Single Character Analysis
A Hunger Artist portrays a man who bases his entire existence and identity around fasting. The hunger artist believes that it is his calling in life to fast and he proudly puts his craft on display. He is driven by the urge to prove that the unimaginable depth of his skill can be realized. Franz Kafa’s A Hunger Artist depicts a multifaceted character that has set a specific goal in which he attempts to achieve through an incommensurable partnership.
Goal
The hunger artist dedicated his life to achieving the goal of achieving the longest fast. He had an insatiable desire to forge well beyond the mandated forty-day fast limitation. His personal safety and wellbeing was never a concern for him and the idea was additionally
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The culture provided for spectators of all ages to view him around the clock. Though there were a few groups that deviated from the mainstream beliefs of the time, the hunger artist was able to achieve a celebrity like status. He drew crowds in that participated in drawings to win the privilege of being by his side. He was so popular; in fact, that people would watch him all through the night as he entertained them with stories and jokes.
The hunger artist gained his fame through his outrageous self-denials. Not only would he fast for forty days, he also found other ways to heighten the experience. The hunger artist remained in a cage throughout his fast. He abstained from any physical human contact and would forsake basic comforts. Despite being very successful at his craft, his achievements and popularity were not quite enough to satisfy him. The hunger artist relied on the validation of others to gauge his happiness and until a true understanding of his views of fasting was realized, he would not feel
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The first partnership was formed with the impresario who exploited the hunger artist for his own personal gain. The forty-day limitation on fasts seems to be a safety precaution on the surface. In reality, however, it was a marketing technique. The impresario understood that after the forty-day mark, the pubic excitement would wane and support would diminish. The huger artist, himself, points out that the impresario was “a partner in an unparalleled career” (Kirsner & Mandell, 2013, p. 603). This furthers shines a light on his character being one who was seeking recognition for his efforts while, in contrast, his partner was happy to leech on his prey as his vehicle to find