Введение
Роман 1926 года Франца Кафки. Роман Исмаила Кадаре иногда переводится под тем же названием.
1926 novel by Franz Kafka
the novel by Ismail Kadare sometimes translated to the same name
the novel by Ismail Kadare sometimes translated to the same name
«Замок» (Das Schloss, также пишется Das Schloß) – последний роман Франца Кафки. В нем главный герой, известный только как «К.», прибывает в деревню и пытается получить доступ к таинственным властям, которые правят ею из замка, предположительно принадлежащего графу Вествесту. Кафка умер, не успев закончить работу, и роман был опубликован посмертно вопреки его воле. Мрачный и порой сюрреалистичный, «Замок» часто рассматривается как произведение об отчуждении, нечуткой бюрократии, разочаровании от попыток взаимодействовать с непрозрачными, кажущимися произвольными системами управления и бесплодной погоне за недостижимой целью.
The Castle (Das Schloss, also spelled Das Schloß ) is the last novel by Franz Kafka. In it a protagonist known only as "K." arrives in a village and struggles to gain access to the mysterious authorities who govern it from a castle supposedly owned by Graf Westwest. Kafka died before he could finish the work and the novel was posthumously published against his wishes. Dark and at times surreal, The Castle is often understood to be about alienation, unresponsive bureaucracy, the frustration of trying to conduct business with non transparent, seemingly arbitrary controlling systems, and the futile pursuit of an unobtainable goal.
История
Кафка начал писать роман вечером 27 января 1922 года, в день своего прибытия в горный курорт Шпиндлерув Млын (ныне на территории Чешской Республики). На фотографии, сделанной по прибытии, он запечатлен рядом с запряженной лошадьми санью в снегу, в обстановке, напоминающей роман «Замок». Именно поэтому важно, что первые главы рукописи были написаны от первого лица, а позднее Кафка изменил их, перейдя к повествованию от третьего лица, с рассказчиком "К".
Kafka began writing the novel on the evening of 27 January 1922, the day he arrived at the mountain resort of [[Špindlerův Mlýn (now in the Czech Republic). A picture taken of him upon his arrival shows him by a horse drawn sleigh in the snow in a setting reminiscent of The Castle. Hence, the significance that the first few chapters of the manuscript were written in the first person and at some point later changed by Kafka to a third person narrator, "K."
Макс Брод
Кафка умер, прежде чем смог закончить роман, и сомнительно, намеревался ли он завершить его, если бы пережил туберкулез. В какой-то момент он сказал своему другу Максу Броду, что роман закончится тем, что К., главный герой книги, продолжит жить в деревне до самой смерти; замок уведомит его на смертном одре, что его "право на проживание в деревне недействительно, однако, принимая во внимание определенные сопутствующие обстоятельства, ему разрешается жить и работать там". Однако 11 сентября 1922 года в письме Броду он написал, что отказывается от книги и больше никогда к ней не вернется. Книга обрывается на середине предложения. Хотя Брод получил от Кафки указание уничтожить все его неопубликованные работы после смерти, он вместо этого взялся за публикацию многих из них. "Das Schloss" впервые было опубликовано на немецком языке в 1926 году издателем Джоэллой Гудман из Мюнхена. Это издание разошлось значительно меньшим тиражом, чем напечатанные 1500 экземпляров. Оно было переиздано в 1935 году издательством Schocken Verlag в Берлине, а в 1946 году – издательством Schocken Books в Нью-Йорке. Брод существенно отредактировал произведение, готовя его к публикации. Его целью было добиться признания произведения и автора, а не сохранить структуру письма Кафки. Это оказало значительное влияние на будущие переводы и продолжает оставаться предметом дискуссий о тексте. Брод передал рукопись Оксфордскому университету. Основано на первом немецком издании, подготовленном Максом Бродом. Издано Secker & Warburg в Англии и Alfred A. Knopf в США. 1941, переводчики: Вилла и Эдвин Мьюир. В издание включено "Посвящение" Томаса Манна. 1954, переводчики: Вилла и Эдвин Мьюир, дополнительные разделы переведены Эйтной Уилкинс и Эрнстом Кайзером. Предположительно, окончательное издание. Основано на предположительно окончательном издании Schocken 1951 года. 1994, переводчики: Muir и др., предисловие Ирвинга Хау. 1997, переводчик: Дж. А. Андервуд, введение: Идрис Пэрри. Основано на критическом немецком тексте Пасли (1982, пересмотрен в 1990). 1998, переводчик: Марк Харман, автор предисловия. Основано на критическом немецком тексте Пасли (1982, пересмотрен в 1990). 2009, переводчик: Антеа Белл, введение: Ричи Робертсон. Основано на критическом немецком тексте Пасли (1982, пересмотрен в 1990).
