Part 2 Summary

The hunger artist continues to fast for years, his performances broken only by short periods of recuperation. He still feels the glory and honor of his profession but continues to be "troubled in spirit," especially when people do not take his troubles seriously or accuse his profession of being the source of his melancholy.

At times, he reacts angrily, but the impresario works his cage rattling into the act by agreeing with the audience that fasting is responsible for the irritability they witness. He goes on to say that the hunger artist can barely endure his forty-day fast. The hunger artist silently disagrees, believing instead that he is sad because he is not allowed to continue fasting when he is in his best form. The impresario wraps up the routine by producing pictures of the hunger artist – for sale to the public – that...