Julie Kafka, née Etl Löwy, occupied a special place in the life of Franz Kafka, being not only a mother, but also a key figure, whose influence on her son, albeit indirect, became the foundation for his work. Although she herself did not leave a noticeable mark on history as an independent person, her role in the formation of one of the most mysterious writers of the 20th century is beyond doubt. Through the prism of her image, one can see a typical Jewish mother of the era, who, despite the challenges of the time, provided her children with the support necessary for development.
Julie was born in 1856 into a wealthy merchant family that belonged to the German-speaking Jewish community of Bohemia. Her parents, like many 19th-century Jews, sought to integrate into European society while maintaining a connection to tradition. She carried these values ​​throughout her life and passed them on to her children, among whom Franz was the eldest.
Marriage to Hermann Kafka, an energetic but authoritarian businessman, opened up a life full of everyday worries and compromises for the girl. Herman was a man for whom business came before cultural interests, and raising children was, above all, discipline. However, Julia, gentle and intelligent, became for Franz the opposite of his father: she embodied kindness, patience and the ability to listen.
Franz Kafka grew up in an atmosphere of strict patriarchy, where the dominant father figure suppressed the boy's sensitive nature. In his autobiographical essay “Letter to his Father,” Kafka describes how Hermann’s harsh criticism and coldness shaped his complexes. Against this background, Julie played the role of a kind of buffer. Her presence was quiet but significant: she cared for the children, creating for them a homely environment in which Franz found peace.
Julie did not have literary talents, but she valued education and culture. It was she, according to biographers, who instilled in her son respect for words and text. Like many women of her generation, Julie devoted herself almost entirely to her family. Her day was filled with work: she managed a clothing store that belonged to her husband, ran a household and raised children. Despite her constant employment, she tried to pay attention to Franz, who, being a sickly and withdrawn child, required a special approach.
Julie was driven by a sense of duty deeply rooted in Jewish culture. She believed that the success of children depended on the mother, who must sacrifice her interests for the sake of their future. Franz may have inherited from her this ideal of self-sacrifice, which later became one of the central themes of his works.
Although Franz rarely mentioned his mother in his letters, her influence was felt in many aspects of his life and work. Julie was the one who emphasized the importance of inner peace, while her father emphasized external success. This contrast became the leitmotif of Kafka's works, where the conflict between personal freedom and social pressure acquired a universal character.
Julia may not have understood the complex philosophy that her son was developing, but her support was expressed in simple actions: she cared for his health, respected his need for privacy and, as far as circumstances allowed, tried to soften his father's pressure.
Julie Kafka did not live to see her son's world fame. She died in 1934, ten years before the publication of most of his works. However, her legacy lives on in the lines that Franz left for his descendants. Her life is a reminder of the role mothers play, sometimes unnoticed, in the development of great individuals.
Today, Julie Kafka remains a symbol of devotion, sacrifice and love, which are not visible at first glance, but shape entire eras. Her image is both a tribute to a Jewish woman who lived in difficult times and a recognition of her invisible contribution to world culture.