A Soulful Journey

Franz Kafka wanted much of his writing to be burned.   One story, however, he wanted saved.   It was called, “The Hunger Artist.” This short tale was an autobiographical story about a man who made his living by professional fasting.   “He is the practitioner of a once venerated profession.   Seated on straw in his small barred cage, he is marveled at by throngs of people.   After 40 days, his fasts were terminated in triumph.   His manager would make a speech, the band would play, and one of the ladies would lead him staggering in his weakened state out of the cage. "However, the day arrived when fasting was no longer understood or appreciated by the people.   He lost his manager and had to join a circus.   His cage was placed next to the animals.   He became depressed by the smell, the restlessness of the animals at night, the raw flesh carried past him and the roaring at feeding time.   The people barely glanced at him in their h...