Character Analysis of A Hunger Artist
... In Franz Kafka’s “A Hunger Artist”, the professional faster is similar to a contemporary musician. ... Like musicians want to be recognized and respected for their music, the hunger artist wanted to be respected for fasting. It is because of this reason that the hunger artist constantly strived to prove himself to his watchers when they thought he was cheating. ... And when the watcher would sit attentively next to his cage to make sure he did not eat, the hunger artist would do “anything at al to keep them awake and demonstrate to them again that he had no eatables in his cage and that he was fasting as not one of them could fast. ... At the end of the story, the hunger artist finally admits, ”I always wanted you to admire my fasting,” to the overseer at the circus. ... They are also proud like the professional faster and stick adamantly to their principles, which vary from artist to artist, such as to always write their own songs or play their own instruments. Even though the hunger artist’s main goal might have been to fast as long as he could, the fame and recognition it earned him were just as important to him and he did everything possible to make people appreciate his efforts.