Kafka died before he could finish the novel, and it is questionable whether he intended to finish it if he had survived his tuberculosis. At one point he told his friend Max Brod that the novel would conclude with K., the book's protagonist, continuing to reside in the village until his death; the castle would notify him on his deathbed that his "legal claim to live in the village was not valid, yet, taking certain auxiliary circumstances into account, he was permitted to live and work there." However, on 11 September 1922 in a letter to Brod, he wrote he was giving up on the book and would never return to it. As it is, the book ends mid sentence. Although Brod was instructed by Kafka to destroy all of his unpublished works on his death, Brod instead set about publishing many of them. Das Schloss was originally published in German in 1926 by the publisher Joella Goodman of Munich. This edition sold far less than the 1,500 copies that were printed. It was republished in 1935 by Schocken Verlag in Berlin, and in 1946 by Schocken Books of New York. Brod heavily edited the work to ready it for publication. His goal was to gain acceptance of the work and the author, not to maintain the structure of Kafka's writing. This would play heavily in the future of the translations and continues to be the center of discussion on the text. Brod donated the manuscript to Oxford University. Based on the First German edition, by Max Brod. Published By Secker & Warburg in England and Alfred A. Knopf in the United States. 1941 translators: Willa and Edwin Muir. The edition includes an Homage by Thomas Mann. 1954 translators: Willa and Edwin Muir additional sections translated by Eithne Wilkins and Ernst Kaiser. Supposedly definitive edition. Based on the Schocken 1951 supposedly definitive edition. 1994 translators: Muir, et al. Preface by Irving Howe. 1997 translator: J. A. Underwood, introduction: Idris Parry. Based on Pasley Critical German Text (1982, revised 1990). 1998 translator: Mark Harman who also writes a preface. Based on Pasley Critical German Text (1982, revised 1990). 2009 translator: Anthea Bell, introduction: Ritchie Robertson. Based on Pasley Critical German Text (1982, revised 1990).
Название
Название "Das Schloss" можно перевести как "замок" или "дворец", но немецкое слово является омонимом, который также может означать замок (механизм). Оно также фонетически близко к der Schluss ("заключение" или "конец"). Замок заперт и недоступен для К. и жителей города; ни один из них не может получить доступ внутрь. Замок не выглядит как замок. В переводе Антеи Белл говорится, что это был "обширный комплекс зданий, некоторые из которых двухэтажные, но большинство ниже и тесно прижаты друг к другу. Если бы вы не знали, что это замок, вы могли бы принять его за маленький городок" (стр. 11).
The title Das Schloss may be translated as "the castle" or "the palace", but the German word is a homonym that can also refer to a lock. It is also phonetically close to der Schluss ("conclusion" or "end"). The castle is locked and closed to K. and the townspeople; neither can gain access. The castle does not look like a castle. Anthea Bell's translation states that it was "an extensive complex of buildings, a few of them with two storeys, but many of them lower and crowded close together. If you hadn't known it was a castle you might have taken it for a small town" (p. 11).
Сюжет
Главный герой, К., прибывает в деревню, управляемую таинственной бюрократией, действующей в соседнем замке. Ища пристанища в местной гостинице, он представляется землемером, вызванным властями замка. Вскоре ему сообщают, что его контактное лицо в замке – чиновник по имени Кламм, который в сопроводительной записке уведомляет К., что тот будет подчиняться мэру. Мэр объясняет К., что из-за недоразумения в коммуникации между замком и деревней, запрос был отправлен ошибочно. Однако мэр предлагает ему должность надзирателя при школьном учителе. Тем временем К., не знакомый с местными обычаями, бюрократией и порядками, продолжает безуспешно пытаться связаться с Кламмом, что считается строгим табу среди жителей деревни. Сельчане испытывают почтительное отношение к чиновникам и замку, хотя, кажется, не имеют представления о том, чем те занимаются. Действия чиновников никогда не объясняются. Жители выдвигают предположения и оправдания их поступкам, излагая их в пространных монологах. У каждого есть свое объяснение действиям чиновников, но они часто противоречат друг другу, и никто не пытается скрыть эту неопределенность. Напротив, жители превозносят ее как еще одну черту или проявление власти чиновника. Одним из наиболее явных противоречий между «официальной версией» и представлением жителей является диссертация секретаря Эрлангера о необходимости возвращения Фриды к работе барменшей. К. – единственный, кто знает, что требование исходит от замка (хотя инициатива могла принадлежать самой Фриде), без учета интересов жителей деревни. Замок – это высшая инстанция бюрократии, располагающая огромным количеством документации, которую бюрократия считает «безупречной». Но эта безупречность – ложь; именно ошибка в документах привела К. в эту деревню. Существуют и другие сбои в системе: К. становится свидетелем того, как слуга уничтожает документы, не сумев определить адресата. Замок населен, по всей видимости, исключительно взрослыми мужчинами, и упоминаний о нем, помимо его бюрократических функций, крайне мало. Два заметных исключения – пожарная команда и заявление жены Отто Брансвика о том, что она родом из замка. Последнее заявление усиливает в глазах К. значимость Ганса, сына Отто, как возможного способа получить доступ к чиновникам замка. Чиновники имеют одного или нескольких секретарей, которые выполняют их поручения непосредственно в деревне. Хотя они иногда посещают деревню, они не вступают во взаимодействие с жителями, за исключением случаев, когда им требуется женское общество, подразумевающее сексуальный подтекст.
