"The Curfew"

"The Curfew" is a short story by Franz Kafka that explores themes of control and societal pressure. It depicts a mysterious, omnipresent authority enforcing a nightly curfew, which isolates individuals and suppresses personal freedom. The narrative highlights how such strict regulations can create feelings of confinement, helplessness, and alienation. Kafka uses this setting to comment on the impact of authoritarian rule and the loss of autonomy, emphasizing the tension between individual desires and societal obligations. Overall, "The Curfew" serves as a powerful metaphor for the oppression that can arise under oppressive regimes or systems.