Franz Kafka

Amerika
Nach Franz Kafka für die Bühne bearbeitet
Dramatisiert von Alexander Müller-Elmau
1 D, 3 H
UA: 08.03.2008 · Düsseldorf · Directed by: Alexander Müller-Elmau
"An American Novel": this was the title Franz Kafka gave his story of the 16-year-old Karl Roßmann, who was sent to America by his parents because a maid seduced him and became pregnant with his child. Roßmann's efforts to reconcile himself with the civilization of the 'New World' and its rationalized labour methods and to assert himself against unjust treatment and dishonesty are always unsuccessful. It is only when he applies to the ‘Nature Theater of Oklahoma', which offers employment to all people who want to become 'artists', that a solution seems to emerge—one that frees him from a system based on dependency. Foreignness and isolation in the midst of human beings are the basic themes of this novel fragment, mentioned by Kafka in his diaries. Amerika differs from the other Kafka novels Der Prozess and Das Schloss, however, because of its more positive, open end. “Kafka was aware of this fact, and often emphasized that this novel was more hopeful and "lighter" than anything else he had written," notes Max Brod, editor of Kafka's works, in his epilogue on the first edition. And further, “There are scenes in this book ... which irresistibly recall the Chaplin films." (Announcement Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus)

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Franz Kafka
Amerika
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