The protagonist, K., arrives in a village governed by a mysterious bureaucracy operating in a nearby castle. When seeking shelter at the town inn, he claims to be a land surveyor summoned by the castle authorities. He is quickly notified that his castle contact is an official named Klamm, who, in an introductory note, informs K. he will report to the Mayor. The Mayor informs K. that through a mix up in communication between the castle and the village, he was erroneously requested. But the Mayor offers him a position as a caretaker in service of the school teacher. Meanwhile, K., unfamiliar with the customs, bureaucracy and processes of the village, continues to attempt to reach Klamm, which is considered a strong taboo to the villagers. The villagers hold the officials and the castle in high regard, even though they do not appear to know what the officials do. The actions of the officials are never explained. The villagers provide assumptions and justification for the officials' actions through lengthy monologues. Everyone appears to have an explanation for the officials' actions, but they often contradict themselves and there is no attempt to hide the ambiguity. Instead, villagers praise it as another action or feature of an official. One of the more obvious contradictions between the "official word" and the village conception is the dissertation by the secretary Erlanger on Frieda's required return to service as a barmaid. K. is the only villager who knows that the request is being forced by the castle (even though Frieda may be the genesis), with no consideration of the inhabitants of the village. The castle is the ultimate bureaucracy with copious paperwork that the bureaucracy maintains is "flawless". But the flawlessness is a lie; it is a flaw in the paperwork that has brought K. to the village. There are other failures of the system: K. witnesses a servant destroying paperwork when he cannot determine who the recipient should be. The castle's occupants appear to be all adult men, and there is little reference to the castle other than to its bureaucratic functions. The two notable exceptions are a fire brigade and that Otto Brunswick's wife declares herself to be from the castle. The latter declaration builds the importance of Hans, Otto's son, in K.'s eyes as a way to gain access to the castle officials. The officials have one or more secretaries that do their work in their village. Although they sometimes come to the village, they do not interact with the villagers unless they need female companionship, implied to be sexual in nature.
Персонажи
Примечание: Перевод Мюра относится к гостинице «Херренхоф», где перевод Хармана передает Gasthof „Herrenhof“ как «Господский трактир» (в то время как перевод Белла называет его «Замковым трактиром»). Ниже все упоминания трактира, где в деревне останавливаются чиновники, относятся к гостинице «Херренхоф», поскольку это был первый и, возможно, наиболее распространенный перевод.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Описание персонажа
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
К., землемер – Главный герой повести, признанный землемером, работающий школьным уборщиком и чуждый жителям города. Он большую часть романа упорно пытается преодолеть бюрократию деревни и связаться с замковым чиновником Кламмом, но постоянно сталкивается с препятствиями и разочарованиями. К. вступает в сексуальные отношения с Фридой, барменшей, но она в конечном итоге бросает его ради одного из его помощников, Иеремии.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Фрида – Бывшая барменша в «Херренхофе», являющаяся невестой К. на протяжении большей части романа. Она часто разрывается между своим долгом перед К. и своими опасениями по поводу его чрезмерного рвения. В конечном итоге она бросает К. и оказывается в объятиях его бывшего помощника, Иеремии (который с тех пор стал официантом в «Херренхофе»).
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Ганс, трактирщик (Bridge Inn) – Племянник первоначального владельца трактира; по словам его жены, Гардены, он ленив и слишком услужлив к К. По мнению К., если бы у Ганса была другая жена, как первая любовь, он был бы более независимым, прилежным и мужественным.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Гардена, трактирщица (Bridge Inn) – Главная движущая сила трактира, которым она единолично управляет уже много лет; однако работа сказалась на ее здоровье. Она была бывшей любовницей Кламма и очень недоверчиво относится к мотивам К., в конечном итоге выселяя его из-за его настойчивости на встрече с Кламмом; она по-прежнему очарована Кламмом.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Варнава, посыльный – Посланник замка, прикрепленный к К. Он новичок на службе; К. инструктирован использовать его для связи с чиновником Кламмом. Он худощав и ловок, хотя и очень незрелый и чувствительный.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Артур и Иеремия, помощники К. (Артур и Иеремия в издании Хармана) – Вскоре после прибытия в деревню К. назначают двух помощников, чтобы они помогали ему в его различных нуждах. Однако они постоянно вызывают у него разочарование и раздражение, и в конечном итоге он изгоняет их из своего служения из-за жестокого обращения. Они были назначены К., чтобы сделать его счастливым, чиновником Галатером, который в то время замещал Кламма.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Мэр/суперинтендант (председатель сельского совета в издании Хармана; нем. Dorfvorsteher) – Дружелюбный, толстый, чисто выбритый мужчина, назначенный Кламмом для передачи К. его задания и, следовательно, его начальник; однако, по словам Гардены, он совершенно незначителен и не продержался бы и дня на своем посту, если бы не его жена Мицци, хотя, по словам Учителя, он достойный, опытный и почтенный старик. Мэр страдает подагрой и принимает К. в постели; он объясняет К., почему он не нужен в качестве землемера. Он предлагает К. работу школьного уборщика, к ужасу Учителя.