Franz Kafkas A Hunger Artist Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Franz Kafkas A Hunger Artist - Essay Example to that extent as his purpose is not understood and his act of starvation is viewed suspiciously, the hunger creative person emerges as an ill-judged figure. The chimericality of the hunger artist, however, is the absurdity of the human condition and of feel itself. To this extent, and despite the un graphic nature of the story, A Hunger Artist can be interpreted as a metaphor for life, a realistic exposition of the human condition, and a parable.The Hunger Artists in expertness to communicate the intent of his act of starvation to the battalion and his commitment to his art does not simply imply the absurdity of his lifes work but highlights the meaninglessness of life itself. Kafkas relay station, a painfully thin man, is locked in a cage by his manager, his impresario, with whom he signed a contract giving him the authority to lock up and starve the artist for a period of 40 age. Day after day, for forty days, he just sits in hi s cage, abstaining, watching others watch him, and admire his ability to starve. Meanwhile, three butchers supposedly watch over him to ensure that he does not cheat and break his fast but, instead of keeping an eye on him, they deliberately let him alone. Although they do this out of kindness and to surpass him an opportunity to eat from the food they believe he has hidden somewhere in his cage. However, the hunger artist views this as an insulting lack of appreciation for, and belief in, his art. When the forty days are over, he is let out of his cage and led into the town with a marching band. After a few days of rest and food, he begins his fast again. In other words, he is trapped in a round-the-clock cycle of forty days fasting, brief break, forty days fasting and so on. His work/art, in so far as it is not understood as an art, is absurd his uncommon ability for self-starvation is absurd as in that respect are many who do not believe he is truly fasting and, ultimately, his life is decreased to an absurd and meaningless cycle of starvation.As undreamt as A Hunger Artist and its protagonist are, it is a realistic, although metaphorical, representation of life and the human condition. The story is about the concept of achievement, of doing something incredible and, accordingly, attracting recognition and respect. The protagonists unique ability, however, is not viewed as an accomplishment worthy of respect but as something fascinating which, at best, ordain only attract disbelieving stares. The point here is that we, as the readers, should not just see this incredible accomplishment as simply referring to starvation and fasting but as referring to many things, whether they are ideas, inventions or even services that one person has done for men. In other words, this story can be read as focusing on the fact that most people no longer bring out others, or broad things, the appreciation that they deserve. In that case, doing something great or ext ending an important service to the world becomes absurd and meaningless. For one, people will search for the weak points in that great accomplishment or service, such as when the butchers assumed and believed that the Hunger Artist was cheating and eating. That is, some people will search for the flaws and bring that great thing down, making it loose some of its value. Others will exploit it, as the impresario did with the Hunger Artist. This is scarcely what Kafka is saying and important to quote