ABSTRACT
The irrational is a great motif in Kafka. Not only do his books suggest overpoweringly the irrationality of existence and its dominance over reason, but their basic fiber is the irrationality of dream-logic. To Kafka, cabalism meant the secretive and superficial. At times Kafka seems to equate cabalism with society in general and at times to limit it to the irrational excesses of society that result in widespread suffering. It is interesting to note that the philosophy of naturalism stands in relation to anti-naturalism or supernaturalism as Kafka does to cabalism. In The Trial, cabalism is epitomized by the law and the court, by their irrational, unjust, and deliberately clandestine and capricious nature, which places the burden of proof on the accused, then leads him from one psychological trap into another, and by a process of alternating encouragement and discouragement enervates him until he is ready to accept spiritual execution.
