CHAPTER SUMMARIES WITH NOTES

Chapter1

Summary

Joseph K. is a bank clerk staying in a rented room with the landlady, Frau Grubach. He's immediate neighbor is Fräulein Bürstner. On a fine spring morning K. is arrested without any specific reason. The warder selects his clothing and he is told to dress in formal manner. There is an inspector and two guards, Franz and Willem to take care of him. K is upset with the Inspector's attitude, which he thinks is rude. His breakfast is served by the warder. It is peculiar kind of arrest for he is allowed to call up his lawyer, Hasterer. K. constantly questions the reasons for his arrest. An old couple and a younger man with a red beard are observing the spectacle from the window across the street. He is also permitted to go to work in the bank. All the time K. is unaware that three subordinate officers of his are waiting to accompany him. They are the stiff Rabensteiner, the fair Kullich and Kaimer with his false smile.

K. is arrested in the beautiful spring on his 30th birthday. When the warder knocks at his door K. presumes that he is a neighbor, a tenant and questions their right to intrude into his privacy. K. produces his birth certificate as his identity sensing he is still free. But the guards have no use for those papers. He even thinks of producing Frau Grubach as a witness to prove his innocence. He is surprised and interrupted by the harsh military command by the first guard. K. is told to change into a simpler dress as otherwise the department would seize his belongings.

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