Summary
A hunger artist's journey is marked by a decline in public interest and deep personal dissatisfaction. Once a spectacle that captivated towns, the art of fasting became obsolete, leaving the artist grappling with a profound sense of unfulfillment. His life, entwined with the relentless pursuit of perfection, ends not with applause, but obscurity, as he is replaced by a more vibrant attraction.
The Height of Fame
At his peak, the hunger artist drew crowds eager to witness the spectacle of his fasting. Townspeople, caught up in the thrill, would visit him regularly, their curiosity piqued by the mystery of his craft. Children, especially, found themselves fascinated by the artist’s resolve, while local men, often butchers, stood as nocturnal guards to ensure the integrity of his fast. Despite his commitment to authenticity, the artist was irked by those who doubted him, as the "honor of his profession forbade" any deception. This constant scrutiny made him long for vigilant observers who truly understood the essence of his art.
The Artist's Dissatisfaction
The hunger artist’s life was shadowed by dissatisfaction, rooted in the skepticism surrounding his fasts. Since no observer could confirm the purity of his abstinence, only the artist himself could revel in the profound satisfaction of his achievement, making him the "sole completely satisfied spectator of his own fast." Yet, this was not his only grievance. He was internally conflicted by the ease with which he could fast, a fact no one believed. This disbelief fostered a persistent inner turmoil. Furthermore, his impresario restricted his fasts to forty days to maintain public interest, despite the artist's confidence in surpassing this limit. Thus, he never "left his cage of his own free will," constrained by the necessity to stage the end of each fast as a dramatic conclusion to his act. Even then, he detested eating in public, a requirement of his performance, as he had no desire for food. While the audience left satisfied, the artist remained perpetually "unsatisfied," yearning for a chance to transcend human limits with a record-breaking feat.
The Decline of an Art Form
Amidst the "rush and glitter of success," the artist overlooked the waning interest in his performances. A "positive revulsion" towards professional fasting emerged as audiences flocked to newer forms of amusement. This shift spelled the demise of his career. When faced with this harsh reality, he parted ways with the impresario, his "partner in an unparalleled career," and was relegated to the fringes of a circus sideshow.
Humiliation at the Circus
The transition to circus life was a bitter pill to swallow for the hunger artist. His cage, once the focal point of attention, now served as an entryway to the menagerie, overshadowed by the promise of animal exhibits. Crowds, more interested in the creatures beyond, often ignored him altogether. Even the circus managers forgot his existence, neglecting to change the sign marking the days of his fast.
The Artist's Final Moments
One day, a circus overseer stumbled upon the artist, lying near death amidst the straw in his cage. His emaciated frame bore witness to an unknown length of fasting. With his last breath, the artist divulged the compulsion behind his art: "I have to fast, I can’t help it." When pressed for the reason, he confessed, "because I couldn’t find the food I liked. If I had found it, believe me, I should have made no fuss and stuffed myself like you or anyone else." His life, driven by an insatiable quest for satisfaction, concluded with this poignant revelation.
The Panther's Arrival
In the aftermath of the hunger artist's death, his cage found a new tenant: a young panther. Unlike its predecessor, the panther exuded "the joy of life streamed with ardent passion." It was a stark contrast to the artist, whose body was "furnished to the bursting point with all that it needed." Spectators, now captivated by the vitality and presence of the panther, "crowded around the cage," mesmerized by its energy.
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