Talk:Before the Law

more detail
So why not tell us what the fable is about, instead of just saying it's famous and confusing? CharlesTheBold 01:14, 25 July 2007 (UTC)


 * Great ideas Charles! Alastair Haines (talk) 17:19, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

This page is pointless. Why is it here? Edmund1989 18:38, 8 September 2007 (UTC)


 * The page is here so that people who don't know anything about Kafka can learn something. Like, for example, a little about this very famous short story of his. It may take some time to find volunteers to expand it. Being friendly to those volunteers while they work may well speed that on. :) Alastair Haines (talk) 17:19, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

detail added
I added a summary of the short story's plot, cleaned up its use in The Trial, and added that it was a short story published by Kafka in his lifetime. All of Kafka's novels were published after his death. Now the page, however, is missing citations, which I'm hoping someone will add (instead of the alternative of just deleting the useful content I added). Vash Aurion 00:30, 30 November 2007 (UTC)


 * Thanks Vash! I'm sure someone will add references. And thanks for adding lots of useful stuff. Alastair Haines (talk) 17:19, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

This seems to have gone at least two years without citations. I am especially concerned about the bit refferring to existentialism. To someone new to Kafka it might be misleading to reference existentialism and nothing else.--96.240.20.53 (talk) 05:34, 2 July 2009 (UTC)

It's obvious that it's existential. I took the parable to mean that the man would have to face obstacles (the doormen) in order to get to where he wanted to be (the Law). And only he can could enter the gate. Meaning only he could make the effort. No one else could do it for him. He had to take him own path. Mark321123 (talk) 04:13, 20 October 2009 (UTC)


 * I think you're right Mark, but I also think I remember reading that in a commentary somewhere. Thanks for adding it, 'cause it actually guides us in what to search for in sourcing the article. Just your luck though, there might be some source that suggests it is not existential. That's cool though, then we source both points of view. Nothing is wasted. Alastair Haines (talk) 17:23, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

References please someone
I'll not tag this article, because I think it's obvious it needs sourcing, and anyone willing or able to do that sourcing won't need a tag to prompt them to do it.

I'll also observe, rather than tagging or deleting, that someone has provided the original research that capitalization of the tile of the story in English translations doesn't reflect the German, where capitalization is necessary by spelling convention, so not necessarily semantically significant.

I'm pretty confident that's original research (so no reliable source will be found to support it), because:
 * English conventionally capitalizes nouns in titles (so the point being offered is actually moot)
 * in Vor dem Gesetz (the first three words of the story, as well as its title) the article before the noun is significant, as in English, suggesting the abstract sense of the word, rather than a, generic but individual, item of legislation.

There are oodles of commentaries on Kafka. Thanks to whoever is willing to summarise some of what those experts say, rather than offering us personal reflections, however insightful.

Simply translating the German article might be a wise course forward, though. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 144.131.75.80 (talk) 19:05, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

Cheers, Alastair Haines (talk) 17:13, 6 November 2009 (UTC)

The "plot summary" section reads like a 12-year-old's essay on Abraham Lincoln. Someone should translate the German (even an amateur). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.22.73.139 (talk) 08:36, 14 July 2013 (UTC)

"Beofre the Law" listed at Redirects for discussion
A discussion is taking place to address the redirect Beofre the Law. The discussion will occur at Redirects for discussion/Log/2020 May 7 until a consensus is reached, and readers of this page are welcome to contribute to the discussion. Regards, SONIC  678  16:27, 7 May 2020 (UTC)