LITERATURE: Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka is a guide to some very dark feelings most of us know well concerned with powerlessness, self-disgust and anxiety. This literary genius turned the stuff of nightmares into redemptive, consoling art.
Enjoying our KZbin videos? Get full access to all our audio content, videos, and thousands of thought-provoking articles, conversation cards and more with The School of Life Subscription: t.ly/YvWZH
Be more mindful, present and inspired. Get the best of The School of Life delivered straight to your inbox: t.ly/uJ__A
SOCIAL MEDIA
Feel free to follow us at the links below:
Facebook: / theschooloflifelondon
X: / theschooloflife
Instagram: / theschooloflifelondon
Produced in collaboration with Mike Booth
/ somegreybloke
and Carla Pereira
carlapereiradocampo.blogspot.c... #TheSchoolOfLife

[@TurtleTurtlez]

"A first sign of the beginning of understanding is a wish to die" -Franz Kafka

[@abdulmoeez2275]

An instinctual realisation of a world yet to come....the hereafter.

[@SeaJay_Oceans]

Kafka sounds like such a whiner, he just needed to join a Gold's Gym and Lift. But value that suffering, and willingness to change and grow... Transform that ''wish to die'' into what it truly is, the Desire to Live, and live more fully... no longer wanting less than, but striving for More.

[@Pun116]

@@SeaJay_Oceans Tell that to Mishima: the demons within can make a mess of even the strongest man.

[@SeaJay_Oceans]

@@Pun116 lol, why store demons inside you ? Your YOU is for CREATOR GOD and your Awareness alone. Dump the demons, Ask Jesus if you need help doing that...Or call on CREATOR OF ALL, that way you don't have to worry about what language or name you are using, you are calling on the supreme being of all the Cosmos and all the Multiverses... And no, that's not any deity name I know, but Hindus probably have a better answer than I.

[@Pun116]

@@SeaJay_Oceans "Kafka sounds like such a whiner, he just needed to join a Gold's Gym and Lift." I was responding to your quote here. Mishima was an avid lifter and suffered from depression. What are you even writing about? God? Cool. So, what does faith have to with your connecting going to the gym and reinterpreting depression as "whining." I'm starting to believe you suffer from something too...

[@count_bodies_like_sheep9296]

The Trial was the most relatable novel I’ve ever read. That feeling that the world is just against you and you don’t know why but yet you feel like you deserve it because you couldn’t live up to the standard expectations.

[@norastorm99]

why are you giving me sadnes?? ;(

[@darrylscott6648]

Just be yourself

[@waynej2608]

@@norastorm99 The Trial, is a sad story. The main protagonist gets murdered, by guards sticking a knife through his heart. What's he supposed to do, write about whistling 'put on a happy face', while doing a soft shoe shuffle?

[@censoringcensor8433]

and people are so busy crying over their genitals and skin colour. wait till they discover it's their genes, the pattern of their brain but well, almost 70% of the world relate to each other, 20% more can blend in and the rest of the 10% gets to murdered or hailed as geniuses. Have some thoughts that are transcendental, useful to the majority? Get celebrated like Einstein, Jung. Piss them off? Get killed like Socrates. fucking people and their fear of insight.

[@ilqar887]

Yeah Josef k dying in the end was a bit odd it ended strangely

[@1laforees829]

"The saddest of us are usually cursed to see the happiness that isn't there."

[@aliglimmer6071]

Deep

[@TheUniversesDaughter]

"the task of literature is to reconnect us with feelings that might otherwise be unbearable to study, but which desperately need our attention" so intense damn

[@censoringcensor8433]

not for a neurodivergent. give me the DSM! give me all the textbooks!

[@TheUniversesDaughter]

@@Rama-wr9yx not sure… there’s a quote actually by him which reads “A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us” which somewhat gets at a similar point though

[@caasieu]

U r on 666, imma leave you there that’s just…perfection

[@Sharyf]

If only literature lessons at school were so interesting.

[@zakariyyaibnnuhibnadam1705]

Sheriff S Maybe you want to become a teacher and make historylessons like this

[@kfie3731]

I'm a literature student and never had a lecture (or a lecture more then 5 minutes). I do really wish to have one. To know what would it feel like.

[@nika5318]

i had the best german teacher and we analized his work and letter to his father. i love german literature

[@debbyw90]

In Germany, at school we always analyze his short stories. I always loved these kind of lessons!!

[@holyflame96]

I read metamorphosis in school! It's probably one of the few pieces of literature I remember reading in high school.

[@Doug_Poppe]

This video doesn't even mention his humor, which is abundant, alongside the tragedy and darkness

[@jakedurden9565]

The School of Life do Bertrand Russell

[@jakedurden9565]

Gogol Poe I don't think school of life is qualified to give Freudian analysis.

[@LearningAmerica]

I heard once that the most depressed and cynical artists are the ones with a great sense of humor.

[@snuggleskie]

Learning America same with modern day comedians. Usually have a dark side to them.

[@EmpireAntz]

@@snuggleskie Comedy is said to be a coping mechanism to life tragedies, this just went full circle.

[@hadilm5494]

i cried so much, kafka is filled with deepest most harmful dark inner feelings within us all. I wish his father read his letter though...

[@Conn30Mtenor]

His mother was a failure as a mum, her duty was to nurture and protect.

