Religion has a lot to say here. As a Muslim i believe that i have been created by God for the Purpose of worshipping Him. Worshipping is not only Praying and giving alms. Living your life with a purpose of glorifying God and enjoying your life in His name is a kind of worship to God

To me Kafka is describing the capitalistic institutions of modern life that have been established to imprison and dominate the helpless individual. In the Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck expresses the idea that the bank as an institution has been established by man but it controls and humiliates him as he has to abide by its regulations or goes to prison.

Generally a thing could belong to you on the account of the labor you have put into it. The same does not apply to humans.