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Human nature continues to evolve and change over time. But how do we define human nature? Human nature is how we define ourselves, such as how we feel and what we think about certain things. Kafka and Borges focus on human nature of the character. It can change quickly or steady. Both authors had religion, Christianity, involved in their stories. Each of their characters focuses on their personal views of the world. In “Before the Law”, this story is vague and can have different meanings. It can be looking for higher power, religion, or government. I believe this story is about religion and life lessons. It’s about a man who asked the gatekeeper for entry through the door to the Law. The Law could be heaven or a sacred place. The man sacrificed everything to gain access to the Law so much so that he would consider breaking rules to get through the gate which was against his human nature.
Therefore, the man waited anxiously for years to have the courage to go the gatekeeper and say he is ready. Before the man could enter, the gatekeeper quoted, “No one but you could have been admitted here, since this entrance was meant for you alone. Now I am going to shut it.” (Kafka, pg. 303) But when I finished reading, I was on the edge of my seat thinking did he die? Thoughts raced through my mind and my heart was left pounding with fear knowing what the ending could possibly be. This was one of my favorite stories I read in class. In “Deutsches Requiem”, this story goes into more detail about a man reflecting about his past and how he has been arrested. This is about a prisoner who spoke to his cell mates on how he ended up in jail. He starts off his story by quoting “As for me, I will be executed as a torturer and murder.” Zur Linde mentioned change and quoted, “demanded a new kind of man.” But his character development was very quick.
Most stories I read the character development is steady. When his brother was killed in battle, this particular moment changed his destiny. He decided to give up Christianity to follow in his brother’s footsteps. He has been promoted as a Nazi officer and followed in Hitler’s evil ways. Even though, I feel that he changed his human nature because he has family members who fought and he felt he had to uphold the honor. He felt pressured even though deep down this wasn’t who he was and these weren’t the beliefs he upheld. He struggled to conform for his family or he felt he wouldn’t hold the family honor. This was the turning point that changed his perspective on human nature. As the story continued, his new selftransformed and turned to Nazism. Zur Linde quoted, “Essentially, Nazism is an act of morality, a purging of corrupted humanity, to dress him anew.” (Borges, pg. 144) He cared that only evilness shall reign and conquer the world. The cold former Nazi officer showed no emotion. He didn’t show regret or fear. Deep down, he knew what he had done and deserved to die. Zur Linde let his pride get the best of him before the firing squad shoots him as punishment for his crime. Furthermore, both stories had a theme about human nature and religion. In “Deutsches Requiem”, Zur Linde used to follow Christianity. Zur Linde’s human nature and perspective changed dramatically by leaving Christianity and moving to Nazism. The Nazi officer quickly changed his human nature from good to evil. Thus, his perspective changed and his vision how he saw the world is being corrupted instead of peace. “Before the Law” mentioned the gate could be the higher power or Heaven. But “Before the Law” does mention how the person had to sacrifice his pride and corrupt his human nature possibly to get through the gate. He lost a part of himself just for a chance to get through the gate.
In conclusion, Kafka and Borges write about human nature and including religion in their character development. The struggle that both of the characters in each story had to change and sacrificed everything to accomplish their goal regardless of how each felt deep inside. Neither was true to themselves or their beliefs. When I read these stories it really got my attention and made me think how significant and misleading human nature can be when someone is not true to themselves and puts their immediate needs and wants over the long-term goal. This can lead to devastating consequences. But in the end, this isn’t worth the trouble. It is so much more difficult to look at the big picture and do what is right for yourself instead of what other people think you should do. Unfortunately, human nature always looks for the easy way.
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