Parable Overview: The article discusses a parable included in Franz Kafka's novel "The Trial" where a man from the countryside seeks access to the Law but is continuously delayed by a doorkeeper.
Concept of Law’s Accessibility: Kafka challenges the notion that the Law should be readily accessible to everyone by depicting a complex system of doorkeepers that guard the Law.
Impossibility of Self-reflection: The article explores the difficulties of legal self-reflection, as represented by the impenetrable barriers to accessing the Law in Kafka's narrative.
Notable Extracts
Doorkeeper's Role: The doorkeeper represents an initial barrier to accessing the Law, and despite taking bribes, he continually denies entrance.
Man’s Perseverance: The man waits a lifetime for admittance, symbolizing the endless quest for justice and understanding of the Law, which remains elusive.
Final Revelation: The doorkeeper reveals that the entrance was meant solely for the man, emphasizing the personal journey and unique challenges in seeking the Law.
Philosophical Implications
Legal Self-reflection: Kafka’s work is a commentary on the self-referential paradoxes within legal systems, underlining the challenges in achieving true self-reflection.
Critiques and Analyses: The article includes analysis from various philosophers and legal theorists, such as Jacques Derrida and Giorgio Agamben, who compare the narrative to broad legal and philosophical themes.
References
Franz Kafka's "The Trial": Central text for the parable.
Jacques Derrida: Describes legal self-reflection as an abyss.
Giorgio Agamben: Links the parable to broader themes in Kafka’s "The Trial."
Niklas Luhmann: Discusses paradoxes of self-reference in law.
Related Works
Articles and books exploring themes of justice, legal critique, and philosophical reflections on law are cited, such as works by Derrida and Agamben.