[@groovi35]

@@Conn30Mtenor agreed, sad to know she never stood on his sons side, he only had himself and later his only friend

[@groovi35]

@@Conn30Mtenor agreed, sad to know she never stood on his sons side, he only had himself and later his only friend

[@arshsingh6553]

Yes but more than that, let's not forget what an absolute horrid disgraceful failure of a father he had!

[@sunshy2808]

@@Conn30Mtenor Yes I agree but just like him, she had feelings inside her. Franc Grew up feeling and being weak, just like his mother. Those that mean he failed at being a men or a son? Probably- but its nothing to be mocked or blamed... Just like the mother, no?

[@ryanfrancis4018]

His popularity AFTER his death is in itself so kafkaesque.

[@JohanStarDragon]

It's heartbreaking to hear what his life is like and it becomes understandable why he wrote the things he did; a form of artistic therapy. Makes you want to hug him and say "it's all right. None of it is your fault."

[@orangiat3619]

He'd call you a queer

[@christophere.2803]

I am not a boy, but I do understand the pain caused by a verbally and psychologically abusive father. It hurts terribly to hear the degrading words coming from the ones you rely on the most. It may make you feel trapped because of the supposed bond that should keep you together. For me, I cannot wait to get out of my house after I graduate.

[@sillygirl1139]

Remember not to mistake the way he treats you as your identity. The way he behaves is most probably about his own issues with himself (and maybe repressed issues with how his parents treated him) and not a reflection of you. You just have the bad luck to have to experience the fallout of his problems. Don't let your mind trick yourself into thinking otherwise. Love and light for your journey Christopher ❤

[@censoringcensor8433]

@@sillygirl1139 likely it would've solidified in the brain if they were treated like that since birth. this is the first impression of life a child gets, it becomes a close to permanent filter. I don't think the best of us even recover, they just learn to cope, manage symptoms. This is why we shouldn't fuck up our kids. You know, things of the mind are very much physical. Abuse like that changes your brain shape, growth - reaches max size earlier, forced to grow survival pathways which wastes potential, bigger amygdala, other parts like socializing become underdeveloped etc. Extra curse for some of us who have certain patterns. I'm jealous of those of you who cannot connect dots and see everything separate, so much easier to deal with trauma and maddening insight.

[@slurpii4669]

You are literally called Christopher

[@mr.viewer5616]

I feel you… I did too left the house… 20 years ago… never came back… but keep been that afraid boy every time I think about him…

[@Mm1233m]

I hope you were able to get away

[@LiobaBrueckner]

This was a great introduction to Kafka . Thank you.

[@sayani6180]

I read The Trial for the first time when I was being bullied at the college severely for my sexual orientation. I had held the book close to my heart. It made more sense than the rest of the world. All these years later, Kafka and Beckett are the two authors who make the most sense to me.

[@Replaybuttons]

The narrator has a very good pronunciation of german words/names

[@theschooloflifetv]

Thanks, he is Swiss.

[@svetlanaivanova9888]

he's good with French and Russian pronunciation too. I love his manly yet gentle voice. It has a calming effect.

[@deannilvalli6579]

Really? When he pronounces the a in Kafka like in apple? Do you really think that is correct? Or how he pronounces Göthe like Gurta? Do you think that is accurate? Or the way he says Franz.. again with a short a sound (as in apple)? Yeah, really German sounding! It sounds the way British people try to pronounce German, which is... incorrectly! I do hope you were being ironic.

[@Emil-yd1ge]

Calm down... I think it's normal to adjust the pronunciation of foreign words to the language you're speaking. As a German agree that he doesn't pronounce the German words 100% correctly, but if he did that, wouldn't it interrupt the flow of his speech anyway? If you're speaking english, you might as well stick to the english phrasing/ melody. I'm sure nobody has trouble understanding how he says "Franz Kafka", etc. And that's what's most important, @@deannilvalli6579...

[@deannilvalli6579]

@@Emil-yd1ge What makes you think I am anything but calm? I am merely disagreeing with someone who is clearly and totally wrong.

[@SkitHertz]

That's ... so tragic. To think that this is just one of the millions that so happened to have written books AND got them noticed after his death. The countless people who have experienced the same, or even worse, without a story to tell, or had one but no one noticed ...

[@peterdavis8439]

+SkitHertz Like Herman Melville, Moby Dick, the Great American novel, never appreciated for what it was until well after his death.

[@nicholastrice8750]

Yep. Mother Nature is a bitch.

[@Lotusblume.8]

Mozart too. 😢 He also had father issues.

[@arielrakim9616]

@@nicholastrice8750 Human Nature is

[@ken1midjourney]

So true

[@valmid5069]

*"The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations, the new needs friends... Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere”* -Ratatouille

[@antoniolukovic3112]

"Boys need their father's permission to become men" - School Of Life, April 22, 2016 Deepest quote ever

[@Kyoto_Ed]

well, that's me fucked then

[@bobbyevans8496]

The only permission needed to become a man is from the boy himself.

[@rattenusrattoonus1880]

That's from Freud I believe. One of his baloney theories

[@jacbug-7349]

Or they have to kill their father as Jung said, in a metaphorical sense

[@mrtambourineman6107]

Or for them to die.

[@GLOBIK]

It made me want to read Kafka's work.

[@sarahkhamis3227]

Do it! Kafka's novels and letters are amazing.

