Abstract

The author draws attention to a modern technique of narration that inverts the meaning of ancient myths and stories. This practice creates a new type of story that conveys the anxieties and problems of contemporary life. Kafka's story inverts the meaning of the ancient parable of the Prodigal Son. It presents us with a wayward son who cannot find his way back home and with a father who does not see, embrace, kiss, or welcome his son. The essay explores the connection between entering a human community and sharing a secret. It probes the relationships between homecoming and making sense of one's life. The essay also draws attention to a specifically feminine dimension of hospitality, domesticity and reciprocity