Wednesday, December 16, 2009

doorkeepers, assistants, Jackowski/vigilant dreamer, Kraus

two figures/doorkeepers: 1) Kraus' wagenturlaufmacher; this figure exists in Kraus' imagination and is like Nately's whore in Catch 22; in Vienna wherever Kraus goes the doorekeeper jumps out of nowhere to open a carriage door; Kraus even dreams about him-the carriage door handle is for him 'the pledge of his hope and his everything'; and of course the same figure will be in attendance to open the door of Kraus' hearse. The doorkeeper is not a symbol of alienation ie an object of sympathy. Think of him more as a Jackowski image ie a 'vigilant dreamer'. Or 2) like Kafka's doorkeeper in Before the Law; we don't worry about his job prospects; he is another vigilant dreamer.



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