After having read "A Hunger Artist" I was really surprised by the actions of Kafka, it honestly seems like a crazt persons job, starving ones self. Having discussed this in class I now see that connection between the Hunger Artists dislike of food to the protagonist in "Hunger." In "A Hunger Artist" he can't find a food that tastes good to him after having starved himself, in "Hunger" this is seen because the protagonist cannot keep anyfood down because he is so malnourished.
In "A Hunger Artist" I found that his need for attention drove him to starvation, this need for attention is seen in "Hunger" as well, because of the protagonist belief that other famous people that he speaks about have got it all wrong that his ideas blow them out of the water. There is also the simliarity that after awhile people lose interest in the starving man ("A Hunger Artist") and he believes that they just don't understand, in "Hunger" this is seen through some of his encounters with his editor, who tells him to simplify it so that normal people can understand his ideas.
I also found it very interesting that the Hunger Artist seemed to be doing it for no purpose, this I found interesting because the idea of starving yourself for self benefit seems to be a little backwards.
I agree with what you said how Kafka's actions seem like a crazy persons job, starving oneself. I don't understand how you can think of starving yourself as an art. I also think how sad and terrible it must be to not want to ever eat anymore since your body is so used to no food. I don't think i've ever heard of someone's fasting getting so bad that they actually didn't want food anymore. But hte strangest part, as you mentioned was that he does it for no reason. He starves himself for self benefit, which i think is strange because starving doesn't benefit anyone.
ReplyDelete