also another statement that people must reach to God without any requisites. After exploring these ideologies, we have the concept of equality.

     - having an attitude that people take into asserting the law

     -then people are able to contribute to the law

     -everything is able to contribute to the law

     -The link between law and people can be applied to the deity. "Everyone is equal before God."

       Secondly, I will focus on the conversation between the gatekeeper and the countryman. The part where the countryman asked to enter the gates of law and the gatekeeper said "It is possible but not now" was interesting. It my prove that a person may meet the law ( by God). All religions say one will meet God when s/he died. Therefore, this parable leaves an idea that death is described as a time for meeting God. However, there is a contradiction between the gatekeeper and countryman. The parable says that the former that he can pass him but the gatekeeper warns him that there are other gatekeepers. However, there is no evidence that there are other gatekeepers. This contradiction between two characters can be understood in terms of religion as trying to test the countryman. When the gatekeeper gives the hope that he can pass and the other guards will be there. The countryman may decide not to pass because of fear. The gatekeeper still implies that one day he will see God. This part of the parable is about communication with God, the role of the gatekeeper as a servant, the countryman who looks for God.

       Thirdly, Kafka depicts God as the law. Kafka also criticizes the religions because religions are so institutionalized. When the countryman wanted to pass and the gatekeeper did not want, we can understand that no one can have entrance to God. However, the gatekeeper gets the goods which the countryman offered. Therefore, it proves that religion's spiritual meaning is changed.

       I chose this parable because religion is so sensitive and religion is open to be changed under the politics and bad goals of the people.