As part of the Oxford Kafka 2024 celebrations, a series of events exploring Franz Kafka’s contributions to literature, arts, culture and society, Oxford Health Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) supported a talk on Kafka’s work relating to mental health conditions.
The talk, Kafka in Mind, was chaired by Professor Kam Bhui, our BRC Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Lead and Co-Lead of the Preventing Multiple Morbidities Theme. The public were invited to hear from an interdisciplinary panel of experts, who spoke on Kafka’s work in relation to the public understanding of and research on mental illnesses and the mind.
Dr Roisin Mooney, Project Manager and Postdoctoral Researcher in the University of Oxford’s Department of Psychiatry, who contributes to the BRC’s Mental Health in Development and Preventing Multiple Morbidities Themes, shared her thoughts on Kafka’s work and reflections on the event:
Kafka and contemporary understanding of mental illness
Whilst there has been much speculation and interpretation as to Kafka’s mental state, the conversation between the panel members considered the transformative nature of Kafka’s work in the context of the Mind and Mental Illnesses. Rather than attempt to define whether Kafka himself experienced a mental illness, the panel reflected on how Kafka’s works can inform our thinking and understanding of contemporary issues surrounding the mind and mental illness. The panel was especially interested in public understanding, research evidence, and an interdisciplinary critique of mutual understandings and perspective. One of the successes of the evening was in bringing together diverse disciplinary perspectives, each of which offered reflections on how interactions with Kafka’s work had contributed to developing new insights.
Background on ‘Metamorphosis’ and ‘The Trial’
Two of Kafka’s novels that dominated the discussion were ‘Metamorphosis’ and ‘The Trial’. Metamorphosis tells the tale of Gregor Samsa, a travelling salesman working hard to pay of his family’s debts, who found himself transformed into a kind of insect creature. Gregor feels guilty that he is no longer able to provide for his family, who view him as a shameful burden, yet continue to care for him until his death. The tale begins with Gregor awaking already transformed, yet he never fully transforms, retaining his human consciousness throughout. In ‘The Trial’, protagonist Josef K is arrested and prosecuted for a crime he knows nothing about. The tale begins at the point of Josef’s arrest, and the crime is never revealed to the reader.
Literary double binds and schizophrenia
Within Kafka’s work there are several double binds, communication dilemmas including contradictory messages, where the recipient is unable to resolve the conflict, typically occurring in situations where there is a power imbalance. In both tales the main character’s sense of self is continually challenged. In ‘Metamorphosis’ Gregor’s transformation frees him of societal expectations and family obligations, yet traps him in a life of isolation, rejection, and loss of self. This duality is reflected in many of Kafka’s works where freedom from one set of constraints often leads to deeper imprisonment in another. The double bind theory has often been used as an explanation for the development of schizophrenic like behaviour. During the panel discussion the interpretation, and resolution of some of the double binds discussed differed, highlighting the challenges that are often felt by those with mental illnesses in receipt of multiple conflicting communications. Further parallels have been drawn between the way that Gregor is alienated by his family, and the way that people with schizophrenia are often treated. Reflections were made around the transformative power of openly discussing some of these parallels to contemporary society.
Processes of change and adversity
Throughout Kafka’s works there is a theme where the power of an experience is in a process of change, or transformation, rather than the outcome. Whilst both novels end in a death (noting the relationship between adversity, mental illness and premature mortality) there remains a constant unknowing and questioning; we never know what triggered Gregor’s transformation, nor the crime that Josef commits. This was reflected in the evening, where new insights emerged during discussions of the texts in an interdisciplinary forum, rather than searching too hard for a specific meaning or purpose or intention of the author.
Power imbalances and marginalised groups
There is a sense of othering, compounded by power imbalances in both ‘Metamorphosis’ and ‘The Trial’. This could be compared to the experiences of oppression and powerlessness of marginalised groups in society today. Particularly when we think about the inequalities faced by people with mental health challenges and those from racialised populations, not only regarding self-stigma, but also stigma experienced from others which amounts to discrimination, diminishes treatment and compounds existing inequalities.
Lived experiences and Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) initiatives
There is often a dream – like nature to Kafka’s work, and sense of eliciting unconscious processes, as opposed to a focus on how perception and attention and cognition operate in a conscious explicit way. This highlights the need for, and importance of experience data to better understand lived experience and develop solutions, particularly around complex issues like systemic inequalities. This is mirrored in much of our current PPI and EDI initiatives, where we are currently considering the need for improved diversity amongst PPI activities, to ensure that we are not contributing to existing inequalities by only conducting PPI activities with those who are easily accessible and able to contribute. Our forthcoming paper will outline some of the challenges in conducting equitable PPI and propose solutions for building in flexibility to accommodate different contexts and facilitate those who have traditionally not been able to have their voice heard.
Mental health inequalities and the Mental Health Act
Common themes within Kafka’s works that are relevant to modern research include inequalities in mental illness, social determinants, family reactions to mental illness and stigma, premature mortality, potential stress of work and how workers feel powerless when faced with distress and oppression. The last point is of relevance to some of our current work exploring experiences from both health care staff and patients around the Mental Health Act. Many racialised health care staff reported challenges in reconciling their moral compass with their legal obligations. We look forward to continuing to work with the panel to explore the transformative power of Kafka’s work in relation to these themes.
