GIỄU NHẠI TRONG TIỂU THUYẾT

Abstract

The novel “Amerika” by Franz Kafka is a unique work in which parody is employed as a powerful tool to critique the American Dream and the capitalist system. This study analyzes how Kafka utilizes parody through the journey of the protagonist, Karl Rossmann, from naive expectations of a promised land to confronting the harsh realities of American society. By applying the theories of parody from Linda Hutcheon, Mikhail Bakhtin and Le Huy Bac, the research focuses on three aspects: the exaggeration of the American Dream imagery, the irony directed at capitalist bureaucratic systems, and the use of a satirical linguistic style. These elements not only create a humorous effect but also expose the injustices, alienation, and absurdity of modern society. The findings demonstrate that parody in “Amerika” serves as a means for Kafka to reflect the contradictions within early 20th-century capitalist society, while also illuminating his distinctive style in postmodern literature.

Keywords: Franz Kafka, America, parody, American Dream, capitalism, irony, bureaucracy, postmodern literature.