Franz Kafka s The Penal Colony Essay - 1835 Words

In Franz Kafka’s â€Å"In the Penal Colony,† there is no presumption of innocence whatsoever; there is only presumption. â€Å"Innocent until proven guilty.† This presumption of innocence is considered to be the foundation of a civilized criminal justice system, as well as within the fundamental rights of mankind. The Officer says that â€Å"guilt is never to be doubted,† and because he was ordained the judge of the penal colony, there is no proper trial or â€Å"due process† needed, as all are guilty in the eyes of the one who judges (Kafka, p.198). If the punishments delivered to the guilty were less severe, than there would perhaps be fewer qualms about the system, however the â€Å"justice† dispensed by the machine is nowhere near reasonable or humane, dispensing grievous punishments that far exceed most crimes to those who are condemned. However, it is important to remember that the apparatus and its function are simply an extension of t he ideology of the Old Commandant and the Officer who are the true punishers. The punishments the officer administers through the device to the condemned seem to be an example of just one of the two types of justice criticized in the text. The first type of â€Å"justice† is the excruciating suffering wrought by the officer and Old Commandant through the apparatus upon the â€Å"naturally† guilty, almost like divine punishment raining down from the heavens to strike down sinners. The other â€Å"justice† is the presumption of innocence and civilized law and order of liberalShow MoreRelatedThe Ideologies Of His Works Essay1551 Words   |  7 Pagesnot voice his ideologies on the Slavic culture, Jewish existence, and bureaucratic system ; however, he still managed to mirror his perceptions of his society in his works. Kafka was born on July 3,1883 and raised in Prague, Bohemia. In the 1900s, societies structured their family through the patriarchal system. Franz Kafka was the first born of six children, consequently, forcing him to shoulder most of the responsibilities and discipline that come with being an eldest child. Kafka’s father inRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s Life1811 Words   |  8 Pagesphilosophy that is often analyzed through literature. Franz Kafka is a key example of the limitless nature of this theme as his many works are divisive in how they connect with existentialism. Kafka is a unique storyteller and his stories have captivated generations since their publications. His background is important in understanding his seeming detachment from his writing. Kafka’s life is described by Ritchie Robertson in â€Å"Biography of Franz Kafka† as â€Å"strikingly ordinary† with the only notable commentaryRead MoreFranz Kafka s Life And Work1738 Words   |  7 PagesAuthor Franz Kafka was born on the third of July, 1883, as the oldest child of Hermann Kafka and his wife Julie in Prague. His family from the fathers side was from Sà ¼dbà ¶hmen und moved later on to Prague. His mother was originally from a wealthy and popular german-jewish family. His father grew up in a part of the tschechisch-jewish part in Milieu, but the family was more orientated at the german speaking culture in Prague, like everyone else in this time at this place. Kafka had three youngerRead MoreExistentialism vs Essentialism23287 Words   |  94 PagesThe philosophy that encompasses the absurd is referred to as  absurdism. While absurdism may be considered a branch of existentialism, it is a specific idea that is not necessary to an existentialist view. * It s easy to highlight the absurdity of the human quest for purpose. It s common to assume that everything must have a purpose, a higher reason for existence. However, if one thing has a higher purpose, what is the reason for that purpose? Each new height must then be validated by a higherRead MoreThis Tournament Goes to Eleven4982 Words   |  20 Pagesforehead and has characters called The Traveler, The Solider, The Inscriber, and The Condemned. The latter endures a torture device that carves into the skin of prisoners before they die. In the Penal Colony was written by, For 10 points, what author of Amerika, The Trial, and The Metamorphosis. ANSWER: Franz Kafka 5. He composed the lines Youth will have needs dalliance / Of good or ill some pastance in the song Pastime with Good Company, and railed against Martin Luther in the treatise Assertio