A Visit to a Mine is a short story written by Franz Kafka. The story told by a narrator who works planning the drilling of a mine. It opens with orders from above to the workers around the mine. He details the elaborate rank and file system amongst the workers. There are ten engineers total, and nine of them have specified functions. For example, one measures the area of the tunnel, while another follows him preparing to drill. Yet, similar to The Castle, there is the suggestion that within the bureucratic structure there is a lack of efficiency. At least one engineer serves to answer the question "another does not want to ask."^[1]

The story ends with the narrator, and other engineers, not doing much of any work. There is note-taking, inspection, and measuring but not much actual drilling.

As with much of Kafka's works, the story has provoked various interpretations and analysis. At least one author has pointed to similarities between this story and Freudian analysis. Each character is seen both as representing the various states of the unconscious desires, as well as Kafka's various personalities.^[2]

References