[@felixwegner4713]

I've only read the judgement but it was amazing

[@NashatJumaah]

I have read Metamorphisim and it's awsome

[@DonBirnam]

I didnt read any thing yet

[@sw.7519]

GLOBIK the worst work of literature ever read by me. A weak man crying. Sorry. I had it once with me in vacation. So he was no great mind. A great writer. But no great mind! Weak. I don't like his work. No inspiration. Just the feeling of weakness and helpless.

[@nightweels]

I can relate to him very much, child abuse is so horrible and is still underestimated by society

[@anweshakar146]

Same!

[@abhilashajha8822]

Dear people who suffered emotional neglect in childhood and also everyone else, You in no way were responsible for the fallacies of your parents. When we are abused as children we tend to think we don't deserve love and kindness from people around us and end up sabotaging their efforts. Remember that you are unique, you are beautiful, you are lovable. Love yourself unconditionally, shower yourself with love for being you. See you will make mistakes but if you love yourself you will find the strength to say "It's okay, its human nature to be like this". The assurance from yourself will give you joy even when things go very wrong. You will be your own lover, friend and parent, glowing with inner warmth, helping people discover their own glow and helping them love themselves. This will give you the zeal to live, and even in darkest times, you will be grateful for your existence. Love yourself the way you want people to love you and never once will you feel that life is not worth living. Keep glowing, Love, Human, Earth, 2019 P.S: The message of self-love is urgent. It might prevent someone from committing suicide, it helped me.

[@N0Xa880iUL]

Thank you so much

[@MM_Pishi]

Thanks

[@thelmaspalace]

Thank you for this

[@canifartinyourface8777]

i love you

[@shrutidhande8364]

Thank you

[@sirliridon.4419]

Damn I feel so sorry for him, I wish I could give him a bro hug.

[@duffajfka]

or a bro bug?

[@astrolillo]

Yes, that's what Kafka would have loved, a hug from some random millennial man..how cool

[@aidanl2324]

^Franz Kafka’s dad lurking in youtube comments

[@burgerqueen1633]

really said no homo in the hug

[@Existomalus]

It's not too late. But it would be frowned upon

[@unidomizu]

It's still amazing that there are fathers out there that still act in this way... its bitterly disappointing that they themselves never had the nerve or courage to rise up and say "No, I won't continue the cycle - it will break with me," All fathers are heroes in the eyes of their child, if you're unable to save them then their belief in that hero dies...

[@codexhammer]

+Joseph Back True. Why else do you think I am here?

[@goodcitizen3780]

What if a son was raised in this manner and grew to be a father himself and instead of raising up against it and shouting about breaking the cycle he says to himself, "I have benefited from my father's teachings my entire life and I bear him no animosity. I understand why my father acted in the ways in which he did and I feel that truly it is a prudent way in which to divide wheat from chaff. I further understand that were I not wheat, but chaff instead, my view would be of the exact opposite." Then what? Because while not as simply put as above, some people were raised like this and don't go around sulking about it at all. Not even a little.

[@elisabeth4912]

@@goodcitizen3780 Did you write that monolouge yourself, or is it a quote? It sounds great either way.

[@goodcitizen3780]

Elisabeth it’s a quote from myself. Lol and thank you ma’am

[@trndsttr7585]

God of War 4.

[@YouJustGotAnimated]

After reading The Metamorphosis I tried to look for more and more or his literature and was bitterly disappointed and saddened that there wasn't much, but I never really looked to see /why/ there wasn't much. Thanks for telling me the rest of the story, School of Life! If only Kafka was given an environment to thrive in...

[@7KU7Channel]

YouJustGotAnimated this is strange but I think he was able to write such masterpiece because he was in that Kind of environment

[@YouJustGotAnimated]

ku johar Which is actually what I thought about too! Would he have been this great writer if he grew up in a loving environment or was the pain of his everyday life the one that made him write his masterpieces since it seems like his writing connects to his father? Who knows, but I do wish he would've grown up in a kinder, more loving environment; a kid shouldn't have gone what he went through.

[@nanted.camillo-snicket9431]

I would say "Amerika", "The Castle" and "The Trial" were all pretty impressive as well. Especially "The Trial" is so timeless, and it even suits our current situation even more than probably ever before. It's kinda sad that Kafka never got the attention he deserved during his life time. We all can be lucky that Kafka's friend kept all his stories. It's kinda ironic that Kafka became so great after his life.

[@18skeltor]

@@7KU7Channel absolutely, but he certainly could have produced masterpieces no matter what. His closest friend identified him as a genius who was shy but whenever he spoke what he said was brilliant. He said that his ability to describe things in perfect detail with perfect logic was immense

[@brojuiceunderfoot5765]

@@18skeltor his letter instantly made me think of how precise his language is. Pretty damn impressive

[@youisstupid2586]

*Kafka exists* Every asian kid: seems normal to me.

[@mamasplan9183]

LgtTurtlez positive,100%,guaranteed,no doubt, without question, or hesitation, of course, the opposite of no, take your fucking pick

[@CharleneTupas]

ASIAN kid : cockroach Mom and Dad : Holding slippers

[@nonammmmme]

As an Asian kid, I can tell you it could be worse when ur father worked in army

[@Guizambaldi]

@@nonammmmme I think one of the worst things that can happen to a kid is to be the son of a military or a policeman, and the best to be the son of a teacher. I have a policeman uncle, which is very authoritarian. I pity my cousins.

[@tinaw4459]

I would agree with that😅, it's like the most Asian kids are experiencing this.

