But when I want to draw close to someone, and fully commit myself, then my misery is assured. Then I am nothing, and what can I do with nothingness? I must admit that your letter this morning {by the afternoon it had changed} arrived at just the right moment; I was in need of those very words.
In this quote from Kafka's "Letters to Felice," the author expresses his inner turmoil regarding intimacy and commitment. He reflects on the paradox of wanting to connect deeply with others while simultaneously feeling that such closeness leads him to a state of misery and emptiness. This struggle highlights the conflict between desire for connection and fear of vulnerability.
Kafka’s sense of nothingness when he draws close to others points to a profound personal crisis. The timing of Felice's letter seems to provide comfort, underscoring the importance of words in moments of despair. Ultimately, Kafka's correspondence reveals his complex emotional landscape and the tenuous balance between the longing for love and the dread of losing oneself in it.
