Before the Law
| "Before the Law" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by Franz Kafka | |
Drawing by Kafka used to Illustrate the "Cathedral" chapter of The Trial | |
| Original title | Vor dem Gesetz |
| Language | German |
| Publication | |
| Published in | Selbstwehr (1915) Ein Landarzt (1919) Der Process (1925) |
| Publisher | Kurt Wolff (1919) |
| Publication date | 1915 |
"Before the Law" (German: "Vor dem Gesetz") is a short story by Czech writer Franz Kafka. It was printed twice during Kafka's life, but is best known as an embedded narrative in the posthumously published novel The Trial (German: Der Prozess). "Before the Law" is described as a deliberately obscure parable or allegory on legal bureaucracy and the seeking of justice, reflecting the absurdist views on the subject expressed by Kafka in The Trial.