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Мицци, жена мэра – Жена и помощница мэра, Гардена называет ее той, кто выполняет работу.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Кламм – Неуловимый замковый чиновник, являющийся высшей властью для К. Как и другие замковые чиновники в книге, его фактическая область знаний никогда не упоминается. К. проводит большую часть романа, пытаясь добиться встречи с Кламмом. Похоже, К. возлагает большую часть своих надежд на успешное разрешение своих проблем на эту встречу с Кламмом. У него есть по крайней мере два секретаря – Эрлангер (первый секретарь) и Момус. На немецком языке слово «klamm» означает «влажный» или «сырой» и может обозначать «ущелье» или «овраг». Как прилагательное, оно также означает «тесный» или «в стесненных обстоятельствах». На чешском языке (и Кафка умел говорить, читать и писать по-чешски) «klam» означает «иллюзия». Согласно Ричи Робертсону в его примечаниях к переводу Антеи Белл, Кламм «напоминает чешское слово klam, «иллюзия»» (стр. 277). В Праге Clam Gallas Palace произносится так же и, возможно, повлияло на Кафку использовать это многозначное значение Clam Klamm.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Момус, секретарь Кламма – Молодой джентльмен, чрезвычайно красивый, бледный и красноватый; обрабатывает всю письменную работу и получает все прошения к Кламму. Он также является секретарем Валлабене, о котором в романе больше не упоминается. Он настаивает на допросе К., который отказывается подчиниться.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Эрлангер, секретарь Кламма – Первый секретарь Кламма, отправленный на «допрос» К., но дает ему только короткое сообщение.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Ольга, сестра Варнавы – Старшая сестра Амалии и Варнавы. Она помогает К. в его поисках, частично рассказывая ему историю о том, почему ее семью считают изгоями, и обучая его некоторым деревенским обычаям.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Амалия, сестра Варнавы – Младшая сестра Варнавы и Ольги. Она опозорена в деревне после грубого отказа от вызова замкового чиновника Сортини для сексуальных услуг.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Отец Варнавы – Отец Ольги, Амалии и Варнавы. Бывший деревенский сапожник и выдающийся пожарный. После позорных взаимодействий Амалии с посыльным Сортини его бизнес разорен, и он лишен своих пожарных полномочий. Он становится инвалидом после безуспешной попытки добиться помилования для своей семьи.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Мать Варнавы – Мать Ольги, Амалии и Варнавы.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Отто Брунсвик, зять Ласемана (свояк Ласемана в издании Хармана) – Отец Ганса Брунсвика. Оппортунистически перехватывает клиентов отца Варнавы, когда семья Варнавы попадает в немилость из-за грубого обращения Амалии с посыльным Сортини. По словам мэра, Брунсвик был единственным человеком в деревне, который хотел нанять землемера. Причины этого не указаны.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Фрау Брунсвик – Мать Ганса Брунсвика. Она называет себя «из замка» и является единственным упоминанием о женщине в замке. К. считает, что она может помочь ему получить доступ в замок.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Ганс, сочувствующий студент – Студент школы, где К. работает уборщиком. Предлагает помочь К., и К. использует его, чтобы попытаться найти способы попасть в замок через его мать.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Трактирщик «Херренхофа» – Хозяин гостиницы «Херренхоф».
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Хозяйка «Херренхофа» – Хорошо одетая хозяйка гостиницы «Херренхоф». Кажется, является матриархом трактира (как Гардена в Bridge Inn). Недоверчиво относится к К.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Галатер – Замковый чиновник, назначивший помощников К. Его также «спасли» отец Варнавы во время небольшого пожара в гостинице «Херренхоф».
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Брюгель (Bürgel в издании Хармана) – Секретарь замкового чиновника Фридриха. Фридрих больше не упоминается в книге, но в удаленном тексте упоминается как чиновник, который теряет расположение. Брюгель – многословный секретарь, который размышляет о замковых допросах с К., когда последний ошибочно входит в его комнату в «Херренхофе». Он косвенно предлагает помочь К.; однако К. так устал, что не принимает предложение.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Сордини – Итальянский замковый секретарь с внушительными способностями, хотя он занимает самую низкую должность из всех, он тщательно управляет всеми операциями в замке для своего отдела и подозревает любую потенциальную ошибку.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Сортини – Замковый чиновник, связанный с деревенской пожарной бригадой, который обращается к Амалии с сексуально откровенным и грубым предложением прийти в его комнату в «Херренхофе».
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Учитель – Молодой, узкоплечий, властный маленький человек. Когда К. становится уборщиком в школе, учитель становится его фактическим начальником. Он не одобряет работу К. в школе, но, по-видимому, не имеет полномочий прекратить его назначение.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Фрейлейн Гизе (Miss Gisa), учительница – Высокая, блондинистая и красивая, хотя и несколько чопорная помощница учительницы, за которой ухаживает Шварцер и которая также не любит К.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Шварцер – Сын подкастеляна, который, по-видимому, отказался от жизни в замке, чтобы ухаживать за фрейлейн Гизой и стать ее практикантом; склонен к вспышкам официального высокомерия.
