Judgment
I think this story carries a lot of symbolism and depth. Within the title there is a cryptic story behind it which is explained throughout the story. The title "The Judgment" was written, I believe purposefully, on Yum Kippur because the story is about the judgment in which Georg is being faced. His father who Georg thought he could confide in and also keep in the dark (both symbolically and literally) judges his son for his actions against his childhood friend. Ultimately, it is the judgement the father has made against his son, for the fowl play Georg has committee against his friend, that leads Georg to take his own life. In this sense I feel like Kafka named the story to show the power of judgment and how underestimating someone can lead to your own demise.
Sydney--Good points about the significance of judgment in the story. Your post is supposed to critique Crumb's illustrations though. How do you see the theme of judgment (and the reasons for Georg's suicide) in the illustrations?
ReplyDeleteIn the cartoon in the animation of Georg walking into his fathers room he is slouched and looks almost creeping and timid as he walks in his fathers room. This cautiousness is then understood more in the illustration of the father yelling at his son about covering him up with the image of the son covering his ears mouth open as in surprise and anguish as his father is judging him with every fiber of his being. These two moments show the judgment from the father explodes onto his son leading his to suicide.
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