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The Influence Of Franz Kafka On American Jurisprudence, Jonathan Blackmore

Jonathan Blackmore

The attached article explores the ways in which the author, Franz Kafka, has influenced American Jurisprudence. Kafka resided in Prague in the early 20th century and is well known for The Trial and The Metamorphosis. Kafka and his works have been cited in judicial opinions hundreds of times over the past several decades. Interpretations of his work resulted in the adjective: Kafkaesque, meaning: “having a nightmarishly complex, bizarre, or illogical quality.” Judges and lawyers often use Kafka to portray government action as arbitrary or illogical. This article explains the key ways in which Kafka and his works are used by …