Kafka's A Hunger Artist Vs. Society

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A Hunger Artist vs. Society
The struggling Hunger Artist patiently waited for society to admire his great fast. However, in an environment seen in Frank Kafka writing it was a mere misunderstanding of society that he wasn’t ready to bear. Frustration and agony made his body weak and his spirit lose desire to continue his fast. However, the hunger artist shows that it’s possible to live a life authentic to your own desires, and the hunger artist does so even though it caused his death to live what he believe was his truth.
In A Hunger Artist t here are two main characters that embodies the conflict of this story : A Hunger Artist vs. Society. Professional fasting in this story was a benign attraction amongst the masses but markedly diminished …show more content…

He couldn’t understand how people could make sure he didn’t eat but deliberately failed to admire his art of fasting and to him that was a contradiction. He goes on to say it that it was “nothing but a formality to reassure the masses” in a sarcastic tone (328) that these watchers rejected breakfast and made themselves starve to make sure I didn’t eat while still not admiring my fast. So why do they even care if I’m eating was the hunger artist plight? Was it for their personal …show more content…

For example, the impresario took a toast with the audience over the hunger artist fast which was clearly disrespectful, “because if you can’t admire something, don’t celebrate as if you did” (Alreese). Furthermore, he went to the circus in order to receive more attention and it still didn’t work out. He even asked to be moved by the animal cages to get more attention, but it ended up hindering him than advancing him. Seeking attention showed that no matter what, the way people thought about his fast people never will. As a result of this, he became content with people not admiring his fast. However, it was only a mere understanding of society that made him think he wasn’t admired. For example the story mentions, “. .. he lived for many years...in visible glory, honored by the world” (330).
In the beginning, the Hunger Artist wasn't admired by society and was sorely misunderstood by those around him. By the end, society learned to accept and admire him despite their ignorance of passing judgment and misunderstanding him. The Hunger Artist didn’t
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