Kafka's Hunger Artist
One can interpret
Kafka's goal through this piece to make his audience ponder this intrinsic question.
On an ulterior level, religious analysis of this piece may answer the question. The hunger artist begins
the short story as a symbol for Christ. Christ fasted for forty days, just as the hunger artist does. Kafka
presents numerous images of the artist appearing as Christ such as when the women try to help him
out of the cage, he outstretches his arms, appearing as if he is on the cross. We find no solution to the
human riddle as a result that Christ was a martyr who die to lessen others' suffering, and this draws no
parallels to the martyrdom the artist suffers from: he is a victim of himself and his death provides no
appeasement of suffering for others. Why must humans continually suffer?
annaabi.ee 