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Пепи – Маленькая, розовая и здоровая; горничная, которая занимает место барменши Фриды, когда последняя покидает свою должность в «Херренхофе», чтобы жить с К. Она…
Note: The Muir translations refer to the Herrenhof Inn where the Harman translations translate Gasthof „Herrenhof“ to the "Gentleman's Inn" (while the Bell translation calls it the "Castle Inn"). Below, all references to the inn where the officials stay in the village is the Herrenhof Inn since this was the first, and potentially more widely read, translation. Character Description K., the Land Surveyor The protagonist of the story, recognized as a land surveyor, employed as the school janitor, and a stranger to the townspeople. He spends most of the novel doggedly trying to overcome the bureaucracy of the village and to contact the castle official Klamm, but he is continually thwarted and frustrated. K. forms a sexual relationship with Frieda, the barmaid, but she eventually abandons K. for one of his assistants, Jeremiah. Frieda A former barmaid at the Herrenhof, who is K.'s fiancée for most of the novel. She often finds herself torn between her duty to K. and her fears regarding his over zealousness. She eventually abandons K. and ends up in the arms of his former assistant, Jeremiah (who has since become a waiter at the Herrenhof). Hans, landlord (Bridge Inn) Nephew of the original owner of the inn; according to his wife, Gardena, he is lazy and overly nice to K. According to K. if Hans had another wife as a first love he would have been more independent, diligent and manly. Gardena, landlady (Bridge Inn) The prime mover of the Bridge Inn, which she has been running singlehandedly for years; the work, however, has taken its toll on her health. She is a former short term mistress to Klamm and very distrustful of K.'s motives and eventually evicts K. because of K's insistence on meeting Klamm; she remains infatuated with Klamm. Barnabas, a messenger A messenger of the castle assigned to K. He is new to the service; K. is instructed to use him to communicate with the official Klamm. He is slender and agile though very immature and sensitive. Arthur and Jeremiah, K.'s assistants (Artur and Jeremias in Harman edition) Shortly after his arrival in the village, K. is assigned two assistants to help him with his various needs. They are a continual source of frustration and annoyance for him, however, and he eventually drives them from his service through his brutal treatment. They have been assigned to K., to make him happy, by the official Galater who was deputizing for Klamm at the time. Mayor/Superintendent (Village Council Chairman in Harman edition; German: Dorfvorsteher) A friendly, fat, clean shaven man assigned by Klamm to give K. his assignment and hence is his superior; however, according to Gardena, he is utterly insignificant and wouldn't last a day in his position if not for his wife Mizzi, though according to the Teacher he is a worthy, experienced, and venerable old man. The mayor suffers from gout and receives K. in bed; he explains to K. why he is not needed as a land surveyor. He offers K. the job of school janitor to the dismay of the Teacher. Mizzi, the mayor's wife The wife and assistant of the Mayor, Gardena refers to her as the one who does the work. Klamm An elusive castle official who is K.'s Castle Authority. Like the other Castle officials in the book, his actual area of expertise is never mentioned. K. spends a large portion of the novel trying to secure a meeting with Klamm. K., it seems, fixes many of his hopes for a successful resolution to his problems upon this meeting with Klamm. He has at least two secretaries—Erlanger (First Secretary) and Momus. In German, "klamm" means "clammy" or "damp" and can designate a "gorge" or "ravine". As adjective, it also means "narrow" or "strapped for cash". In Czech (and Kafka was able to speak and read/write Czech) "klam" means "illusion". According to Ritchie Robertson in his notes to Anthea Bell's translation, Klamm "suggests the Czech word klam, 'illusion'" (p. 277). In Prague, the Clam Gallas Palace is pronounced the same way and may have influenced Kafka to use this multiple meaning of the Clam Klamm. Momus, Klamm's secretary A young gentleman, extremely good looking, pale and reddish; handles all written work for and receives all petitions to Klamm. He is also secretary for Vallabene, who is not mentioned again in the novel. He insists on interrogating K., who refuses to submit. Erlanger, Klamm's secretary The First secretary of Klamm who is sent to "interrogate" K., but only gives him a short message. Olga, Barnabas' sister The older sister of Amalia and Barnabas. She helps K. on his quest, partly by telling him the story of why her family is considered outcasts and by teaching him some of the village customs. Amalia, Barnabas' sister Younger sister of Barnabas and Olga. She was disgraced in the village after rudely turning down a summons from the castle official Sortini for sexual favors. Barnabas' Father The father of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Past village cobbler and notable fireman. After Amalia's disgraceful interactions with Sortini's messenger, his business is ruined and he is stripped of his fire credentials. He is rendered an invalid after unsuccessfully trying to obtain a pardon for his family. Barnabas' Mother The mother of Olga, Amalia and Barnabas. Otto Brunswick, son in law of Lasemann (brother in law of Lasemann in Harman edition) Hans Brunswick's father. Opportunistically takes over Barnabas' father's customers as the Barnabas family falls into disrepute from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. According to the Mayor, Brunswick was the only person in the village that desired that a land surveyor be hired. No reason for this is given. Frau Brunswick Hans Brunswick's Mother. She refers to herself as "from the castle" and is the only reference to a female at the castle. K. believes that she may assist him in gaining access to the castle. Hans, a