[@omegatired2557]

Kafka's diary is my second favourite book of his. It goes deep into his mind, his philosophy, his life. It gives a lot of insight and context to his works. Max Brod is a great person and the best friend Kafka could ever have.

[@Abraxas948]

You guys should do Hermann Hesse.

[@jazzo8195]

yes!!!

[@Jack-lw5kh]

+Dysturbed1 YES YES YES

[@Moribus_Artibus]

+Dysturbed1 Hesse's books are so touching I cried a little bit in Narcissus and Goldmund

[@hiyah31]

yes!

[@Abraxas948]

+dominoes37 I agree. I just finished up Demian, Narcissus and Goldmund is next

[@Jacob930321]

"A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us."

[@jackgbowman6688]

that's my favorite Kafka quote.

[@sillygirl1139]

I love this quote.

[@meowmy888]

He basically wrote her suicide letters in books. I love you, Kafka.

[@sweetlifewithkonchumkaram749]

His*

[@Fortheloveofclassics]

Oh my god. His mother should have given the letter to his father. His relationship with his father explains so many scenes in his books. I just finished The Trial and am moved beyond words.

[@kipras14]

Out of all of the terrible yet relatable things that happened to Kafka, the letter to his father struck me the most. I know very well what it's like to have an overbearing, cold, distant, psychologically and physically abusive father and I know what it's like to try and look for forgiveness and connection. And yet I can't imagine the unending whirlpool of anxiety and fear that the days after he gave the letter to his mother were and how defeating it must have felt to get the letter back. All the fear and anxiety and even worse, the hopes and dreams of reconnection and understanding all gone because of his mothers cowardice. His innermost thoughts and feelings, rejected, deemed unsatisfactory. I should read his books again.

[@ffnendhgrgd]

well thank you for my daily unexpected weeping

[@lojupitermoon]

Jesse Torres one of the best comments I have ever seen :)

[@trydowave]

Unfortunately, without his father Kafka may never have started writing. You know what they say about discontentment being the fuel of great art.

[@kyupified2440]

Suddenly remembered blue bird by charles bukowski

[@EvilSmonker]

One man's tragedy turns out to be beneficial for milions. Hopefully he would be proud of himself.

[@KAD10895]

You're wrong, he would've still been an excellent writer but his style would've been drastically different.

[@thehustlehive0]

Reminds me of the nova effect

[@azzaouianas9999]

But at what cost

[@aichamarzougui1545]

I used to cry over my immortal now I cry over this. That's evolution.

[@fitfulflashesoflucidity227]

These wounds won't seem to heal huh

[@censoringcensor8433]

@@fitfulflashesoflucidity227 shame is eternal

[@manas5121994]

I had tears in my eyes, really.

[@Azzlad]

+Manas Raturi Man up you wimp, so his dad was a little hard on him, big fucking deal, he was useless, there's no denying it.

[@johnsailorsgoat]

@@Azzlad Don't be a dick.

[@bilalkawsara9539]

@@Azzlad LOL, i got the joke and laughed so hard! this comment was made by none other than Hermann Kafka himself 😂

[@echoes9966]

His works symbolize pure raw art. *gently strokes metamorphosis copy*

[@Noname-lk2ol]

Gently stroke this DICK

[@milesrcruz]

Same loooool

[@j7055]

*gently strokes ebook because no bookstore near me sells kafka’s books and I’m not giving Jeff bezos any money from amazon*

[@jasonmcnamara2079]

The best thing about these types of KZbin channels is that they help you learn and grow in what you truly love without much judgment; as if you're here listening, we are already alike and on the same plane open to discussion.

[@acandycoloredclown7005]

The first time a book ever made me genuinely emotional was the final chapter of the Metamorphosis. Kafka knew what he was doing.

[@jeffbruemmer4168]

Kafka was also really funny. For example: here’s part of the arrest in The Trial: “They could watch now, if they wanted, and see how [K] went over to the cupboard in the wall where he kept a bottle of good schnapps, how he first emptied a glass of it in place of his breakfast and how he then took a second glassful in order to give himself courage, the last one just as a precaution for the unlikely chance it would be needed.” Thanks to School of Life for introducing Kafka to new readers. Edited: for clarity and crankiness:

[@jeffbruemmer4168]

+The School of Life Respect what you guys are doing. Pop philosophy is fascinating. It's hard to do well and though it does simplify, it's a productive, synthesizing simplification, and it introduces people to important ideas, artists, and thinkers they might not otherwise encounter. So thanks for touting Franz, and keep up the good work.

[@Goreuncle]

+Jeff Bruemmer How is that funny?

[@Rairiky]

+Jeff Bruemmer surprisingly yes,he cared deeply about his characters, which meant giving them a life,interests and sense of humor. Although,i´d say most of that humor is through patetism,makes you feel awkward and sad

[@trouserpress]

yes Kafka was definitely funny. subtle, but funny.

[@outragedamerican1149]

That is what I was confused about watching this. If nobody has ever read Kafka they will get a really twisted perspective on his work from watching this. Yes, he deals with the dark side of the human psyche but there is far more to it than that. They portray K from The Trial completely incorrectly. He is constantly fighting against the system and truly believes he can beat the system despite everybody saying he can't. He has no breakdown or trauma. He takes everything that comes to him very calmly and matter of factly. And how exactly do the family cope well without Gregor in the Metamorphosis ? They all have to get jobs and they even have to bring in tenants to help them with rent. They barely manage to struggle through without Gregor. I think this video is very misleading.

