Essay about Analysis of The Hunger Artist by Kafka

Analysis of The Hunger Artist by Kafka Hunger is a term that is often defined as the physical feeling for the need to eat. However, the Hunger Artist in Kafkas A Hunger Artist places a different, more complex meaning to this word, making the Hunger Artists name rather ironic. The hunger of the Hunger Artist is not for food. As described at the end of the essay, the Hunger Artist states that he was in fact never hungry, he just never found anything that he liked. So then, what does this mans hunger truly mean? What drives the Hunger Artist to fast for so long, if he is truly not hungry? The Hunger Artist salivates not for the food which he is teased with, nor does he even sneak food when he alone. The Hunger Artist has a†¦show more content†¦Instead, he would show off for the guards that were supposed to watch him, to make sure he never ate a single thing, ?He was quite prepared to spend the whole night entirely without sleep with such watchmen; he was prepared to swap jokes with them, to tell them stories about his nomadic life and listen to their stories in turn, anything just to keep them awake to be able to show them again and again that he had nothing to eat in his cage, and that he was fasting like no one of them could fast.? (Kafka, 256). The Hunger artist was addicted to fame, and made every attempt to show off his skill. It seems ironic, however, that when his fans were near him, he would show no effort to interact with the crowd. No stories, jokes, or anything of the like with which shared with the watchmen. Instead, he seemed to take the fans for granted, almost treating the fans as if they were weak and unimportant, ? occasionally even stretching his arm through the bars to let them feel how skinny he was, but then again withdrawing completely to himself, paying attention to no one.? (Kafka, 256) The Hunger Artist assumes that the crowd will always be there, witnessing and admiring his skills, constantly wondering, ?How does he do it So, as time goes on, the hunger artist becomes more and more expecting of his crowd, hungering more and more for the fame and love that his fans seemed to give. Unfortunately, every star, noShow MoreRelatedFranz Kafka as a Hunger Artist2806 Words   |  12 Pageswhich stands out is his story A Hunger Artist. In this story Kafka speaks through the hunger artist of the alienation and isolation he feels in his own body, as well as the emptiness he feels as a result of the disconnected relationship he and his father share. Ironically this emptiness manifests itself quite literally at the end of Kafka’s life, when he dies as a result of tuberculosis of the larynx, which causes him to literally starve to death, just as the hunger artist in the story. It was said aboutRead MoreAnalysis Of Franz Kafka s Life1811 Words   |  8 Pagesphilosophy that is often analyzed through literature. Franz Kafka is a key example of the limitless nature of this theme as his many works are divisive in how they connect with existentialism. Kafka is a unique storyteller and his stories have captivated generations since their publications. His background is important in understanding his seeming detachment from his writing. Kafka’s life is described by Ritchie Robertson in â€Å"Biography of Franz Kafka† as â€Å"strikingly ordinary† w ith the only notable commentaryRead MoreExistentialism vs Essentialism23287 Words   |  94 PagesMoving beyond Sartre s existentialism, Camus explored the meaninglessness and absurd nature of the human condition. Many Others Other existential philosophers include  Simone de Beauvoir,  Martin Heidegger,  Karl Jaspers,  Gabriel Marcel  and  Franz Kafka. Existentialist philosophy was also influenced by many other works, including those of  Friedrich Nietzsche, G. W. F. Hegel, Fyodor Dostoevsky and  Edmund Husserl. 1. Sà ¸ren Kierkegaard  (1813–1855) was a Danish philosopher who contributed greatlyRead MoreStephen P. Robbins Timothy A. Judge (2011) Organizational Behaviour 15th Edition New Jersey: Prentice Hall393164 Words   |  1573 Pagesof systematic study. Identify the major behavioral science disciplines that contribute to OB. Demonstrate why few absolutes apply to OB. Identify the challenges and opportunities managers have in applying OB concepts. Compare the three levels of analysis in this book’s OB model. MyManagementLab Access a host of interactive learning aids to help strengthen your understanding of the chapter concepts at www.mymanagementlab.com cott Nicholson sits alone in his parents’ house in suburban Boston