In his work "The Trial," Franz Kafka reflects on the peculiar nature of waking up each morning. Despite having traversed various states of being while dreaming, upon waking, one typically finds the world unchanged from the night before. This routine restores a sense of normalcy, yet it highlights the stark contrast between the dream state and waking life, where the latter demands a readiness to re-engage with reality as if nothing had altered.

Kafka emphasizes the need for continuous mental vigilance to adapt after the dream world, which often disrupts one’s perception of reality. The experience of dreaming can be so intense and disorienting that re-entering the familiar state of wakefulness requires a significant effort of attention and mood adjustment. This interplay between dream and reality raises questions about presence, consciousness, and the complexities of human perception.