sympathetic student A student at the school where K. is a janitor. Offers to help K. and K. uses him to attempt to find ways to get to the castle through his mother. Herrenhof Landlord Landlord of the Herrenhof Inn. Herrenhof Landlady Well dressed landlady at the Herrenhof Inn. Seems to be the matriarch of the Inn (as is Gardena at the Bridge Inn). Is distrustful of K. Galater He is the castle official that assigned the assistants to K. He was also "rescued" by Barnabas' father in a minor fire at the Herrenhof Inn. Brügel (Bürgel in Harman edition) A Secretary of a castle official, Friedrich. Friedrich is not mentioned again in the book, but in deleted text is referred to as an official who is falling out of favor. Brügel is a long winded secretary who muses about Castle interrogations with K., when the latter errantly enters his room at the Herrenhof Inn. He indirectly offers to help K.; however K. is so tired that he does not accept the offer. Sordini An Italian castle secretary of formidable abilities, though he is kept in the lowest position of all, he exhaustively manages any transactions at the castle for his department and is suspicious of any potential error. Sortini Castle official associated with the village fire brigade who solicits Amalia with a sexually explicit and rude request to come to his room at the Herrenhof. Teacher A young, narrow shouldered, domineering little man. When K. becomes the janitor at the school, the teacher becomes K.'s de facto superior. He does not approve of K. working at the school, but does not appear to have the authority to terminate K.'s appointment. Miss Gisa (Fräulein Gisa), the school mistress Tall, blond and beautiful if rather stiff assistant school teacher who is courted by Schwarzer and also dislikes K. Schwarzer An under castellan's son who appears to have given up living in the castle to court Miss Gisa and become her student teacher; is prone to outbursts of official arrogance. Pepi Small, rosey and healthy; a chambermaid who is promoted to Frieda's barmaid position when the latter leaves her position at the Herrenhoff to live with K. She was a chambermaid with Emilie and Hennriette. Lasemann, a tanner, father in law of Otto Brunswick (brother in law of Otto Brunswick in Harman edition) Slow and dignified, the village tanner whose house K. rests in for a few hours during his first full day in the village. Gerstacker, a coachman Initially suspicious of K. but gives him a free sleigh ride back to the Bridge Inn after refusing to provide a ride to the castle. At the end of the book attempts to befriend K. since he believes K. has clout with Erlanger. Seemann, the Fire Company chief The fire chief who strips Barnabas' father of his fireman diploma after Barnabas' family falls into shame from Amalia's rude treatment of Sortini's Messenger. Count Westwest The local Graf and supposed owner of the castle. He is only mentioned and never appears.
Теология
Хорошо задокументировано, что первоначальная концепция Брода основывалась на религиозных мотивах, что было развито Мьюрами в их переводах. Однако это не ограничилось критическими изданиями. Было предложено множество интерпретаций с различных богословских позиций. Одна из интерпретаций борьбы К. за установление связи с замком заключается в том, что она отражает поиски человеком спасения. По словам Марка Хармана, переводчика недавнего издания романа «Замок», именно этой интерпретации придерживались оригинальные переводчики Вилла Мьюр (при поддержке Эдвина), которые выпустили первый английский том в 1930 году.
It is well documented that Brod's original construction was based on religious themes and this was furthered by the Muirs in their translations. But it has not ended with the Critical Editions. Numerous interpretations have been made with a variety of theological angles. One interpretation of K.'s struggle to contact the castle is that it represents a man's search for salvation. According to Mark Harman, translator of a recent edition of The Castle, this was the interpretation favored by the original translators Willa Muir (helped by Edwin) who produced the first English volume in 1930.
Аллюзии на другие произведения
Критики часто говорят о романах "Замок" и "Процесс" вместе, отмечая борьбу главного героя с бюрократической системой и его положение перед дверью закона, неспособного войти, подобно священнику в притче из романа "Процесс".
Critics often talk of The Castle and The Trial in concert, highlighting the struggle of the protagonist against a bureaucratic system and standing before the law's door unable to enter as in the parable of the priest in The Trial.
Перевод Мьюра
В 1930 году Вилла и Эдвин Мьюир перевели первое немецкое издание романа «Замок» в редакции Макса Брода. Оно было опубликовано издательствами Secker & Warburg в Англии и Alfred A. Knopf в Соединенных Штатах. Издание 1941 года, с посвящением Томаса Манна, стало тем, что породило послевоенную «кафковскую лихорадку». В 1954 году вышло так называемое «окончательное» издание, включавшее дополнительные фрагменты, добавленные Бродом в Schocken Definitive German edition. Эти новые фрагменты перевели Эйтне Уилкинс и Эрнст Кайзер. В текст Мьюров были внесены некоторые правки, в частности, замена «Городской совет» на «Сельский совет», «Суперинтендант» на «Бургомистр», «Клиенты» на «Претенденты». Издание 1992 года, представляющее собой перевод Мьюров, вышедшее в серии Everyman's Library издательства Alfred A. Knopf, содержит предисловие Ирвинга Хоу. В переводах Мьюров используются слова, которые некоторые считают имеющими «духовный» оттенок. Например, описание церковной башни в родном городе К., которую К. сравнивает с замком, Мьюры переводят как «стремящуюся ввысь непоколебимо», в то время как Харман (с. 8) использует выражение «решительно сужающаяся», Андервуд (с. 9) пишет «сужающаяся прямо вверх», а Белл (с. 11) – «сужающаяся в шпиль». Более того, Мьюры используют слово «иллюзорный» начиная с первого абзаца. Некоторые критики считают это дополнительным свидетельством предвзятости перевода, склоняющегося к мистической интерпретации.
