Historical Context In Franz Kafka’s Stories
Write an essay about Historical Context In Franz Kafka’s Stories
Sample Solution
Franz Kafka lived through the turn of the century, a period of time characterized by increasing global interconnectedness through multiple developments. Essentially, the world was becoming smaller as globalization began to rapidly occur through the beginning of the 1900’s. Franz Kafka’s stories are often considered to be timeless classics, but a closer examination of the historical context in which these tales were written reveals an even greater depth and insight into their meaning. Kafka wrote during a tumultuous time marked by anti-Semitism and violence throughout Europe; he witnessed two world wars as well as rising fascist regimes in Italy and Germany. At the same time, Jewish communities across Europe were struggling with assimilation while also attempting to retain their cultural practices. These challenges can be seen reflected in many of Franz Kafka’s works such as The Metamorphosis or The Castle where characters grapple with notions of belonging amidst oppressive circumstances.
