Before the Law by Franz Kafka. Short summary

5 seconds

The parable tells the story of a man who has come to the gate of the Law. But a guard stood in his way and would not let the man in, despite all persuasion. The man waits many years for permission to go through the gate.

1 minute

One day a man of the people came to the gate of the Law. They are guarded by a guard who says he cannot be admitted now. The man tries to look inside, but is unable to see anything. The guard warns that there are several other guards outside the gate, and the man cannot pass by. He decides to wait.

So the man waits for days and years. He tries many times to obtain a pass. But the guard always refuses. The man tries to bribe, the guards try to beg and persuade. For years, the man has watched the guard almost continuously. And has even studied all the fleas in his coat.

The man grows older every year. His health and mind begin to fail him, his eyesight fades, but the glow from the gates of the Law grows brighter and brighter.

Before he dies, he asks the guardian why no one else has come here in so many years, since everyone needs the law. The guard answers: «No one else would be allowed in here, because this entrance was meant only for you. And now I’m going to close it.