The Judgment

"The Judgment"
Cover of the first individual print in 1913
Author	Franz Kafka
Original title	"Das Urteil"
Language	German
Published in	Arkadia
Publisher	Max Brod
Publication date	1913

"The Judgment" ("Das Urteil") is a short story written by Franz Kafka in 1912, concerning the relationship between a man and his father.

The story begins with a young merchant, George Bendemann, sitting in his room, writing a letter to his dear friend in Russia, who had left their hometown some years prior to set up a business that, though initially successful, was now failing. George is writing to tell his friend, amongst other happenings, that he is engaged to and will soon marry Frieda Brandenfeld.

George breaks out of his reverie and decides to check on his father. He informs his father that he has just written a letter to his friend, updating him on his upcoming marriage. His father questions the existence of his son’s friend in Russia, at which point George changes the subject. George’s father accuses him of deceiving him of the happenings of the business. He claims the death of his wife (George’s mother) hit him harder than it did George.

George insists on having his father lie down in bed for a while. Because of this, George’s father claims his son wants him dead. Moreover, he admits to knowing his son’s friend. He makes George feel terrible, suggesting that George has ignored his friend ever since he moved away to Russia. The father does not appreciate George’s love and care, maintaining he can take care of himself. George shrinks back into a corner, scared of his father and his harsh words.

George’s father accuses him of being selfish and finally sentences him to "death by drowning". George feels himself pushed from the room. He runs from his home to a bridge over a stretch of water. He swings himself over the railing and plunges, apparently to his death.

Franz Kafka wrote "The Judgment" ("Das Urteil") at age 29. At this point in his life, Kafka had finished his studies of law at the Karl-Ferdinands-Universität of Prague five years earlier and had worked various jobs, including working for an insurance company and starting an asbestos factory with his brother-in-law, Karl Hermann.

Kafka wrote "The Judgment" in a single sitting on September 22, 1912. In later writings, he described the creative outburst of "The Judgment" as “the total opening of body and soul,” as well as saying that “the story evolved as a true birth, covered with filth and slime.” Kafka viewed the work as “one of his most successful and perfect literary creations” which he was able to write in a “semi-unconscious state of mind.” Kafka was incredibly enthusiastic after the work, and talked to his good friend, Max Brod, who edited and published much of his work. "The Judgment" was published in 1913 in the literary yearbook Arkadia. The story was dedicated "to Miss Felice Bauer" whom he met just before writing it, and in subsequent editions simply "for F.". Brod noted in his biography that the name of the main character, Georg Bendemann, alludes to Kafka (Franz has as many letters as Georg, Bende sounds similar to Kafka), and the name of the fiancée mentioned to Felice: Frieda Brandenfeld has the same initials, Frieda as many letters as Felice, "Branden" may refer to Brandenburg around Berlin where Felice lived, "feld" (field) is related to "Bauer" (farmer).