Before The Law :: Short Story Stories Essays

onwards The LawBEFORE THE LAW stands a doorkeeper. To this doorkeeper in that respect comes a man from the country and prays for admittance to the Law. But the doorkeeper says that he cannot fit in admittance at the moment. The man thinks it over and then asks if he bequeath be allowed in later. It is possible, says the doorkeeper, but not at the moment. Since the gate stands open, as usual, and the doorkeeper steps to hotshot side, the man stoops to peer through the access into the interior. Observing that, the doorkeeper laughs and says If you are so drawn to it, just try to go in despite my veto. But take note I am powerful. And I am only the least of the doorkeepers. From hall to hall there is one doorkeeper after an opposite, each more powerful than the last. The ordinal doorkeeper is already so terrible that even I cannot stimulate to manner at him. These are difficulties the man from the country has not anticipate the Law, he thinks, should surely be accessible at al l generation and to everyone, but as he now takes a closer look at the doorkeeper in his fur coat, with his big sharp twine and long, thin, black Tartar beard, he decides that it is better to wait until he gets liberty to enter. The doorkeeper gives him a stool and lets him sit down at one side of the door. There he sits for days and age. He makes many attempts to be admitted, and wearies the doorkeeper by his importunity. The doorkeeper frequently has little interviews with him, asking him questions just about his home and many other things, but the questions are put indifferently, as great lords put them, and always finish with the statement that he cannot be let in yet. The man, who has furnished himself with many things for his journey, sacrifices all he has, that valuable, to bribe the doorkeeper. The doorkeeper accepts everything, but always with the remark I am only taking it to keep you from thinking you have omitted anything. During these many years the man fixes his attention almost continuously on the doorkeeper. He forgets the other doorkeepers, and this first one seems to him the sole obstacle preventing access to the Law. He curses his hurtful luck, in his early years boldly and loudly later, as he grows old, he only grumbles to himself.