Fellowship

The following piece by the Czech writer Franz Kafka (1883-1924) offers an interesting parable for modern Ireland to contemplate. Its theme of inclusion/exclusion has, obviously, more than one possible application. We print it in full, leaving the reader to decide which area(s) of Irish life it might currently serve to illuminate.

We are five friends, one day we came out of a house one after the other, first one came and placed himself beside the gate, then the second came, and placed himself near the first one, then came the third, then the fourth, then the fifth. Finally we all stood in a row.

People began to notice us, they pointed at us and said: Those five just came out of that house. Since then we have been living together; it would be a peaceful life if it weren’t for a sixth one continually trying to interfere. He doesn’t do us any harm, but he annoys us, and that is harm enough; why does he intrude where he is not wanted?

We don’t know him and don’t want him to join us. There was a time, of course, when the five of us did not know one another either; and it could be said that we still don’t know one another, but what is possible and can be tolerated by the five of us is not possible and cannot be tolerated with this sixth one.

In any case, we are five and don’t want to be six. And what is the point of this continual being together anyhow? It is also pointless for the five of us, but here we are together and will remain together; a new combination, however, we do not want, just because of our experiences. But how is one to make all this clear to the sixth one?

Long explanations would also amount to accepting him in our circle, so we prefer not to explain and not to accept him. No matter how he pouts his lips we push him away with our elbows, but however much we push away, back he comes.

Franz Kafka. from Description of a Struggle & Other Stories, Penguin, 1978/9.