Commentary on 'Hunger' by Knut Hamsun and 'A Hunger Artist' by Franz Kafka
‘A Hunger Artist’ by Franz Kafka, and ‘Hunger’ by Knut Hamsun; have more in common than just the word hunger in their titles. Hunger itself does play an important role in both characters lives, linking both stories together. The effects however their strive for life under conditions of starvation is to me more significant than the act of starvation itself, leading them to continuous ‘mood swings’ and a constant spectrum of emotions.
‘A Hunger Artist’ by Franz Kafka is a short story that relates the life of a ‘hunger artist’, a man, whose job was to sit in a ‘small barred cage’ and fast for at least forty days, catching the attention of sometimes the entire city. Dressed in ‘black tights, looking pale, with his ribs sticking out prominently’ the hunger artist was observed by hundreds of spectators, witnessing his starvation; since for the hunger artist fasting ‘was the easiest thing in the world’. Slightly different is the hunger suffered by the writer in Hamsun’s ‘Hunger’, for his life as a writer has caused him to lack the money for food, walking around the streets of Christania slowly starving to death in the Street
What is interesting from both texts is the similarity of what the hunger they suffer causes both characters to do. In other words the psychological effects it has on them. In both texts, the author is able to convey the wide spectrum of emotions and reactions the characters have once in their fasting. They may once be happy and somehow content with their lives, but at another time burst in desperation, anguish, irritation and rage. Or end up feeling completely dissatisfied with the life they are carrying: depressed, gloomy, miserable. The impresario from Kafka’s ‘Hunger Artist’ would always concede that ‘only his fasting’ would provoke the artist’s rage, irritability and sadness, behaviors and moods that actually no one but the artist really understood. Similarly, the writer would go through a variety of emotions daily, letting them control his mind and actions.
Finally, it is their ending the most depressing. Somehow searching for a better life, the artist and the writer end up choosing paths of loneliness, with no one actually wanting to see them, case especially recounted by the life of the ‘hunger artist’ at the circus, place where he decides to work after leaving the impresario. One could discuss that the protagonist of Hunger has a happier ending, with a little bit of hope. The fact that he was able to overcome himself and decide to leave Christania, place that once made him so unhappy, shows to the reader that he still has some hope in himself and in life, and it is this determination that gives the reader a better sense of hope. The artist's ending is more depressing because it is of his own determination that is left completely ignored and lonely.
It is at these times where they realize that maybe their fasting is ‘all they’ve got’, and the way their hunger make them feel is maybe even sublime.
It is at these times where they realize that maybe their fasting is ‘all they’ve got’, and the way their hunger make them feel is maybe even sublime.
Javiera,
ReplyDeleteI never thought about how "fasting is 'all they've got'", but I suppose it is true. Both the protagonist in both stories try and rely on other people, but in the end, only hunger keeps them company.
There is one thing that I'm not sure I understand, however: you mention that both the artist and the writer end up choosing paths of loneliness- I rather thought that both endings were a bit happier than that.
For the hunger artist, he learns to accept himself and not rely on others anymore. He is freer than that caged animal who knows only contentment. I think that, while the hunger artist was not exactly happy, he had acceptance, which is sometimes more important than happiness.
In the novel, I read it as the protagonist embarking on a new part of his life; leaving his unhappiness behind, his pointless life, of going around in circles. He wasn't choosing to be alone- rather leaving his loneliness behind. As you said before, hunger "is all that they've got" and in the city he was in, there was no one there and nothing for him. Ylayali had even left him. He finally realized what his life was in Christiania- nothing, and took it upon himself to see what was out in the world.
I don't know about you, but I took the endings to be hopeful and happy- but there are several interpretations one can have, so I don't know. What did you think of the ending?
Hi Adrienne!
ReplyDeleteAs you say towards the end one can have several interpretations to the endings of each story.
I would have to say that I probably find the ending for 'Hunger' more hopeful than that of 'The Hunger Artist'. The simple fact that the protagonist in Hunger leaves the place that once made him so unhappy shows how he still sees some hope in his life, and it is this determination that I would say gives me a sense of hope and happiness.
However, I will have to stick with my original idea that for 'The Hunger Artist', his ending is more depressing than hopeful. I think I took the tone of the passage as if the artist had no escape from his life; maybe the descriptions Kakfa also makes of him. Although he was really determined to his fasting, he was completely lonely, and lonely in my opinion is something that you never want to be.
I don't know if that somehow answers to your question, but summing up everything it is the tone and Kafka's diction that probably lead me to believe that the artist's ending was very sad.