Existentialism In Kafka’s Short Story A Hunger Artist

Abstract

This study aims to describe and analyze the ego and psychological aspects of the philosophy of existentialism in Frank Kafka’s A Hunger Artist, as reflected in the protagonist's inner conflicts, the form of the psyche, and tenets of existence—freedom, responsibility, and loneliness. To attain its goal, the research attempts to elaborate on the tenet of existentialism. It is defined as boredom manifested in eating behavior and impulsiveness. The audience's recognition and appreciation of the artist in The Hunger Artist comes from the realization that a hunger artist fasts to gain his freedom and identity. He is an important element for the analysis of existentialist ideas in the literature of Kafka because he often deals with the issue of human mentality by which he struggles to find himself and his place. The habit of fasting is an effective method that the protagonist tries to avoid; it serves as a strategic approach he uses to cope with the absence of meaning in his life. A detailed analysis of the novel clearly indicates that the author of this literary work has a life filled with isolation, personal conflicts, and limitations. Therefore, he does strange things to escape from such feelings by smothering them to find his life and be free.