I'd like to offer a different perspective. I read this story in high school in class.

Kafka intended to be a chemical engineer, but he studied law at his father's request. He had talent for writing, but stuck being a clerk drafting legal documents.

I had (have) a very similar story. At the time I read Kafka's "the process" and then consecutively this story, I had felt helplessness in insufferable amount. Computers were all that interested me, I believed I was really talented, I always believed that İ had a calling. But in real life, I had little prospects for getting into college, although I was a real good student.

At the end I conceded like I always do, and started Law School.

I guess Kafka's trying to say that don't be a conformist, stand up for your self. The protagonist (of the Process, which includes this story as far as I can remember) had a job (but he didn't like it), he had a girlfriend (but he didn't care for it). He didn't enjoy life, he He believed that he had to accept everything imposed upon him and this got him killed.