Franz Kafka’s The Trial is a landmark of 20th-century literature. Much of his work explores themes of alienation, anxiety, and powerlessness. His unique style of blending the ordinary with nightmare led to the term “Kafkaesque.” The Trial follows Joseph K., a bank clerk arrested on his 30th birthday for an unspecified crime. Throughout the novel, K. tries to understand what his crime is and meets various people in the process, including the painter Titorelli.
The three acquittals refer to the three possible outcomes of Joseph K.’s case, as explained by the court painter Titorelli. K. learns that the legal system is confusing and full of secrets. Important documents are often hidden or lost. Even having a lawyer doesn’t help much. Joseph’s obsession with the trial begins to affect his work and personal life. He visits Titorelli’s apartment, which is a filthy building surrounded by flirtatious girls. Inside the small apartment, Titorelli shows Joseph K. paintings of court officials, including one of a judge. K. notices that the figure in the painting doesn’t look like Justice, but more like a hunting god, which shows how strange and twisted the justice system has become. Titorelli explains his knowledge of the court. He says that there are only three possible outcomes of a trial in the system: absolute acquittal, apparent acquittal, and deferment.
The absolute acquittal is a true and final release from the charges and is the best outcome, but it is almost impossible to achieve. Titorelli admits that he has never seen it happen, and even if it did, such decisions are kept secret. This frustrates Joseph K. The idea that there might be an absolute acquittal keeps people engaged in the system, always hoping for justice. It’s like a freedom just out of reach. This reflects the kind of freedom Joseph wants, especially at the beginning. He believes that if he behaves correctly, hires the right lawyer, or understands the court system, he might be released. Over time, he realises the court is not rational. There are no clear charges, no trial dates, and no official way to defend himself. The promise of absolute acquittal keeps him engaged in the system, but the novel shows it to be a false hope.
Next, Titorelli talks about apparent acquittal. In this case, the accused is told they are acquitted, but their case is never really closed. At any time, a higher judge can reopen the trial, and the person is back in danger. There is no real peace or certainty—just the illusion. People may feel they have escaped judgment or punishment but still live in anxiety or shame. Joseph never receives even this false relief, but he lives under the illusion that if he does everything correctly, he might be successful.
Then there is deferment. This means that the trial never officially moves forward and keeps getting postponed. It stays at the beginning stage forever. This creates a life of never-ending stress over something that never really resolves. This is the clearest reflection of Joseph’s actual experience. From the moment he is arrested, nothing actually happens. No charges are presented, no official trial begins. He keeps returning to court offices, meeting lawyers, obsessing over solutions, and neglecting his job. This is a never-ending affair.
K. feels suffocated in the painter’s attic. Titorelli says that courts are everywhere—even hidden in attics. This shows that the court has spread into every part of life. Even if one thinks he’s leaving it behind, he is still inside it.