In 1930 Willa and Edwin Muir translated the First German edition of The Castle as it was compiled by Max Brod. It was published by Secker & Warburg in England and Alfred A. Knopf in the United States. The 1941 edition, with a homage by Thomas Mann, was the one that fed the post war Kafka craze. In 1954 the "definitive" edition was published and included additional sections Brod had added to the Schocken Definitive German edition. The new sections were translated by Eithne Wilkins and Ernst Kaiser. Some edits were made in the Muir text namely the changes were "Town Council" to "Village Council", "Superintendent" to "Mayor", "Clients" to "Applicants". The 1992 edition of the Muirs' translation, in Alfred A. Knopf's Everyman's Library, contains a preface by Irving Howe. The Muir translations use words that some consider "spiritual" in nature. In one example, the Muirs translate the description of a church tower in K.'s homeland, which K. compares with the castle, as "soaring unfalteringly", where Harman, p. 8, uses "tapering decisively", Underwood, p. 9, writes, "tapering straight upward", and Bell, p. 11, writes "tapering into a spire". Furthermore, the Muirs use "illusory" from the opening paragraph forward. Some critics note this as further evidence of the bias in the translation leaning toward a mystical interpretation.
Перевод Хармана
В 1961 году Малкольму Пасли удалось получить контроль над рукописью, вместе с большей частью других произведений Кафки (за исключением «Процесса») и поместить их в Бодлеевскую библиотеку Оксфорда. Там Пасли возглавил группу ученых и подготовил работы Кафки к публикации в «Критическом издании». «Критическое издание «Замка»», на немецком языке, состоит из двух томов — роман в одном томе и фрагменты, вычеркнутые отрывки и примечания редактора во втором томе. Они были опубликованы издательством S. Fischer Verlag в 1982 году и поэтому иногда называются «Изданиями Фишера». Марк Харман использовал первый том этого издания для создания издания «Замок» 1998 года, которое часто называют основанным на «Восстановленном тексте» или «Английском критическом издании». В отличие от перевода Мюра, в него не включены фрагменты, вычеркнутые отрывки и примечания редактора. Согласно примечанию издателя: Мы решили не включать варианты и отрывки, удаленные Кафкой, которые содержатся во втором томе Пасли, хотя варианты, безусловно, могут пролить свет на генезис литературных текстов. Главная цель этого нового издания, предназначенного для широкой публики, — представить текст в форме, максимально приближенной к тому состоянию, в котором автор оставил рукопись. Перевод Хармана был признан технически точным и соответствующим немецкому оригиналу. Однако его критиковали за то, что он не всегда передает прозаический стиль Кафки. Харман включает в издание одиннадцатистраничное рассуждение о философии своего перевода. В этом разделе содержится важная информация о методе, который он использовал, и о его творческом процессе. Приводятся многочисленные примеры отрывков из переводов Пасли, Мюра и Хармана, чтобы читатель мог лучше почувствовать особенности каждого из них. Некоторые считают, что его (и издателя) похвала своей работе и «снисходительное» отношение к Мюрам зашли слишком далеко. Дж. М. Кутзее пишет, что Харман утверждает, что его перевод «более странный и плотный», чем перевод Мюров. Но, добавляет Кутзее, «в своем стремлении к странности и плотности его собственная работа — хотя и приветствуется сегодня — по мере развития истории и изменения вкусов может также предвещать устаревание».
In 1961 Malcolm Pasley was able to gain control of the manuscript, along with most of the other Kafka writings (save The Trial) and had it placed in the Oxford's Bodleian library. There, Pasley headed a team of scholars and recompiled Kafka's works into the Critical Edition. The Castle Critical Edition, in German, consists of two volumes—the novel in one volume and the fragments, deletions and editor's notes in a second volume. They were published by S. Fischer Verlag in 1982, hence occasionally referred to as the "Fischer Editions". Mark Harman used the first volume of this set to create the 1998 edition of The Castle, often referred to as based on the "Restored Text" or the "English Critical Edition". Unlike the Muir translation, the fragments, deletions, and editor's notes are not included. According to the publisher's note:
We decided to omit the variants and passages deleted by Kafka that are included in Pasley's second volume, even though variants can indeed shed light on the genesis of literary texts. The chief objective of this new edition, which is intended for the general public, is to present the text in a form that is as close as possible to the state in which the author left the manuscript. Harman's translation has been generally accepted as being technically accurate and true to the original German. He has, however, received criticism for at times not creating the prosaic form of Kafka. Harman includes an eleven page discussion on his philosophy behind the translation. This section provides significant information about the method he used and his thought process. There are numerous examples of passages from Pasley's, Muir's, and his translation to provide the reader with a better feel for the work. Some feel that his (and the publisher's) praise for his work and his "patronizing" of the Muirs goes a little too far. J. M. Coetzee writes that Harman says that his translation is "stranger and denser" than the Muirs'. But, Coetzee adds, "in its very striving toward strangeness and denseness [Harman's] own work—welcome though it is today—may, as history moves on and tastes change, be pointing toward obsolescence too".
