Page 11 - GALIET KAFKABEL JOB, KANT AND MILTON: Omnipotence, Impotence and Rebellion IV+

Galiet & Galiet

There is a tragedy that crucifies all words and murders all light, digging an abysm in philosophy’s lofty heart, making of Job’s goodness, a sinister doubt. But there is yet another grief of an eerier cry, whose ceaseless sorrow congeals idealism’s loftiest skies 3⁄4 it recreates tyranny’s horrors unto every span of time, making darkness equal light. Its vicious aim remains intolerably the same, to accuse and illicitly assault, persecute and execute Josef Ks.
This study explores the dynamics of impotence, oppression and rebellion in the Book of Job1 and Kafka’s The Trial2 in relation to Kant’s Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals and Milton’s Areopagitica, The Second Defence of the People of England, and The Tenure of Kings and Magistrates. In their rebellions, Job is an absurd hero, and Josef K, a Kantian and Miltonian one. Job returns to oppression by ceding to sin and redemption morality in his restoration, and K departs its absurd, by ceding to his execution. Josef K’s enlightened revolt against the oppression of guilt adumbrates a desire for innocence and immanence in the life of Jesus, the immanent prophet and man.
Honors Thesis in Classical Myth and Literature University of British Columbia
Dr. Robert Cousland
Associate Professor
Early Christianity and Greek Religion and Mythology Department of Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies
Dr. Steven Taubeneck
Associate Professor
Department of Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies
Galiet
© 2013 House of Eunoia Press Ltd.
1 The Bible. the Book of Job. The New Oxford Annotated Bible. Augmented Third Edition. Ed. By Michael D. Coogan. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007. See also Gordis’ version of the Book of Job. Gordis, Robert. The Book of God and Man. A Study of Job. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1965. 221-306
2 Kafka, Franz. The Trial. Trans. By Breon Mitchell. New York: Schocken Books, 1998. — 11 —
Boardrooms of Tyrannism
Interweavings 13 The Heaths 65 Aporias 85 Blaze 86