We can’t deny that the hunger artist has a very powerful mind. However, it is his powerful, determined mind that makes him weaker and weaker and eventually kills him. He cannot find any food he likes, so instead of eating things he doesn’t like, he decides to not eat at all. Fasting may symbolize the dignity of the hunger artist in some way. He would rather be starved and weakened by fasting than force himself to do something he doesn’t agree with which, in this case, is eating food he doesn’t like. Although fasting literally kills him in the end, he still does not regret.
This reminds me of the saying “What makes you strong makes you weak.” It’s pretty ironic.
How the hunger artist and the panther are treated by people is also ironic. The hunger artist cannot get the attention he wants from people and he cannot find food he likes which, if he could, would simply end his suffering. The panther gets all the attention from people and is brought food that he likes the best. The panther, without any effort, easily gets everything the hunger artist desires but cannot have; all in the same cage.
This reminds me of the saying “What makes you strong makes you weak.” It’s pretty ironic.
How the hunger artist and the panther are treated by people is also ironic. The hunger artist cannot get the attention he wants from people and he cannot find food he likes which, if he could, would simply end his suffering. The panther gets all the attention from people and is brought food that he likes the best. The panther, without any effort, easily gets everything the hunger artist desires but cannot have; all in the same cage.