by Rodolfo N. Lentejas, Jr.

Created on: December 05, 2009   Last Updated: December 06, 2009

A careful and reflective reading of A Country Doctor unlocks the kind of society to which Franz Kafka (1883-1924) belonged. The first quarter of the twentieth century was a time most associated with uncertainties, meaninglessness and nothingness, especially for intellectuals seeking life's ultimate purpose, like Kafka (Kreis).

Many, if not all, intellectuals during this era tried to ask questions related to the human existence. Kafka was among the European existentialist thinkers who braved to raise questions on the meaning, if indeed there was, of life. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Kafka did not pose a direct question; rather, he used literary methods loaded with philosophical inquiries about the reality of human life during that time. A very perfect exposition on the reality of human existence that Kafka used is the literary article entitled, "A Country Doctor."

The story attempts to explore the value of human existence despite being at the brink of death, as seen in the opposing characters of the doctor and his patient. Kafka, more importantly, attempts to present what is supposed to be life's ordinary appearance into something extraordinary and surreal. Though he successfully presented a rather intellectual narrative based on the doctor's point of view, Kafka also faithfully presented the humanity of his intellectual discourse, as seen in the story itself and the characters.

In going into the detail of the story, the doctor encountered four challenges before he finally was able to successfully accomplish his mission. Just as the doctor battled with each and every challenge, he too was constantly being haunted by corresponding frustrations as he physically was willing to take the challenge, yet he was also being hindered by forces other than his own.

It was winter and the severe weather condition was his first obstacle in his deepest efforts to help a patient in need of his services. In frustration and helplessness, the doctor gave a rather negative and yet descriptive statement facing him right at that moment: "A severe snowstorm filled the space between him and me." Nonetheless the doctor moved on to look for other means, just so that he can attend to the needy patient.

Unfortunately, he realized that his horse died the night before and, so, here again the doctor is seemingly helpless. He was forced by his calling to help sick people, but he just can't traverse the space between him and the patient precisely because he was alone and the weather was

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