Hunger Artist by Franz Kafka and the Garden of Forking Paths by Jorge Luis Borges - Essay Example

Comparison between "A Hunger Artist" by Franz Kafka and "The Garden of Forking Paths" by Jorge Luis Borges Despite "A Hunger Artist" and "The Garden of Forking Paths" accounts written by different authors, they have applied similar mode of approach in depicting their core protagonists’ traits. Mainly, this is via utilizing diverse aspects, which normally comprise their settings to reveal true characters’ traits besides their inherent desires to prove to the society each one’s uniqueness. Additionally, authors in these accounts have also employed diverse symbols to bring out similar implications meant to build the two protagonists and their minor characters. Hence, making the protagonists Yu Tsun and Hunger Artist during the onset of their accounts appearing strong but eventually they turn out being losers or failures. Besides, they all fail to attain the satisfaction they thought prior their missions would lead to a happy life where on contrary suffer untold indignation and death. During the onset of the two accounts, both Yu Tsun and Hunger Artist develop strong ambitions, which they are out to prove to the world, but they turn out to be failures. This is to draw adequate attention from the world, which will yield to their internal satisfaction though they end up utterly losing, hence more dissatisfaction than before (Kafka 5). Hunger Artist boasts of being able to fast as long as he wants, which is beyond forty days meant to be the longest fast of a human being. However, Impresario interrupts his numerous fasts whenever he intends to extend them beyond forty days, which will earn him immense admiration from the people. This angers him to the extent of growing rebellious, but owing to his emancipated condition, Hunger Artist prefers to withdraw to himself and nurse his painful indignation. In addition, his spectators do not take him seriously where sometimes they prefer him as “swindler” who does not have anything to do but result to stupidity of fasting. This is because they tend to believe that he has mastered a way of eating such that nobody can notice despite reasonable proofs from the doctors. Children comprise the only group of spectators who find the whole episode singularly fascinating to watch due to their naivety where some do not know what is fasting (Kafka 6). Similarly, Yu Tsun wants to prove to the chief that he (Chinese man) is worth the mission set before him owing to prowess though he has deep-rooted hatred towards the Germans. Therefore, he resolves to be Germany’s spy where he will prove reveal his true self besides heroism in him. This prompts him to shoot his British friend Dr. Albert in search of admiration and satisfaction. However, Capt. Madden catches up with him to end his short-lived glory where eventually he has to die by hanging. Consequently, the two protagonists despite their efforts to earn people’s admiration and respect, they become losers. In addition, both the Franz Kafka and Jorge Luis Borges have adopted diverse approaches in bringing out their accounts’ theme of time. Luis Borges ties much emphasis to the legacy of an absent character Tsui Pen who was a powerful Chinese governor and a scholar after deserting his public position and admiration (Borges 7). Luis Borges’ skill of attaching considerable significance to a dead character rather the protagonist alone, it is extremely intriguing where Tsui Pen’s legacy usually assumes the center stage of the entire story. Hence, name “The Garden of Forking Paths”. Mainly, this is serving as the ancestral relevance of Yu Tsun besides Tsui Pen’s legacy turning out as a great riddle, which Dr. Stephen Albert focuses his entire knowledge and energy to unveil. The absent character brings out the issue of labyrinth, which the living characters are eager to unveil. This turns out as an insatiable desire especially among the present characters’ lives where despite their efforts to reveal its truth end up dying. Luis besides choosing the core protagonist as Yu Tsun, he utilizes Tsui Pen’s legacy to modify him and become the theory of time, which the characters have to unveil. Conversely, Franz Kafka does not adopt this writing technique but employs one character where all the events of the day revolve around him (Kafka 4). The thematic theory of time is also evident in the two accounts mainly depicted by the two though utilizing diverse symbols. This is apparent when a Yu Tsun visit Dr. Albert and their conversation normally revolve around “The Garden of Forking Paths” where the latter contends is an enormous riddle whose theme is time. During the onset of the story, Yu Tsun reflects how everything usually “happens precisely to man now” despite the centuries, one may live, where their determination is only in the present (Borges 4). Hence, prompting Yu Tsun to adopt the description time as a linear, where people’s daily series of experiences normally comprise it. Consequently, this extends to the future while leaving a remarkable trail of the past such that man can comprehend time’s limit; hence, it is like a universe or labyrinth. Franz Kafka’s symbol, for time, is the clock placed on the Hunger Artist’s cage (Kafka 8). This clock is a constant reminder of the remaining character’s time left for existence, though together with the other people are blind to unveil this and only take it as a fast timing device. The Hunger Artist’s conviction regarding his fasting prowess, and can last for long is a misperception where it starts deviating when people lose interest in his stupidity. The theme of betrayal comprises the two stories, which contributes to the deprivation of the protagonists’ much sought admiration that will lead to their satisfaction. Impresario who is Hunger artist’s manager is unwilling to stay with him for long since their show’s intriguing aspect seems to diminish with time (Kafka 3). Manager’s involvement with the Hunger Artist was merely rooted on greedy gains where they normally gain from the spectators. This prompts him to keep on interrupting numerous fast extensions by Hunger Artist because he is afraid he might die, hence fail to bring more money. Correspondingly, Yu Tsun regardless of his devotion to race and being a righteous man, he betrays it via choosing to be a spy of the barbaric Germany’s chief (Borges 8). Besides, he does not feel ashamed or honor the warm reception by his friend Dr. Albert where after having a pleasant conversation with him, he exterminates him. Borges’ mode of writing is extremely contrary to that of Franz Kafka, which entails numerous applications of other literatures’ excerpts. This arouses the aspects of authorship and publication of the novel, which its narration seems to be within a larger context of history. For illustration, this is evident when one encounters the footnote emanating from an unspecified "manuscript editor". Franz’s account maintains its flow where the reader has a clear picture of how the events unfold, comprehending the author’s ideas as he modifies each character. In addition, the account does not have gaps, which needs filling with literature from the external sources but relies on its characters that develop themselves via their daily happenings. Both Borges and Franz have adequately utilized the device of alienation especially in molding the key protagonists’ state in their novels. The latter depicts Hunger Artist’s behavior as a deception from the normal due to his inherent desire to win admiration from the world via prolonged fasting. Hunger is not living his true self where he has to result to queer actions that will act as cover up. Hunger Artist is out to please people thus telling the supervisor, “I wanted you to admire my fast”, but contends that it is not worth admiring (Kafka 8). This is because he had nothing, which he could find worth liking to the extent of eating similar to other people. Yu Tsun is not himself, where his insatiable desire for recognition drives him to prove to the Chief what a Chinese man is capable of achieving. Hence, he becomes a German’s spy besides killing his friend to attain the glory, but Capt. Madden blurs it after catching up with him and eventually Yu Tsun dies by hanging. Work Cited Kafka, Franz. A Hunger Artist. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. 2010. Print. Borges, Jorge, Luis. The Garden of Forking Paths. Read More