critique of the hunger artist
...owever the audience is never able to understand that. Even in the days of his fame people looked upon him as a phenomenon or a “shocking” attraction accompanied with their cynical suspicions which were an altogether insult to the artist and his art. The artist despised this, he was much more comfortable with guards who would sit up close to his cage and keep watch on him since it was an opportunity to demonstrate to them that he was fasting as none of them could. It was a chance for him to display his ability, his opportunity to show his gift. However he was dissatisfied, since he knew that he had the ability to improve but he was never allowed to fast for more than 40 days. The author tries to tell us how the spirit of an artist was subdued by not being allowed to showcase his ability and being deprived of the recognition he deserved and a chance to improve. Kafka takes his narrative forward by telling us how the hunger artist loses his audience through their gradual disinterest in the art. The author now paints a different setting to display how the hunger artist is viewed by society. Though the artist still possesses the ability there is a change in public opinion. As the interest of the public declines, he begins to feel the ingratitude of his audience, and is treated more like an animal than an artist. The hunger artist joining the circus is ironic in the same vein. Though the artist has now the chance to prove his excellence and to achieve perfection he has no audience...