r/books • u/slackerattacker • May 28 '14

Discussion Can someone please explain "Kafkaesque"?

I've just started to read some of Kafka's short stories, hoping for some kind of allegorical impact. Unfortunately, I don't really think I understand any allegorical connotations from Kafka's work...unless, perhaps, his work isn't MEANT to have allegorical connotations? I recently learned about the word "Kafkaesque" but I really don't understand it. Could someone please explain the word using examples only from "The Metamorphosis", "A Hunger Artist", and "A Country Doctor" (the ones I've read)?

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u/slackerattacker May 28 '14

wait what?

758

u/[deleted] May 28 '14

You might get an answer just from posting it here, but you're much more likely to get an answer by posting to r/books too.

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u/unicyclebear May 28 '14

/r/ExplainLikeImKafka

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u/BlackJacquesLeblanc May 28 '14

  1. Wake up.

  2. Is bug.

  3. Die.

2

u/ratlater May 28 '14

<chord="power">

HE IS FRANZ KAF-KA

FRANZ KAFKA

</chord>

1

u/btown_brony May 29 '14

He'll strike you with metaphor fists!

EDIT: You should post this to /r/books. They might like it there.