[@NathalieO]

I am very grateful. I read "The Metamorphosis" years ago. I will dive back into Kafka!!

[@NathalieO]

+KURUPT KALHOON quelqu'un a déjà plongé dans la profondeur de mon regard. Votre contribution ne sera pas nécessaire.

[@kuruptkalhoon6033]

+Nathalie Montlouis désolé

[@Legionaer666]

KURUPT: I knew there must be such a comment after I read: "dive back into Kafka".

[@jayellis2939]

Ive been meaning to do so for the longest. One day I will.

[@elizabethtaylor2357]

FYI - Gregor is not the small size of an actual bed bug. He is the size of a human in the form of a "vermin" or "transformed in his bed into an enormous bug". This video is an excellent analysis of Kafka's struggles and how they are present in his literature.

[@thalamay]

Kafka is maybe my favourite author of all time. Of his works, “The Trial” & “The Castle” are my personal favourites. Such great books. Highly recommended.

[@ken1midjourney]

True

[@FriendlyEsotericDude]

10/10 love the Kafka. What I want to see next in order of preference: -William Blake -H.P. Lovercraft -Herman Hesse -W.B. Yeats

[@Luboman411]

Wow, this video definitely struck a chord with me. I had an abusive father growing up--mostly due to his alcoholism. I got especially emotional when it was mentioned that sons who have had fathers of that sort wait for forgiveness. I've been waiting almost 15 years for an apology from him, a simple, dumb apology. That's all I want, and I even talk to my siblings and my mother about it. (Though, unlike Kafka, I had a sturdy, strong-willed mother who stood up for her children. I'm probably not as emotionally damaged as Kafka because of her.) But my father is not the type of man to apologize for anything. Maybe I'll do like Kafka and finally confront him--face to face, though. And I'll definitely be reading more of Kafka, with this background knowledge in mind.

[@Nedwin]

As a Kafka's fan, I can say that the way you tell the story about him and his works is amazing. Thank you! 🙏

[@menikmarasinghe8515]

Iam a sri lankan girl who was blessed to have the most loving , kind and entertaining dad ever . My respect and love for him. 🙏❤

[@marcdellorusso180]

Oh man, this is absolutely heartbreaking... I'll have to read some Kafka.

[@Napoleon4778]

Please make a video on: 1. Thomas More 2. Francis Bacon 3. Aldous Huxley 4. Yevgeny Zamyatin

[@fehmit160]

+The School of Life please!! for the sake of hopelessness make a video on EDGAR ALLAN POE! OUR FUNNY STATE AGAINST OUR FEAR OF SIMPLE THINGS! superstitions! which we are sure of they being a fact even now! poe has explained lots of things about us too in my opinion...

[@user-ew6ff7wg7y]

And Orwell, and marquis de Sade.

[@khalidalali351]

+The School of Life and Ayn Rand along with Irene Nemirovsky please !

[@sajalmishra2872]

+The School of Life please do videos on poets like sylvia plath and Emily dickinson and hughes bukowski and many more please

[@nashaunmingledolph6927]

Aldooooousss. Is there a H.P. Lovecraft one?

[@slindilengcobo3235]

No writer has ever shocked and awakened me more. The trial and metamorphosis forever changed me and my appreciation of literature.

[@Terrakinetic]

This video really made me appreciate the difference between the closed reading of New Literary Criticism and the more traditional forms of literary analysis. In regards to "The Metamorphosis," not knowing the depths of Kafka's personal grief, I only considered the flaws of the family as reflections of society rather than considering how very *wrong* each character was on a personal level in line with Kafka himself.

[@sunnyapartmentroom2038]

Thank you for this, I've always enjoyed Kafka's work.

[@zertxer_zertxer]

I think Franz would have shed tears of joy at the moment you declared, in a public video viewed by (currently) 15, 160 people, that he was a part of us all. :)

[@tammysilverwolf1085]

+Vishal Upadhayay Could not agree more, I'd never even heard of this man but. . . .there's a lot here to relate to. Wow.

[@OliDaChilla]

+Vishal Upadhayay I doubt that a little. Kafka would be very upset if he knew what had happend to his work. He specifically instructed his friend Max Brod to destroy most of his work (much of which stayed unfinished). Brod went against this his last wish and published everything instead.

[@Naijland]

+OliDaChilla I agree with you. Exposing his work for the whole world might just have made him ashamed since he was not happy with it

[@holister444]

+OliDaChilla but didn't Kafka wanted it to be destroyed because he felt it's not good? rarely authors hate when their work is appreciated. you really think that Kafka, the guy, who felt so unappreciated, would hate to see that his work is so valued?

[@OliDaChilla]

Butch Coolidge He wanted it destroyed because it was incomplete. He valued the work he did finish and was satisfied with it.

[@MusiXificati0n]

We had to read "the trial" in school, I think it was in middle school (we were maybe 14/15?) and I clearly remember, that everyone was bored out of their minds, because it was so hard to grasp, what Kafka wanted, or to understand any author for that matter. Now, almost ten years later, I have a totally different point of view - probably due to the age and the growth that comes with it - and now with this video I finally understand, or at least understand more. It gives me a whole new appreciation for Kafka and also for literature itself. And now I am not sure if it is a good idea to make classical literature a topic in school, when young girls and boys are not really grasping (maybe are not even able to grasp?) what is going on. I remember that I only tried to memorize the most important statements, but didn't really understand them. I am glad I finally understood, but I am also sad that it took so long and I am very sorry, Franz Kafka, that I was not able to do so earlier...

