Franz Kafka and Alfred Kubin knew each other during their lifetime. They shared interest in bugs and joyful sceneries. Both wrote about “the other side”.
Because of the length of Kubin’s exposition, or Kafka’s brevity, the idea that their texts share a common spark is new. But on inspection it becomes apparent that they are complementary.
Kafka: *Many complain that the words of the wise are always mere parables and of no use in daily life, which is the only life we have. When the sage says, ‘Go over,’ he does not mean that we should cross to some actual place; he means some fabulous yonder, something unknown to us, something that he, too, cannot designate more precisely.*
Kubin: *The letter concluded with good wishes for the future. The route was attached: Munich – Constantinople – Batumi – Baku – Krasnovodosk – Samarkand.*
Kafka: *Concerning this a man once said: Why such reluctance? If you only followed the parables, you yourselves would become parables and with that be rid of all your daily cares.*
Kubin: *The dream providence was merciless, accumulated riches dissolved instantly. The smart aleck had to pay vast amounts for groceries or was bombarded with postal orders. Did he reject them, he suffered far worse vexations: sickness and unaffordable doctors. Creditors appeared, who had never lent anything, and demanded their money. But protestations were no use, they cited ample witnesses. Thus everything was equalized, and one neither profited nor suffered injury from it.*
The other side is thus realized. Both men finalize their expositions in destruction.
Kubin: *The large animals were gone. How should one quench his hunger now? Herds and swarms of insects had devastated the fields. All provisions became spoiled, eggs, salted and smoked meat decayed; a famine was imminent. Two sisters proposed to detoxify the dead fish in a secret procedure and thus turn them edible. The good faith of the two ladies was repaid in black ingratitude; they were hung by the outraged populace.*
Kafka: *Another said: I bet that is also a parable.*
*The first said: You have won.*
*The second said: But unfortunately only in parable.*
*The first said: No, in reality: in parable you have lost.*
by Character-Dig-7465