The Trial

On the day after his thirtieth birthday, Josef K, a bank teller, is arrested by two mysterious agents of an unspecified organization. Confused and shocked, Josef inquires about the crime he is being accused of, but the agents will not answer, leaving Josef to decide what he feels most guilty for. Though he is not imprisoned, Josef is told to await further instructions. Tortured by the unknown, Josef returns to his home and tries to guess what he could be charged for. His landlady, Frau Grubach, feels amicably about Josef despite the arrest and wishes to help. She speculates that he is likely being punished for his promiscuous behavior involving one of his neighbors. Josef is unable to confirm this, but he does go to his neighbor, Fraulien, for comfort. While she does accept his affection and kiss at first, Fraulien later rejects Josef’s advances. When he returns home, he is given unclear instructions for his court appearance. With an address, but not a specific report time, Josef