In this paper, you will argue and explain ONE small detail of the Essay

In this paper, you will argue and explain ONE small detail of the story helps shapes ONE larger theme of the story - Essay Example The story shows how the hunger artist was caged not just physically but also spiritually. One of the most annoying things for the hunger artist was that the spectators lost interest and faith in his performances and talent. Many of them thought that his fasting was dishonest and thus there were many people form the audience who kept an eye at him. Moreover, there were night watcher groups as well that monitored him to ensure that he is not taking any nourishment. They annoyed him all night by pointing their pocket torch lights at his face. the author writes â€Å"Nothing annoyed the artist more than such watchers; they made him miserable; they made his fast seem unendurable; sometimes he mastered his feebleness sufficiently to sing during their watch for as long as he could keep going, to show them how unjust their suspicions were† (Kafka 57). The cage is a symbol used by Kafka which represents the alienation of the hunger artist from the society. The cage is where the artist performs and it creates a division between the spectators and the artist to prevent him from those who don’t understand him. The hunger artist has his own world inside the cage where he understands himself and respects his talent whereas the world outside is unable to respect and understand the artist's perfection and honesty. The author writes â€Å"For he alone knew, what no other initiate knew, how easy it was to fast. It was the easiest thing in the world. He made no secret of this, yet people did not believe him’’ (Kafka 58). The spectators did not believe him and thought he cheated on his fasts as there was no one to keep an eye on him all the time. The artist believes that what stops the spectators form believing him is their position which is outside the cage. These spectators don’t even appreciate him and thus the cage is a symbol to represent security and protection for the artist from these people who are unable to understand him. The hunger a rtist feels cheated and helpless which is why he has isolated himself in the cage. It is the place where he and his honesty reside. It is the part of the world where he feels separate from others and believes in himself. But it is not long when the attitudes of people and spectators broke him down. the audience showed that they admired him so much but in reality they hated him and were cruel, â€Å"And he looked up into the eyes of the ladies who were apparently so friendly and in reality so cruel, and shook his head, which felt too heavy on its strength-less neck† (Kafka 58). The cage also represents the relationship that the hunger artist had with himself. The artist felt that he was trapped and caged within himself. His fasts were directly affecting his body which is why he was physically constrained. He was trapped in his body and even if he wished to escape from it, it was only through death. His fasts were merely a way through which he attempted to escape his skin. Fast ing was associated with his divinity and death. In the end he gives up his life to escape his body unable to do anything else as his body had limitations. This was an achievement for him as this was his idea of perfection. The hunger artist believed in himself and his perfection, he set out leaving his manager and â€Å"So he took leave of the impresario, his partner in an unparalleled career, and hired himself to a large circus; in order to spare his own feelings he avoided reading the