The short parable, "Before the Law”, describes the difficult choices that we all make in our lives to follow what we are "supposed" to do and what we "believe" is truly right when these two concepts are different. In most cases, these concepts will be the same, but in circumstances where church and state collide, it may be hard to discern which choice is right. The parable tells the story of a man who waits outside a gate his entire life, seeking admittance to the Law. He requests access from the gatekeeper, but is denied each time. He is challenged to go in despite the gatekeeper's veto, but chooses to follow the rules because he thinks it would be better to wait for permission to enter and gain admittance to the Law.
I think that the author uses a parable as a way of conveying the message in a more meaningful way, rather than simply stating it. The way the message is portrayed allows us to better relate to it and connect our lives to the life of the man in the story. I think that the message that Kafka is trying to portray is the importance of following and acting upon what we believe is right, rather than what we may be expected to do. How we choose to follow and interpret laws is different for each individual person, as each person has their own "gate". The law has been established to keep us safe and keep us on the right track to making good decisions, and in most circumstances, I think that following the law leads us to do what is right. However, in situations that involve a collision between both church and state, we may be left with two different choices and a challenge to discern which is truly the right thing to do. For example, there are some countries where faithful citizens are not allowed to worship freely or participate in their own religion, yet they have not allowed the law to limit them. Many have died for their faith because they believe that it is better to follow the teachings of a higher power, rather than the orders of a mortal ruler.
This idea is very similar to the manner and reasoning through which Antigone makes her decision to go against Creon and bury her brother in the story of Antigone. She believes in following a higher power and asserts her right to abide by it rather than the laws of Creon, a mortal like herself. Although Antigone's decision is similar to the message of the parable, the countryman's and Antigone's choices differ. The countryman in the poem is different from Antigone because he follows the law and accepts the fact that he must wait to be admitted to the law, but Antigone does not let the law limit her actions or affect her beliefs about what is best for her brother.
I think that the author uses a parable as a way of conveying the message in a more meaningful way, rather than simply stating it. The way the message is portrayed allows us to better relate to it and connect our lives to the life of the man in the story. I think that the message that Kafka is trying to portray is the importance of following and acting upon what we believe is right, rather than what we may be expected to do. How we choose to follow and interpret laws is different for each individual person, as each person has their own "gate". The law has been established to keep us safe and keep us on the right track to making good decisions, and in most circumstances, I think that following the law leads us to do what is right. However, in situations that involve a collision between both church and state, we may be left with two different choices and a challenge to discern which is truly the right thing to do. For example, there are some countries where faithful citizens are not allowed to worship freely or participate in their own religion, yet they have not allowed the law to limit them. Many have died for their faith because they believe that it is better to follow the teachings of a higher power, rather than the orders of a mortal ruler.
This idea is very similar to the manner and reasoning through which Antigone makes her decision to go against Creon and bury her brother in the story of Antigone. She believes in following a higher power and asserts her right to abide by it rather than the laws of Creon, a mortal like herself. Although Antigone's decision is similar to the message of the parable, the countryman's and Antigone's choices differ. The countryman in the poem is different from Antigone because he follows the law and accepts the fact that he must wait to be admitted to the law, but Antigone does not let the law limit her actions or affect her beliefs about what is best for her brother.