[@amaliaamalia9171]

Never is late ,sweety....

[@bouho683]

I agree with you. Such literature with such depth shouldn't be taught for children under the age of 16/15 at school. That because it is hard for them to understand/grasp.

[@sandro-nigris]

Great introduction. Kafka is a titan of European literature. I enjoyed the video!

[@wweartmaker29]

i think its time for Fyodor dostoevsky, +The School of Life

[@nasserfarhat6146]

+F dostoevsky YESS

[@gabrielggripp]

+F dostoevsky yes yes yes

[@soozsheehan]

YES!

[@raniayahyaoui801]

yes please

[@ysabarro]

YESSSSS

[@esrow5168]

Franz Kafkas work is really impressive we do a lot in school about him

[@esrow5168]

Btw I am from germany :D

[@trichogaster1183]

+esrow Da sind wir schon 2, leider war mein Deutschlehrer damals ein Aas und völlig inkompetent als Pädagoge, sodass mir der Kern von Kafkas Werken nie wirklich bekannt war.

[@TrollinJoker]

Bei mir genau so.

[@IPOCRI]

+Trichogaster 118 Schade sowas, ich meine die verschachtelten Sätze sind ja schon kompliziert genug aufgebaut. Falls Du bis jetzt noch keines richtig lesen konntest kann ich Der Prozess nur empfehlen

[@kivzzzz]

+esrow I wish we did too...

[@rimashiki1321]

The Metamorphosis was incredibly heartbreaking.😢

[@tabi5550]

does anyone wonder if anyone ever bothered to give Kafka a hug, to tell him it was okay...yet, he has given us hugs and told us it was okay. i send him hugs wherever he may be, still a child inside, i hope he is healed now and oh so accepted, beloved.

[@Jan96106]

Kafka is one of my favorite writers. It is sad that many of the comments under this video have nothing to do with Kafka, but instead talk about other writers or other things.

[@bobpolo2964]

I understand how Kafka felt about his dad. I feel the same domineering feeling about my grandma. Kafka expressed his dread beautifully and made his feelings relatable.

[@thevibefkaemma]

I've always been unable to wrap my head around A Hunger Artist, and this did it for me beautifully. Please could you do John Keats xxxx

[@nader9420]

YESS

[@jina2521]

the whole story is incredible. if his friend hadn't published his works we wouldn't know anything about his genius nowadays. I love how there's never a correct way to interpret Kafka's works and that you experience all of his writing different based on your experiences in life and the way you look at it. While discussing the topic at school many of my classmates disliked his stories, they were weird or depressing to them, Kafka himself seemed like a mystery, they couldn't understand him at all. Meanwhile I became very fond of his writing - I was also bullied and suffered from depression. To me his works were relateable, I felt connected, understood. And finding another classmate who started diving deeper into his works was great too, we discussed it a lot and shared our thoughts. My family couldn't quite understand my interest for "such strange and difficult texts" but it was so inspirational and consoling to me. I'm so glad his friend acted against his will and I'm sure Kafka would also like knowing that he can help people with his writing.

[@gk9670]

i cried for Frank Kafka. Excellent narration. Humans have the greatest minds and our perspective is driven by things around us.

[@zackrida5452]

i stopped reading books in 2014 but when i found the school of life not only my love for books had been restored but my happiness too great job alen thank you :)

[@bolivar1789]

If he was my friend, I would give consolation to Kafka saying that it was important that he wrote that letter, because the healing is in the writing process. But even if his father read it, he wouldn't ask for forgiveness anyhow... I know from experience that the only way you can deal with a violent, condescending, horrifying parent is dark humour. You must give up all hope on "reaching" to that person. But isn't there also a wisdom and humility in accepting the " impossibility" of communicating with certain type of cruel and sick people? Here is a wonderful joke about it that I always keep in mind: "The psychologist says to his patient: - Now I will draw something on this paper and you should tell me what does it remind you of. So he draws a triangle. The patient says: - Oh this is a terribly ugly woman! So the psychologist draws a square this time. The patient doesn't even hesitate: - Well, this woman is even more disgusting than the previous one. Then the shrink paints a circle. The man says: -This one is not ugly but she still scares me. So the shrink finally says: - It seems to me that you are obsessed with women. And the patient gets terribly angry: - What did you just say?!!! You or me?? You are the one who is drawing all these women here! So even if you are Franz Kafka, and you write a letter which will be an invaluable part of the world literature, that father will just not get anything you are saying!! Besides, people do the most horrible things, while defending their actions in the name of the very same virtues we all share: I mean if you asked a Spanish inquisitor why he was torturing someone, he would say that it was to help the poor man to confess his sins, so that his soul could find peace. He honestly believes that he is helping the man by torturing him! So it makes your life a bit easier to accept that human capacity for self delusion is endless. And it is the source of all evil. All you can do is to observe it in its worst examples and then try to detect it within yourself so that you can avoid it to some extent. In order to become a more honest, kinder and better person. As an exercise to feel compassion for truly horrifying parents, remembering these verses by Samuel Beckett may help too: " You are human beings nonetheless. As far as one can see Of the same species as myself" (Pozzo, in "Waiting for Godot" )

[@congthanh1254]

+Lua Veli I am stunned before your words. I may be in a somewhat similar situation to Kafka's but not anywhere near it. Also I just got out of a relationship with a person who I can recall having similar behaviors and thoughts with the Spanish inquisitor. Thank you for your words since I find peace in them :)

[@bolivar1789]

+Cong Thanh Hello Cong! Thank you for reading and for your lovely reply. Talking about "finding peace", I wanted to tell you that I use two types of meditation for that. One is Alain de Botton's " Philosophical Meditation". If you search for this on youtube you'll find a video where it is explained by a wonderful art teacher. Then you must click on the link below the video and print the questions. The second thing I do is just the normal Mindfulness Meditation. I use a guided meditation podcast for this. If you search on ITunes for "UCLA Hammer Meditation" you can find it too. If you do these two things everyday you surely will have a more peaceful and more fulfilled life! I wish you a good week and send you my best wishes!

