Literary Analysis Essay on A Country Doctor

Introduction

Franz Kafka wrote an influential literary fiction that exists in the environment of a dream. "A Country Doctor" ventilates how a country doctor faces myriad challenges as his horse dies while he has to make an emergency visit to a patient on a chilly winter night. The doctor faces several challenges and feels betrayed by the society where he thinks should help him in his problems (Gale, 086). In his work, the author employs the use of various symbols such as the horses, the groom, Rosa, and the patient. However, he uses the "groom symbol" to elaborately portray the literary meaning of real help in the real world. The dreamscape fronts how the mysterious groom shows up from nowhere to provide the doctor with a pair of horses. In that context, this essay seeks to focus on the right meaning of groom symbol and how the author uses the groom symbol concerning the doctor's dreamscape, the theme of the story, and to the author (Kafka's) biography.

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Meaning of "Groom" Symbol in the Story

Symbolism is an essential aspect of any literary work since writers can use one thing to represent something else and portray the message. The story "A Country Doctor" exists as a fiction in the atmosphere of a dream, which makes the interpretation by readers quite difficult. In that regards, Kafka creates different meanings and emotions in the story through the use of the groom as a symbol of a mysterious helper to the frustrated doctor. The strange groom who appears from the pigsty offers him the horses to help him as a means of transport to attend to his patient, in the middle of a cold winter night. However, the doctor seems to be at a dilemma as the generous groom aggressively kisses the doctor's maid. As the doctor thinks of chastising the groom, he fails to do it as he feels indebted to the groom. That brings out the meaning of the groom symbol in the story, based on the role he played.

The Use of Groom Symbol in Relation to the Doctor’s Dreamscape/Psyche

In the entire dreamscape, the doctor portrays his conscious mind and the psyche to do what is right. Despite being the middle of the night, the doctor struggles to go and attend to his sick patient. That is a determination to save others, which portrays the values and aspirations of the doctor's life. The role of the groom in the doctor's life relates to the role of the doctor on the patient's life (Gale, 184). It is about helping freely without expecting any reward in the end. On the other hand, the dreamscape brings out an element of frustration and betrayal in the doctor's life. After sacrificing his time and experience to attend to the sick patient, the doctor feels that no one wants to appreciate his efforts.

The Use of Groom in Relation to the Theme of the Story

The story brings out several themes and essential lessons that we can learn in real life. The use of groom symbolizes a God-sent messenger who intervenes mysteriously to save the doctor at the actual hour of need. In that context, the theme of "Help" comes out of the story. We realize that the doctor gets frustrated when he realizes that his horse dies, while he needs to make an urgent trip to attend to a patient. The role of the groom symbolizes the fact that really help comes from the people we least expect to intervene in our situations (Gale, 227).

Another theme that comes out in regards to the groom is "appreciation." We realize that after delivering a pair of horses to help the doctor, the mysterious groom aggressively kisses the doctor's maid and follows her to the house. As the doctor tries to react, he feels naturally unable to do so since he is indebted to the groom. That aspect of failing to respond to the groom's attack on the maid brings out a lesson that people become humble and appreciative with those who intervene in their situations.

The Use of Groom in Relation to Kafka’s Biography

We realize from Franz Kafka's biography that his writing celebrity only came out after his death. Some of his friends took it upon themselves to publish Kafka's significant works and make him known after he had died. There is an essence of help and appreciation from this part of his biography. The two themes of assistance and appreciation from his friends relate with that of the groom in the doctor's dream story. It portrays that real help comes from the people whom one least expects.

Works Cited

Gale, Cengage Learning. A Study Guide for Franz Kafka's" A Country Doctor". Gale, Cengage Learning, 2016. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=-PrPDAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT3&dq=A+Country+Doctor+by+Kafka+&ots=k3Pa7kJ5Jj&sig=A8zGqzDJwZ_WZ9UC4mdJ-8zWngI