Comes from the author Franz Kafka, and refers to the style with which he wrote his books (which in his dying wish asked for to be burned).
Basically it describes a nightmarish situation which most people can somehow relate to, although strongly surreal. With an ethereal, "evil", omnipotent power floating just beyond the senses.
Basically it describes a nightmarish situation which most people can somehow relate to, although strongly surreal. With an ethereal, "evil", omnipotent power floating just beyond the senses.
You go to the city to see the law. Upon arrival outside the building, there is a guard who says "You may not pass without permission", you notice that the door is open, but it closed enough for you to not see anything (the law).
You point out that you can easily go into the building, and the guard agrees. Rather than be disagreeable, however, you decide to wait until you have permission.
You wait for many years, and when you're an old, shriveled wreck, you get yourself to ask:
"During all the years I've waited here, no-one else has tried to pass in to see the law, why is this?",
and the guard answers:
"It is true that no-one else has passed here, that is because this door was always meant solely for you, but now, it is closed forever".
He then procceeds to close the door and calmly walk away.
This is in fact, one of his short stories, and is very typical to his style, i.e. kafkaesque.
You point out that you can easily go into the building, and the guard agrees. Rather than be disagreeable, however, you decide to wait until you have permission.
You wait for many years, and when you're an old, shriveled wreck, you get yourself to ask:
"During all the years I've waited here, no-one else has tried to pass in to see the law, why is this?",
and the guard answers:
"It is true that no-one else has passed here, that is because this door was always meant solely for you, but now, it is closed forever".
He then procceeds to close the door and calmly walk away.
This is in fact, one of his short stories, and is very typical to his style, i.e. kafkaesque.
by LinuX February 5, 2006
From the Czech/German author of the early 1900’s, the word describes a situation where the individual is sane but struggles against an illogical and insane bureaucracy or authority. See his unfinished novel ‘The Castle’. Essentially all of us now that Brexit has been setting in for the last 2 years.
Theresa May’s government grows more kafkaesque by the day. I applied for British citizenship and all I got was a page full of wingdings
The government has become kafkaesque because some old Etonians couldn’t stop wanking over a long defunct empire even though colonialism is a fundamentally evil idea. As government slowly goes inane most civil departments are rendered impotent
The government has become kafkaesque because some old Etonians couldn’t stop wanking over a long defunct empire even though colonialism is a fundamentally evil idea. As government slowly goes inane most civil departments are rendered impotent
by The Outsider April 22, 2019
Describing something that is horribly complicated for no reason, usually in reference to bureaucracy. Named after the early 20th century writer Franz Kafka, best known for "The Trial" and "Metamorphosis".
by Parsefone February 7, 2006
by Cornell Professor May 29, 2010
Named after the author Franz Kafka, typically used to describe anything that makes no sense, has no colours and has no points of reference.
Waking up and being a human sized insect but being able to fit under a regular door and subsequently kicked by your father. THAT'S Kafkaesque.
"Dude, the school is so... Kafkaesque!"
"Dude, the school is so... Kafkaesque!"
by Jonathan Singh August 3, 2004