The Hunger Artist Literary Analysis

A Hunger Artist refers to Franz Kafka’s short story authored in 1992. This story revolves around a period when the interest toward professional fasting had markedly vanished. In the illustration, it emerges that in the past decade’s people seem to have more interest in fasting to an extent of visiting the hunger artist on daily basis to observe his progress. According to the quote, “there were people who bought season tickets for the last few days and sat from morning till night in front of his small barred cage” (Kafka), it is clear that community members used to commit their resources and time to support fasting individuals.  Conversely, there is confidential information denoting that despite society being paying more attention to hunger artist because of fasting, they ended up victimized and marginalized him. 

In particular, this story starts with a general overview of ‘the hunger artist’ and shrinks to a single character, who appears being the protagonist in the entire story. This play happens in a cage for curious participants, and it involves teams of viewers who ascertains that the protagonist does not eat secretly. Irrespective of the above precautions, some of the attendants seem being not assured that hunger artist is cheating. As a result, this person is annoyed because of being subjected to 40 days fasting by his ‘impresario’ or promoter. In relation to the statement, “…but the world was cheating him of his reward” (Kafka), it occurs that ‘the hunger artist’ realize that limit arbitrary and irksome is acting as a barrier to bettering his aspect of fasting forever. However, if this character is capable of finishing the fasting period in the midst of highly theatrical fanfare, he would be then transported from his cage and being forced to eat. The above performances and recuperation intervals are recurring. This incidence denotes that ‘the hunger artist’ is famous, but he feels being misunderstood and dissatisfied. 

Through reviewing this story, it occurs that people are not attentive to fasting, hence, they opt to give hunger artist a cage to stay while fasting. According to the quote. “…, he had the animals to thank for the troops of people who passed his cage, among whom there might always be one here and there to take an interest in him” (Kafka), it is clear that the hunger artist is observing the passing crowd, but on the same note, he is annoyed by the disruption and noise emanating from the passersby. Moreover, this man also appears being irritated by the roar, stench and feeding habits of the animals surrounding him. 

In addition, this story indicates that the fasting individuals tend to encounter lots of challenges that outweigh the intended benefits. The above statement is affirmed through hunger artist advising people not to emulate him and he asks forgiveness because of misleading them. In consideration of the statement that, “I always wanted you to admire my fasting…, But you shouldn’t admire it” show that the hunger artist is discouraging people to fast (Kafka).The above incidence denotes that hunger artist’s fasting is not genuine. On the same note, the aspect of burying this man with cage straw and substituting it by panther shows that people are tired and annoyed by his action. However, the people provide panther with the food it likes, hence, indicating that if the huger artist could have expressed his challenges, the community members could have helped him by all means. 

Conversely, hunger artist’s story encounters help people to families with challenges experienced while trying to become popular in the community. For instance, after this man suffering from hunger he is alleged to have Christ-like or saintly figure. Nevertheless, this story can be a symbol of misunderstood artist, whose imaginative excellence and transcendence status is ignored and refuted by the entire community. Through the quote, “…, but after that, the town began to lose interest, sympathetic support began notably to fall off” (Kafka), it occurs that people do no longer care about the idea of fasting. The above illustration is related to the aspect of reading a given story as an autobiography. 

To sum up, devoid of protagonist’s starving appearing as artistic or mystical, the hunger artist eventually denounce fasting because of going through great suffering. Based on the above information, the hunger artist seems to represent a man who does not enjoy life and his also irritated by the aspect that people does pay attention at him. Basically, the hunger artist considers his remarkable castigation as unrealistic. However, the panther who substitutes this person is meant to demonstrate people are always ready to offer help on genuine matters. Indeed, this story reveals the community’s view about artistic scruples via the case of hunger artist, hence, indicating the manner in which their interests and attitudes change over time. 

Works Cited

Kafka, Franz. “A Hunger Artist.” Accessed 14 December 2005. Available http://www.kafka.org/index.php?id=162,159,0,0,1,0