We decided to omit the variants and passages deleted by Kafka that are included in Pasley's second volume, even though variants can indeed shed light on the genesis of literary texts. The chief objective of this new edition, which is intended for the general public, is to present the text in a form that is as close as possible to the state in which the author left the manuscript. Harman's translation has been generally accepted as being technically accurate and true to the original German. He has, however, received criticism for at times not creating the prosaic form of Kafka. Harman includes an eleven page discussion on his philosophy behind the translation. This section provides significant information about the method he used and his thought process. There are numerous examples of passages from Pasley's, Muir's, and his translation to provide the reader with a better feel for the work. Some feel that his (and the publisher's) praise for his work and his "patronizing" of the Muirs goes a little too far. J. M. Coetzee writes that Harman says that his translation is "stranger and denser" than the Muirs'. But, Coetzee adds, "in its very striving toward strangeness and denseness [Harman's] own work—welcome though it is today—may, as history moves on and tastes change, be pointing toward obsolescence too".
Фильм
Книга была адаптирована для экрана несколько раз. «Замок» (Das Schloß), немецкий фильм 1968 года режиссёра Рудольфа Ноельте, с Максимилианом Шеллом в роли К. «Линна», финская адаптация 1986 года режиссёра Яакко Паккасвирта. В этом фильме главного героя зовут Йозеф К., который является протагонистом романа Кафки «Процесс». «Замок» (Замок), российский фильм 1994 года режиссёра Алексея Балабанова, с Николаем Стоцким в роли К. «Замок» (Das Schloß), австрийский фильм 1997 года режиссёра Михаэля Ханеке, с Ульрихом Мюхе в роли К.
The book was adapted to screen several times. The Castle (Das Schloß), a 1968 German film directed by Rudolf Noelte, starring Maximilian Schell as K.
Linna, a 1986 Finnish adaptation directed by Jaakko Pakkasvirta. In this film, the main character's name was Josef K., who is the protagonist of Kafka's novel The Trial. The Castle (Замок), a 1994 Russian film directed by Aleksei Balabanov, starring Стоцкий, Николай Викторович as K.
The Castle (Das Schloß), a 1997 Austrian film directed by Michael Haneke, starring Ulrich Mühe as K.
Linna, a 1986 Finnish adaptation directed by Jaakko Pakkasvirta. In this film, the main character's name was Josef K., who is the protagonist of Kafka's novel The Trial. The Castle (Замок), a 1994 Russian film directed by Aleksei Balabanov, starring Стоцкий, Николай Викторович as K.
The Castle (Das Schloß), a 1997 Austrian film directed by Michael Haneke, starring Ulrich Mühe as K.
Радио
Роман был адаптирован для радио в мае 2015 года в двух частях Эдом Харрисом на BBC Radio 4. В состав актеров вошли Доминик Роуэн в роли "К.", Сэмми Т. Добсон в роли Фриды, Марк Бенттон в роли Иеремии, Дэниел Вейман в роли Артура, Стивен Грайф в роли Учителя, Рэйчел Бэвидж в роли Гардены/Амалии, Виктория Эллиот в роли Ольги, Нил Грейнджер в роли Варнавы, Джонатан Каллен в роли главного суперинтенданта и Доминик Дикин в роли Ханса.
The novel was adapted for radio in May 2015 in two parts by Ed Harris on BBC Radio 4. The cast included Dominic Rowan as "K.", Sammy T. Dobson as Frieda, Mark Benton as Jeremias, Daniel Weyman as Artur, Stephen Greif as Teacher, Rachel Bavidge as Gardena/Amalia, Victoria Elliott as Olga, Neil Grainger as Barnabas. Jonathan Cullen as Chief Superintendent and Dominic Deakin as Hans.
Другое
В 2012 году американский автор (также автор книги "Введение в Кафку") Дэвид Зэйн Майровиц выпустил графический роман по мотивам романа "Замок" в сотрудничестве с чешским художником и музыкантом Яромиром 99 (Яромиром Швейдиком). В 2013 году были выпущены версии на немецком языке ("Das Schloss") и чешском языке ("Zámek"). Постановка в стиле Off Broadway (в главных ролях Джим Парсонс и Уильям Атертон), написанная и поставленная Дэвидом Фишельсоном, имела успех в начале 2002 года, получив номинации на премию "Лучшая пьеса Off Broadway" от Outer Critics Circle и на премию "Лучшая пьеса" от Drama League (обе – театральные премии Нью-Йорка). Пьеса была опубликована Dramatists Play Service в 2002 году.
In 2012, American author (also of Introducing Kafka) David Zane Mairowitz released a graphic novel version of The Castle in conjunction with Czech artist and musician Jaromír 99 (Jaromír Švejdík). In 2013, versions were released in German ("Das Schloss") and Czech ("Zámek"). An Off Broadway stage version (starring Jim Parsons and William Atherton), written and produced by David Fishelson, achieved success in early 2002, receiving nominations for "Best Off Broadway Play" by the Outer Critics Circle, as well as for "Best Play" by the Drama League (both New York theatre awards). The play was published by Dramatists Play Service in 2002.