Franz Kafka
Is our subconscious strong enough to make us slaves of our determinisms?

Franz Kafka was born on July 3, 1883, the first child of Hermann and Julie (née Löwy) Kafka. His parents were middle class, his father setting up a dry goods store and his mother coming from a well-to-do family. Kavka is the Czech for Jackdaw, and it is a Bohemian Jewish surname too. The history behind his name affected Kafka’s self-confidence and his writings as well. Even though he was born in Prague, he wrote in German. Most of his work was published posthumously and serves a source of philosophical debate, research and literary studies.

Franz Kafka Chronology

1883- July 3 Franz Kafka was born in Prague, Bohemia (now Czech Republic)
1887 -Brother Georg dies.
1889 -Kafka starts at the Deutsche Volks- und Bürgerlschedule.
1893 -Kafka starts at Staatsgymnasium.
1897 -Anti-Semitic rioting in Prague between Czech and German students.
1899 -Jewish socialists disrupt first public meeting in Prague of Zionist.
1901 -Starts at the Universität in Prague. Drops Chemistry after two weeks and switches to law.
1902 -Became Pupil of Franz Brentano.
1905 -At age 23 he made his first visit to a sanatorium.
1907 -Starts working with an insurance company Assicurazioni Generali.
1910 -After five months of writing nothing that satisfied him , Kafka starts his diaries.
1911 -Meets Rudolf Steiner
1912 -Turning point in his life. Begins writing “Das Urteil” (The Judgement) and meets Felice with whom he was later engaged.
1914 -World War I begins. First engagement with Felice. After having an affair with another woman, the engagement ends. Writes “the Trial”.
1915 -While working on some short stories, he has to go to his father factory in the afternoons. To replace his brother who was deployed to war.
1917 -He becomes officially engaged to Felice in Prague. Persistent stomach trouble.
1918 -Armistice ends World War. Kafka tries to work at an institute but falls