Kafkaesque
Kafkaesque
kaff-kuh-essk
adjective
Reminiscent of the works of Franz Kafka (1883 - 1924); specifically having a nightmarishly complex, bizarre or illogical quality
Naturally there are many situations in any given week where one can reach for the word ‘Kafkaesque’, but I was reminded of this word while reading another blog last week. The fact that Franz Kafka happens to have died 100 years ago today is a delightful coincidence.
Kafka’s best-known surviving works are Metamorphosis, The Trial and The Castle. The characters in Kafka’s works often find themselves alone and disconnected from society, struggling to find meaning or purpose in a seemingly indifferent and uncaring world. His stories depict these people grappling with complex, oppressive and arbitrary systems of authority, which leaves them feeling powerless and dehumanised. The stories also feature bizarre and dreamlike situations where logic and reason break down, creating a profound sense of disorientation and unease.
Kafka’s works have had a profound influence on literature and wider culture. His writing continues to resonate with readers today, as it speaks to universal experiences of anxiety, alienation, bureaucracy and the struggle to find meaning in a chaotic world.