Literary Analysis Essay of Franz Kafka’s ‘A Hunger Artist’
‘A Hunger Artist’ is one of the last works of Franz Kafka. Published in 1924, the story depicts the life of a hunger artist and the corresponding developments that have transpired during his career. Focusing on the artist’s feat, the author is able to portray how this skill is utilized as an art form and offered amusement to audiences. Written in an omniscient standpoint, Kafka is able to engage readers to understand the mindset of the artists, his pride, stubbornness and emotions that eventually led to his death and downfall. Likewise, it brings forward different ways to appreciate artistry from the lens of the audiences, critics and the hunger artist himself.
One of the most important themes emphasized by Kafka in the story is the issue of isolation experienced by the Hunger artist. Though Kafka presents the character as someone who has an extraordinary talent because of his capability to suppress hunger, many continue to doubt his capabilities. The detractors continue to have criticisms surrounding his craft and more often than not undermine the meditation and skills essential in the art of starvation. As Kafka presents this point from the perspective of the persona, readers are able to examine his mindset and his continued disgust for people who fail to appreciate the nature of his work (Naz 68). Consequently, only the artist can fully understand his work given the amount of sacrifice and dedication necessary in perfecting his craft. Arguably, this is the main reason as to why he remains to be isolated and detached from the usual spectators who only respond to only what they can observe.
Similarly, Kafka advocates the relevance of hunger in the story. Specifically, it emphasizes more of the physical hunger and transcends into a philosophical one wherein there is a deeper purpose that the artists seeks to showcase his art to people. By seeking to deny himself with one of the basic necessities for survival, the hunger artist is able to showcase a performance that is unique compared to his counterparts. Though he might have been able to demonstrate competency in this field, the deeper approach related to spiritual nourishment remains to be a difficult endeavor to achieve given his inclination to sacrifice his life for the purpose of performance and recognition (Kafka 1). The irony of course in this endeavor left the hunger artist empty and limited in his capability to advance both physical and spiritual satisfaction.
Kafka’s use of symbolism can also be seen in the story. One particular representation that helps advance characterization and meaning in the story is the cage where the hunger artist was confined. From a deeper standpoint, it illustrates the artist’s alienation to society and how this serves a location of his previous fame and recognition. Equally, rather than seeing the spectacle and greatness associated with the hunger artist’s performance, spectators take little interest and rather consider him a freak of nature (Wolk 1). Symbolically, the cage represents the artist’s body and how it remains to be constrained and imprisoned by its limitations and weaknesses. By seeking to present audiences with these similarities, readers are able to explore the plight of the artist to showcase her feat to audiences but at the same time isolate himself and become subjected mainly to a cage until his eventual death.
Overall, Kafka’s ‘A Hunger Artist’ offers multiple themes surrounding the emotional struggles and detachment felt by performers like those who practice self-starvation. By the careful mixture of themes, symbolisms and tone, the author is able to convey a multitude of meanings that readers can surmise upon reading the piece. Piecing together the insights coming from audiences, critics and the artist himself, it brings forward the realization that amidst the difficulty associated with the feat, every performance will be only as good as what others perceive it to be. For the hunger artist, his pride and lack of a deep understanding in this reality led him to isolation and inevitable death.
Works Cited
Kafka, Franz. A Hunger Artist. 1924. Web. Accessed 29 August 2014.
Naz, Bushra. ‘Hope of Death as the Possibility of Life: A Psychosemiotic Reading of Franz
Kafka’s The Hunger Artist as the Narrative of Existence into Non Being’ Pakistan Journal of Social Science, 31.1(Jun. 2011): 65-77.
Wolk, Joan. ‘Franz Kafka’s Ein Hungerkünstler: Metaphor of Conflict’The Kafka Project, 21 Jun. 2009. Web. Accessed 29 August 2014.
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