[@congthanh1254]

+Lua Veli Sending hugs to you. I cry before your kindness, a "stranger". But I think we're not that much unfamiliar now. Cheers for the good side of internet and have a day, Lua :)

[@bobpolo2964]

I'm a child of abuse. I was beat with brooms, belts with big metal loops, kicked and punch. Only now at 30 years old do I realize I resent my mother for what she did to me. Couldn't imagine telling her though. Mostly I was beat for poor behavior in school, but although I was a class clown, I was also academically sound. I got a's and b's on my report card a lot. She didn't recognize my potential; instead, she focused on the negative - in terms of my poor behavior in school.

[@bolivar1789]

+bob polo Hello Bob. Thank you very much for reading and for your message. I am terribly sorry to hear that. But thank God you have it clear now, that the problem was not you but her. This is so important. There is absolutey no excuse for cruelty, but most perpetrators themselves were victims in the past too... So if you want to forgive her you can think about this. I never had the chance, but I know from friends and from lots of books I have read, that a therapy can be very helpful too. I wish you so well. Take care!

[@jasonjeong5304]

That guy was a genius and had such an accurate honesty in his books which help to express the most complicated feelings in words! God bless him!🙏

[@lotusssypringa]

I used to read Kafka as a teenager and never really understood as much as I do now after learning about his life. This just gave me an immense urge to cry.

[@hueydhuey]

I'm 16 and just discovered my love to the many kinds of art (except abstract either because I don't understand or there is nothing to understand) and I'm really impressed by the geniuses that lived and live in this world

[@UwU_for_Christ]

I think Orwell would make for a brilliant episode

[@coweatsman]

+Sam Hewitt Yes.

[@MariamMazigh]

totally!

[@mateusbr263]

+Sam Hewitt YES! Please!

[@SidHARDtha]

+Sam Hewitt he is well known, he is like a gateway author for books, i actually enjoy to hear about interesting authors that i dont know about

[@TheSpiritlol]

+Sam Hewitt Fuck Orwell, Huxley's my boy.

[@abdelkaderhaouache7012]

The narration flows like a musical symphony in my ears. I will certainly never get bored with this video. I have watched it more than any countable number I can think of now.

[@Murdocisgod83]

Still my favorite video from this entire channel more than four years later. I sincerely hope the SoL chooses to restart their literature series someday.

[@perlaolmi2580]

This video is exponentially more profound and true to Kafka's essence than any of the biographies and handouts I've had to study for my upcoming German literature exam. This was so precise as to the representation of what emerges from his work that you've almost moved me to tears. Other than offering high quality revision material. Thank you so much!

[@halfoftheclam1317]

Finally, someone clearly explained the reason why I love Kafka. I had a hunch here and there, but was never able to understand why I was so attracted to him. Thank you School of Life.

[@spinnerben4648]

I’ve heard of his name but now I found the understanding of his life and work. I cannot help but sympathise with him, the pain people go through and to express it with his art for generations to come, must take a lot for him to come to terms that the world would see his dark viewpoint but he himself will see the recognition he built up after his death

[@enec0]

I didn‘t know he wanted his works destroyed, this really breaks my heart

[@NoZAutonomy]

The Trial is one of the best books I've ever read

[@figarofog9409]

Boys need permission from their fathers to become men. Curious how others feel about that. It made a lot of sense to me.

[@DawnofInfo]

Not to me. My father left my mother when i was small i have hardly any memory of him and still came out fine, maybe even better.

[@YohanPenny]

Then you can't relate, and your comment is not relevant.

[@Kyanzes]

Yeah, one needs a kind of a recognition from one's father that one has become an adult. Of course, it can be granted by other people as well but it's imperative, IMHO, that it's recognized by one's father as well.

[@YourDaddysBelt69]

A male role model. Usually your father. No matter what, women will never know how to be men, simply because they are not men and never will be. A boy is doomed to emasculation without a substitute of a father.

[@miidysama9908]

Yohan P how is it not relevant? Op literally asked how others felt about this and he replied, saying that he disagrees with that statement. His comment is relevant because he was asked how he felt about it, how the internet felt about it. Man, you guys are always so annoyingly dismissive.

[@tahacherradi599]

I cannot thank you enough for the amazing job put into this. Your voice is so relaxing and help me concentrate better and for longer time. Please think about making a literature podcast or something, I'd love to hear you on weekly basis!!

[@elihan9]

My message to every boy who is experiencing awe of your father, No one cares who your father was, only the father you're going to be.

[@bingoberra18]

I am truly thankful for The school of life team and Alain de Botton

[@jonahdavis7833]

The moment I saw "Franz Kafka", my day was immediately better. Thanks for the upload!

