Kafka's illness and its influence on his writing
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Franz Kafka (1883–1924) was a German-speaking Bohemian novelist and short-story writer. His health is understood to have had a profound effect on his work. Kafka battled various health issues throughout his life, the most notable being tuberculosis, a disease whose complications led to his eventual death.[1]
History of illness[edit]
Early health and hypochondria[edit]
Kafka had a complex relationship with his health that is evident through his literary works. From a young age, Kafka exhibited signs of what he later referred to as 'hypochondria'.[2]
This term, historically used to describe individuals who have an excessive preoccupation or worry about having a serious illness despite medical evaluations and assurances, is a recurring theme in Kafka's personal writings and correspondences.[3] In his youth, Kafka was notably concerned about various ailments, even when there were no clear medical indications of severe illness.[4] His letters to friends and lovers frequently detailed his health concerns, sometimes amounting to little more than catalogues of symptoms.[2][5][6][7]
In a 1913 letter to Carl Bauer, the father of his fiancée Felice, Kafka - describing himself - says:
‘I am taciturn, unsociable, morose, selfish, a hypochondriac, and actually in poor health.’ [2]
Such preoccupations were not entirely unfounded, as Kafka did experience genuine diagnosed health issues. By the age of 34, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, a disease that would plague him for the remainder of his life. [8] Yet even before his tuberculosis diagnosis, Kafka displayed a preoccupation with illness and death. His letters and diaries note frequent complaints about sleep disturbances, migraines, constipation, and other maladies.[2][6] [7]
It's worth noting that the term 'hypochondria' has evolved over time, and modern understanding instead recognizes it as a manifestation of anxiety disorders. For this reason, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association, no longer includes hypochondriasis — also called hypochondria — as a diagnosis. Individuals previously diagnosed with hypochondria may be diagnosed with other disorders, specifically with illness anxiety disorder. [9]Whether Kafka would be diagnosed with any such disorder in contemporary times is speculative, but his writings and personal accounts reflect a deep-seated concern with health and mortality.
Tuberculosis diagnosis[edit]
In 1917, Kafka was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB).[10] The illness, during Kafka's time, was often a death sentence killing about a quarter of the adult population of Europe in the 19th century. [11]TB also carried significant social stigma.[12] Over the next several years, Kafka spent time in various sanatoriums seeking treatment leading up to his death from the condition. [13]
Influence on his work[edit]
Themes - format as pragraphs[edit]
Literary output
Where he lived
Later years and death[edit]
Kafka's health deteriorated significantly in his final years.[8] In 1924, he passed away from complications related to tuberculosis (TB) at the age of 40.[1] His struggles, however, immortalized in his work, offer a timeless exploration of the human condition.[14]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Brod, Max (1993). Über Franz Kafka. Fischer-Taschenbücher (45. - 46. Tsd ed.). Frankfurt am Main: Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verl. ISBN 978-3-596-21496-9. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Kafka, Franz; Bauer, Felice; Heller, Erich; Born, Jürgen (1988). Letters to Felice. Schocken classics. New York: Schocken Books : Distributed by Pantheon Books. ISBN 978-0-8052-0851-1. Search this book on
- ↑ "The role of hypochondria in the life and work of Franz Kafka | Aeon Essays". Aeon. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- ↑ Janouch, Gustav (1971). Conversations with Kafka. Internet Archive. [New York] New Directions. Search this book on
- ↑ Friedländer, Saul (2013). Franz Kafka: the poet of shame and guilt. Jewish lives. New Haven, Conn. London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-21972-2. Search this book on
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Kafka, Franz; Boehm, Philip; Kafka, Franz; Kafka, Franz (2015). Letters to Milena. The Schocken Kafka library. New York: Schocken Books. ISBN 978-0-8052-1267-9. Search this book on
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Kafka, Franz; Brod, Max (1988). The diaries, 1910-1923. Schocken classics. New York: Schocken Books. ISBN 978-0-8052-0906-8. Search this book on
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Stach, Reiner; Frisch, Shelley Laura (2013). Kafka, the decisive years. Princeton, [N.J.]: Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-0-691-14741-3. Search this book on
- ↑ "Illness anxiety disorder - Symptoms and causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- ↑ Stach, Reiner (2013-12-31). Kafka. doi:10.1515/9780691233567. ISBN 9780691233567. Search this book on
- ↑ "The Next Pandemic - Tuberculosis: The Oldest Disease of Mankind Rising One More Time | British Journal of Medical Practitioners". www.bjmp.org. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
- ↑ Lazovic, Marko (2018). "Tuberculosis and the Language of Culpability: 1870s to Present Day".
- ↑ Pawel, Ernst (1992). The nightmare of reason: a life of Franz Kafka. New York: Noonday Press : Farrar, Straus, Giroux. ISBN 978-0-374-52335-0. Search this book on
- ↑ Sutherland, John (2014). A little history of literature (1. publ. in paperback ed.). New Haven, Conn.: Yale Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0-300-20531-2. Search this book on
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