Big I, Eye, Aye.

I’ve re-realized why I abhor outlines. They muddle my brain and I end up more confused about my essay than when I started. Eventually, of course, I’ll read this outline again, have a fantastic Eureka! moment, and all will be well.
Eventually…
Here is the outline: There are lots of  long quotes and rambly sentences for now, because I’ll pick through it as I flesh it out. Oy yoy yoy. Bare (bear?) with me here.

Also, does the rough thing of going

existentialism

transition

nihilism

work? Or should I have 2 existentialisms/1 nihilism or 1 existentialism/2 nihilism? Feedback please on this monstrous outline.

Introduction: Briefly explain the concepts behind existentialism and nihilism. Thesis: Kafka’s The Trial is anchored first in existentialism and gradually converts to nihilism.
Reason 1: The Trial can be considered existentialist in the beginning because of K’s aim to articulate and reason, and because of the chaos he is attempting to fight. Example: The seeming irrelevance and chaos of the court system and building exemplify the world existentialism paints – one of meaningless and emptiness. Josef K recognizes this as the book begins.“When we abandon illusions, life is revealed as nothing; and for the existentialists, nothingness is the source of not only absolute freedom but also existential horror and emotional anguish. Nothingness reveals each individual as an isolated being “thrown” into an alien and unresponsive universe, barred forever from knowing why yet required to invent meaning. It’s a situation that’s nothing short of absurd.” (http://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nihilism.htm)
“K. turned to the stairs to find the room for the inquiry, but then paused as he saw three different staircases in the courtyard in addition to the first one; moreover, a small passage at the other end of the courtyard seemed to lead to a second courtyard. He was annoyed that they hadn’t described the location of the room more precisely; he was certainly being treated with strange carelessness or indifference, a point he intended to make loudly and clearly.” (39)
“And at last he leaned across the bed and opened the door. [...] he looked through the open door and drew his foot back. “What’s that?” he asked the painter. [...] Those are law court offices. Didn’t you know there were law court offices there? There are law court offices in practically every attic” (164)
Example: Josef K., in the beginning, is striving to figure out what the trial is about. He sets boundaries for the irrelevance, doesn’t accept it all, and cuts his own swath in the sea of defendants. He is ‘articulating his being’, not just going with the flow and accepting the chaos and meaninglessness. “You may object that these aren’t proceedings at all, and you’re certainly right there, they are only proceedings if I recognize them as such.” (45)
“”What sense?” K. cried out, more startled than annoyed. “Who do you think you are? You ask what sense it makes, while you stage the most senseless performance imaginable? Wouldn’t it break a heart of stone? First these gentlemen assault me, and now they sit around or stand about and put me through my paces before you.” (15)

Reason 2: The difference between existentialism and nihilism is that while both say that humans struggle against the thought of nothingness, that the world has no true meaning, existentialists believe that humans can survive it. Nihilists, do not, and believe that ‘death’ is inevitable. In the middle, both -isms are present, and hence the feeling of turmoil and slow defeat. Example: K.’s attempt to fashion his own petition… it didn’t succeed but the attempt to ’swim’ instead of just ’sink’ was apparent. “To accomplish this K. would obviously have to do more than simply sit in the hall with the others and place his hat beneath the bench. He, or the women, or some other messengers, would have to besiege the officials day after day and force them to sit down at their desks and study K.’s petition, instead of staring through the grille into the hall. [...] He recalled how one morning…he had suddenly shoved everything aside and taken out his notepad to have to try at drafting the general outlines of such a petition and perhaps making it available to his slow-witted lawyer” (126)

Example: A turning point of the book is when K. refuses to cease the flogging, and his sense of morality seems to slip. (84-87)

Reason 3: Josef K’s failure to be original and find meaning signalled the end of existentialism and entrance of nihilism. Wiki: “In existentialist views, personal articulation of being is the only way to rise above humanity’s absurd condition of much suffering and inevitable death.” Josef K. ceases to be original, commits the only sin known to existentialism and inevitably dies. The latter portion of the book (especially the pages entitled ‘Fragments’… but I’m not sure if that’s considered part of The Trial) exemplifies some nihilistic principles. Example: Josef K’s renouncement of God. “Not wishing to remain entirely dependent on the priest, K. asked him: “Are we near the main entrance now?” “No,” said the priest, “we’re a long way from it. Do you want to leave already?” Although K. hadn’t been thinking of that at the moment, he said at once: “Of course, I have to go.”" (223-224)“

“Can’t you see two steps in front of you?” It was a cry of rage, but at the same time it was the cry of someone who, seeing a man falling, shouts out in shock, involuntarily, without thinking.” (214)

Example: The fact that his executioners are so blase about his death? That he is so blase about his death? Supports the ‘life has no meaing and there is no truth, morality’ clause? “Like a dog” – no morality, no… ethics?“There would be nothing heroic in resistance, in making trouble for these men, in trying to enjoy a final vestige of life by fighting back.” (227)
From Nietzsche (http://www.iep.utm.edu/n/nihilism.htm): “Nihilism is . . . not only the belief that everything deserves to perish; but one actually puts one’s shoulder to the plough; one destroys” (Will to Power).
From The Trial :“K. knew clearly now that it was his duty to seize the knife as it floated from hand to hand above him and plunge it into himself. But he didn’t do so;” (230)

Conclusion: Existentialism and nihilism are connected, similar except for the person’s mindset… optimism or pessimism, Trial shows this… ‘accept fate’, progression from e-ism to nihilism, etc. SUM UP with a bang.

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