[@jadedrebel8860]

my response was the same. the moment I saw this video in the recommended column a smile crossed my lips :)

[@ilovemyff]

When i first read The Metamorphosis i was so terribly frustrated. The way it's written makes you feel everything what Gregor felt, the thoughts, the way he was changing... a pure nightmare. I read it 10 years ago and still when i think about this novel I can feel that pain, terror, hopelessness... this one got so deep inside of me.

[@jlfern2882]

Kafka was able to put my deepest fears and problems in the most digestible way. Great writer

[@j0nnyism]

this moved me to tears. metamorphosis always fascinated me I think because it reflected my own fears back at me

[@dermeister1957]

wOOOOw ! It's amazing how you can hate the literature of someone when you are in high-school, but soon after you graduate you find a certain urge to read his stuff. Nice video by the way !!

[@teethgrinder83]

Der Meister maturity can do strange things to us lol

[@dermeister1957]

Teethgrinder 83 true !

[@vaIe_]

Teethgrinder 83 maturity or it just not being taught to you and rather you discovering it

[@user-kj4ww6ln6b]

フランツ・カフカの小説全部好き。 自分は生まれてからずっと孤独なんだけど、カフカの小説読むと、自分と同じように悩んでる人がいたんだなって親近感が湧く。 I love all of Franz Kafka's novels. I have been lonely since I was born, but when I read Kafka's novels, I feel closer to someone who is suffering from the same problems as I am. (deepl translation)

[@charleslotara]

At times tears roll down my cheeks if I think about Kafka's story and realize there are people who are suffering the similar misfortune!

[@sophiashakti5638]

Kafka is a great fascination and study case for the psychoanalysis. He wallows (silently having pleasure is a part of wallowing) in the abuse and gives voice to all the weekly miserable specimens of humanity. He is a testament to the lie of famous phrase - what cannot kill me makes me stronger.

[@GelberStuhl]

I think people often underestimate how funny Kafka's writing could be, of course his subject matter was always depressing, but the meaningless and crushing burocratic/family structure had some scenes that made me laugh out aloud. In the castle there is a scene in the beginning where the main character tells his two apprentices that they look too similar and that he is too lazy to remember their name, so he will adress them both with only one name, and they should just do the given task together. Then he also mentioned that this fact will suck for him as well, he will be the person suffering the most from this fact, but that it is just the best solution. This can be interpreted as crushing and depressing, but also as quite funny besides being Kafkaesque

[@Bigtocard]

Couldn't agree more. I have only read The Metamorphosis and The Trial so far, and what struck me was how funny and gloomy it was. At no point did I find myself thinking "This is an outrage ! How unfair !" in The Trial ; Somehow I just found the situation at the same time absurd and "In the great order of the Universe" ... A really weird feeling that only Kafka made me feel.

[@ryh5169]

You only get his humor after you've had your dreams crushed a little (especially in love), and learned how stupid, selfish, and thoughtless people can be (including yourself!). Kafka is similar to Proust and Tolstoy in that way.

[@madiechicky]

I also found that bit to be hilarious! I laughed out loud reading some of Kafka’s work back in highschool for a project.

[@vophie]

This one is so intense ... great job of portraying him in such an important and necessary way ... not sure how to explain it but there is an urgency and a desire to do justice here that is really admirable and contagious

[@lornapowell7910]

I recently read the metamorphosis and it affected me so much in a way I couldn't articulate. Learning about his life connects so many dots for me. It amazes me that he had so much self awareness and could translate his feelings into literature

[@4hrigatou]

Im a German and Kafka and Metamorphosis are indeed the best topics we've ever had. I love German literature but yet I feel only Kafka has so much depth in his work. Personally i feel like only Schiller reached his level. Kafka is one of the few, I continued to read after my German (literature) class.

[@HT-rq5pi]

that's like, kafkaesque yo.

[@tubester2023]

Jesse tryin to sound deep haha

[@nicholastrice8750]

Church.

[@izzie481]

golden!

[@RochdChati]

I feel so sorry for Kafka. He feels so familiar to me and I feel sad knowing he wanted his beautiful work destroyed. He deserved better in his life.

[@youssefhassan9733]

I've watched/listened to this video more than 10 times now, every time it sounds totally new and saddens me just the same.

[@tf299]

Thank you for improving my view on Kafka's The Metamorphosis. A book I liked even before this video. And explaining why this author is so important.

[@youtubemudavimi]

You can get the feeling of utter desperation to a point of absurdity in his work. Such a talent.

[@Reza237]

I've read all of his books many years ago. Thank you for awesome refreshing my memory.

[@syedmasood71]

When as a teenager I was Myself Dissatisfied mentally with my life, I got a book of Kafka, I read his writing 'metamorphosis'. Opposite to Kafka ; I was fortunate to have a very loving and wise father. It was the BAD emotional relationship with KAFKA's father , that made his Character so Fearful and discontented with himself. Kafka was a pitiable Czech Pessimistic Person who could show his inner Traumatic and Frustrating FEELINGS through his Writings.

[@emilylouise9705]

Thank you for writing such a dignifying tribute to a very wonderful, ingenious, but sad writer. An incredibly moving video.

[@curarex1]

i love egon schieles and casper david friedrichs paintings in the background, they're very fitting.

[@anjalichauhan525]

this made me sad and contemplate at the same time

[@fatimaf5956]

just the fact Kafka died unheard by his father, unforgiven and always guilty is sooooooo symbolic to me