Psychoanalysis Analysis of Kafka's “The Judgment”

November 21, 2024

Franz Kafka's “The Judgment” (1912) presents a portrait of a psychological collapse. Through Jacques Lacan's psychoanalytic framework, particularly his theory of psychic registers shown by Olivier (2004) we can understand how the story's protagonist, Georg Bendemann, experiences the breakdown of his identity. As Hallaç (2020) observes, “His father's narcissism, self-confidence, cynicism and lack of understanding left Kafka with a sense of inadequacy and worthlessness.” (p. 2). In “The Judgment,” this intrusion does more than challenge authority, it shatters the foundation of the protagonist’s identity. This analysis argues that Georg's submission to his father's judgment reveals a truth that the human experience depends on maintaining boundaries between Lacan's psychological registers (the Imaginary, Symbolic, and Real), and when these boundaries dissipate, the self collapses.

The first stage of Georg's psychological dissolution begins in the Imaginary register which is a realm of mirrors and ideal self-images where we construct our identity. Wright (1988) explains “As a child is lured by its mirror image (Lacan's Imaginary order), which seems to promise it a completeness it does not have, so the reader is lured by the text through the force of its representation. But at the same time the text is a Law (Lacan's Symbolic Order of language), shattering the mirror illusion and fragmenting the reader” (p.4). We see this in Georg's relationship with his friend who has “positively fled to Russia” and lives in isolation with “hardly any social ties.” The friend functions as what Lacan terms the ideal-I which is a mirror reflecting Georg's alienated self. Georg maintains this protective mirror relationship by writing only “about such inconsequential matters.” He must work to preserve these imaginary identifications that support his sense of self.

The second stage of dissolution is the intrusion of the Symbolic order when Georg crosses the threshold into his father's room (Lacan, 1998). Kafka emphasizes this boundary crossing through the room's oppressive atmosphere, “how dark his father's room was, even on this sunny morning.” (p. 98). The father's space, filled with “mementos of the late mother,” represents the Law-of-the-Father that will soon break down Georg's carefully maintained psychological boundaries.

The third stage involves the eruption of the Real which resists symbolization into Georg's ordered world. The father's transformation from appearing frail to a towering authority demonstrates what Lacan describes as “The real is what resists symbolization absolutely.” (Lacan, 1998). Georg notices his “not so clean underwear” then the father suddenly becomes powerful. He declares “You wanted to cover me up, my son, but I'm far from being covered up.”

The revelation of the father's war wound, “the scar on his thigh” shows the final intrusion of the Real as unprocessed trauma. This triggers Georg's complete psychological breakdown, “Now this long-forgotten resolution came back to him, and promptly he forgot it again, like pulling a short thread through the eye of a needle.” These encounters with the Real often lead to “the dissolution of the subject's imaginary logic (Lacan, 1998).

The story's climax, “I sentence you now to death by drowning!”, shows the complete collapse of all psychological boundaries. Georg's immediate acceptance, “he felt himself urged” toward the river demonstrates what Lacan terms foreclosure, where symbolic authority overwhelms all personal defenses. Georg's last words, “But dear parents, I have always loved you,” show the last attempt to bring the boundaries back together between the nurturing Imaginary (mother) and the punishing Symbolic (father) (Lacan, 1998).

The story's final image “an endless stream of traffic rolled across the bridge” shows the meaninglessness of the symbolic order to someone’s psychological destruction (Lacan, 1998). The world continues as Georg's psychological boundaries have collapsed. Through this reading, Kafka's story reveals a reality about human psychology in that our rational sense of self exists only as long as we can maintain the borders between these psychological registers. When these boundaries fail, as they do for Georg, total psychological dissolution becomes certain.

Works Cited

Olivier, B. (2004). Lacan’s subject: the imaginary, language, the real and philosophy. South African Journal of Philosophy, 23(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.4314/sajpem.v23i1.31381

Hallaç, U. (2024). Pathological elements created by the father factor in Franz Kafka. ResearchGate. https://PathologicalelementscreatedbythefatherfactorinFranzKafka.pdf

Lacan, J. Four Fundamental Concepts of Psychoanalysis (Book XI). W. W. Norton & Company. 1988.

Wright, Elizabeth. “Another Look at Lacan and Literary Criticism.” New Literary History, vol. 19, no. 3, 1988, pp. 617–27. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/469092.

Overall Feedback

Suzanne,

Well-done. Kafka’s works are rich with layers of meaning, making them a fertile ground for various critical approaches.

