A Report to an Academy by Franz Kafka [PDF]

Information A Report to an Academy

• Author: Franz Kafka​​.
• Publication Date: 1917.
• Main Characters:
  • Red Peter (the protagonist): A monkey who has learned to behave like a human and presents a report to an academy about his transformation.
  • Hunters: Members of a hunting expedition who capture Red Peter in the African jungle.
• Brief summary: In “A Report to an Academy”, Red Peter, a monkey captured in the African jungle, recounts how he learned to behave like a human to escape his captivity. After being transported to Europe, he faces the choice of living in a zoo or in a theater. With the help of teachers, he transforms enough to become a skilled human performer. In his report, Red Peter expresses a degree of satisfaction with his new condition.
• Thematic analysis: “A Report to an Academy” addresses themes such as identity, adaptation, and the quest for freedom. The protagonist is forced to relinquish his animal past and adopt human behaviors as a survival strategy. The story raises questions about the nature of identity and an individual’s capacity for change.
• Historical context: “A Report to an Academy” was published in 1917, amidst a time of social upheaval and tensions in Europe. The story can be interpreted as a reflection on cultural assimilation and the search for identity in a historical context marked by the emergence of Zionism and the Jewish diaspora.