Reading 1001 discussion

Kafka never visited the United States. How well do you think he captured or failed to capture American values and or problems? What does he see as the major flaws of America and in what ways does the novel critique the notion of the American dream?

He hit the nail on the head re: immigrants. He also got the "money makes the world go round" right. The topography was off, but that was forgivable.
I think he saw the flaws as too many people wanting to make money and control others because of it. It also seemed that his wealthy characters were the most shallow and controlling, or eccentric. This portrayal of the American Dream was one that I don't think Kafka approved of.
I feel that Karl, though naive, was looking for something else, an elusive happiness as an American Dream, and this was probably what Kafka believed in. Unfortunately, the story was unfinished, so the idea wasn't fully developed.

Having also never visited America myself I feel unqualified to answer this.

He perceives the pursuit of happiness to be more a pursuit of riches by any means.

I agree that he did a good job with capturing the immigrant experience because it reminded me of some other immigrant books such as The Jungle. I do think Kafka was either looking at Amerika the dream rather than the reality. Wanting a new start and happiness and nearly achieving it only to have it ripped away.