Here are some key perspectives:

Autobiographical Approach: This interpretation views Kafka’s works as reflections of his personal struggles, particularly his complex relationship with his father. Kafka’s “Letter to His Father” is often cited to support this view

Psychoanalytical Approach: Influenced by Sigmund Freud’s teachings, this approach examines Kafka’s use of symbols to express his psychological conflicts. However, it’s important to balance this with other interpretations to avoid reducing Kafka’s work to mere psychoanalytic case studies

Sociological and Marxist Interpretations: These perspectives consider Kafka’s work as a mirror of the socio-historical context in which he lived. Marxist critics, for instance, have debated whether Kafka’s writings critique or reflect the bourgeois society of his time

Philosophical and Religious Interpretations: Kafka’s stories are also analyzed for their existential and theological themes. His works often explore the absurdity of human existence and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent universe

Alienation and Transformation: In “The Metamorphosis,” Kafka explores themes of alienation and transformation. Gregor Samsa’s transformation into an insect symbolizes his profound alienation from his family and society. This story highlights the dehumanizing effects of modern life and the struggle to maintain one’s identity

Legal and Bureaucratic Critique: “The Trial” is often interpreted as a critique of the impersonal and oppressive nature of bureaucratic systems. The protagonist, Josef K., faces an absurd and nightmarish legal process, reflecting Kafka’s own experiences with bureaucracy

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Good job!

Franz Kafka’s “The Judgment” is a complex tale that delves into themes of authority, guilt, and familial conflict. “In ‘The Judgment,’ Franz Kafka explores the destructive power of paternal authority and the psychological turmoil it inflicts on the protagonist, Georg Bendemann, ultimately leading to his tragic demise.”

Kafka himself immediately recognized the importance of “The Judgment.” He penned the story in a single night, from December 22 to 23, 1912. Yet during this restricted period of composition, a near boundless excitement electrified him: the story was written, Kafka notes in his diary, “with a complete opening of body and soul,” under the “frightful exertion and pleasure of experiencing how [the story] developed right in front of me.”[3] His diary relates the events of that night—the passing of a car, pains in his chest, the entry of the maid in the morning—in incredible detail. According to Kafka biographer Rainer Stach, Kafka’s enthusiastic view of the work, coupled with his detailed description of its creation, demonstrates its immense importance to him: this excitement contrasts markedly with the “despairingly uncertain” opinion he held of his earlier works.[4] Stach 113-114).

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Well-done analyzing " anxious disposition" of Georg in your paper.

Georg Bendemann

Character Traits:

Conflicted: Georg is torn between his loyalty to his father and his desire to establish his own life. This internal conflict is central to his character and drives the story’s tension

Ambitious: He is engaged to a woman named Frieda and is eager to share his success with his friend in Russia, indicating his aspirations and desire for approval

Guilty: Georg’s sense of guilt is a recurring theme. He feels guilty about his success, his engagement, and his relationship with his father

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Good details about George's ' psychological dissolution ' this week.

Franz Kafka’s “The Judgment” is rich with concepts and terms that are crucial for understanding its deeper meanings. Here are some key concepts and terms to consider:

Key Concepts

Authority and Rebellion:

Paternal Authority: The story revolves around the conflict between Georg Bendemann and his father, symbolizing the struggle between individual autonomy and paternal authority

Rebellion: Georg’s actions and thoughts reflect his struggle against his father’s oppressive control

Guilt and Punishment:

Guilt: Georg feels a deep sense of guilt, possibly related to his engagement and his relationship with his friend in Russia

Punishment: The father’s judgment and Georg’s subsequent actions can be seen as a form of self-punishment

Isolation and Communication:

Isolation: Both Georg and his friend in Russia experience profound isolation, highlighting the theme of alienation

Communication: The letter Georg writes to his friend symbolizes a failed attempt at communication and connection

Key Terms

Free Indirect Discourse:

A narrative technique that blurs the line between the narrator’s voice and the character’s inner thoughts, creating a sense of intimacy and immediacy

Modernism:

The story is a prime example of modernist literature, characterized by its exploration of the subconscious, fragmented narrative, and existential themes

Autobiographical Elements:

Kafka’s own troubled relationship with his father and his anxieties about marriage are reflected in the story

Symbolism:

The Bridge: The bridge where Georg meets his fate can be seen as a symbol of transition and the crossing from one state of being to another

The Letter: Represents failed communication and the isolation of the characters

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Some paragraphs need more details including conclusion.

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Great reference to the state of mind Kafka's narrative style. Franz Kafka’s narrative style is distinctive and often described as Kafkaesque, a term that has come to represent the surreal, nightmarish, and absurd qualities found in his works.

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