Story Review: A Country Doctor

Story Review: A Country Doctor

[Student’s name]

[Institution Name]

A Country Doctor

This reaction paper will elaborate on the reader’s opinions and reactions that were experienced upon reading 'A Country Doctor,' written by Franz Kafka. The story portrays an aging doctor, who is the only doctor for miles around. The implications are that due to his age and the raging weather, night calls are a bit harsh for him. However, the comfort of others comes before his being the healer that he is. The paper identifies the primary challenges faced by the doctor and delves into the frustrations that the doctor faces with each challenge. The paper also argues why the story can be referred to as a nightmare supported by the underlying themes of the story.

It comes as no surprise that the doctor being a healer has no other option but to attend to an urgent call from an unknown patient. He finds himself overwhelmed with hindrances such as the weather, the distance and the lack of transport facilities that he faced. In my opinion, it seems inappropriate that everyday obstacles are overwhelming a man who is a doctor at a time when he is expected to save lives (Kafka, 2015).

In the very beginning of the story, we can see that a fierce snowstorm is making it almost impossible to see where one is driving and the sharp cold is continuously striking his bones makes the doctor realize that unless if the snow storm does not let up, it is through this sea of snow that he will have to wade through to reach his sick patient (Kafka, 2015). At this point, I cannot help but to give credit to the doctor for realizing and acknowledging the fact that life saving is his profession, and that he has a duty to puts his patient’s safety before his safety and comfort.

One can note that the patient’s house is roughly at a distance of 10 miles from where the doctor is located. I cannot help but feel sorry for the doctor for the fact that the doctor is old of age and the brewing storm, the late hour, and the absence of light are not going to make things any easier for him. Due to the harsh weather and arduous paths the doctor’s only means of transport, his horse passed away a day before he received the urgent night call. Therefore, he is left stranded. However, his girl servant Rosa is out in the village looking for a willing owner who would loan his horse to the good doctor for his journey to the patient and back home (Kafka, 2015). I feel that since the doctor was fully aware of his responsibilities and of the fact that he may be called to fulfill them at any time, he should have kept a contingency mean of transport alongside.