Zu Kafkas moderner Lektüre eines Mythos: Der Ausflug ins Gebirge

Abstract

„My name is Nobody” — says Odysseus in Homer’s epic and these words deliver him from death. On the one hand, both the name and the very act of speech constitute a proof of existence of the speaker, on the other hand, however, its existence is undermined by the negation implied by the very notion of „nobody”. Unclear ontological/referential connotations of „nobody” evoke textual effects that are based on the notions of indeterminacy and self-reference — two basic constituents of every figure of thought referred to as paradox. Thus, it seems hardly surprising that Kafka explores the potentiality of this life-saving wordplay. The theme of nobody is deeply rooted in the binary logic, but, also, attempts to exceed its limits. Exceeding these limits is encouraged in every excursion to Kafka’s realm.