Franz Kafka: 125

Franz Kafka(1883-1924) has come to be one of the most influential writers of this century. Virtually unknown during his lifetime, Franz Kafka has since been recognized by his anxiety-ridden works to modern readers. Kafka came from a middle-class Jewish family and grew up in the shadow of his domineering shopkeeper father, who impressed Kafka as an awesome patriarch. Franz Kafka was born on July 3, 1883, the first child of Hermann and Julie Kafka. Franz was sent to German schools, not Czech ones, which demonstrates his father’s desire for social advancement. Franz had been trying his hand in serious writing since 1898, but these early works were destroyed. Later he began writing more seriously. His friend, Max Brod convinced Kafka to publish some of his works, and in January 1913, ‘Meditation’, a collection of some early short stories and sketches, appeared. In most of Kafka’s mature prose, the lucid, concise style forms a striking contrast of complexities, the anxiety-laden absurdities, and the powerfully oppressive symbols of torment and anomie that are substance of the writer’s vision. On the evening of August 13, 1912, Franz met Felice Bauer at Max Brod’s house. In this first flush of love he wrote ‘The Judgment’ on the night of 22-23 September, which he dedicated to Felice. He considered it his first mature work. In November & December he wrote ‘The Metamorphosis’. He also worked at the novel, ‘Amerika’. During this time, in September 1913, he went to a sanatorium in Riva, Italy for his health, and there met an 18yrs old Swiss girl, Gerti Wasner, although this affair only lasted foe 10 days. Meanwhile the courtship by letter of Felice continued. He proposed to her(Felice) in 1913 and she accepted. Despite his failing health, Kafka, became engaged with another lady Julie Whoryzek. As 1924 began, Franz’s health got worse and worse. He was forced to go to a couple of sanatoriums. He agreed to the publication of ‘A Hunger Artist’, with some other stories. He died on June 3, 1924. max Brod did not carry out his friend’s instructions to burn his work. He edited and had published virtually everything Franz wrote. Franz Kafka has become an icon of sorts, emblematic of modern times.