the hunger artist

Okay so I know the main point of this story was about the performer, but what was the underlying idea of it?? He fasts as a talent, but was this at all supposed to be religious? Fasting is supposed to be a very spiritual and religious thing. Or was it possibly plainly about a starving artist, trying to make it in the world just like every other artist out there? Perhaps it had something to do with the life of the actual artist of the story, the writer. Story wasn't very interesting but it makes you think.

the use of force

The Use of Force was a very emotional short story. This doctor seems to be sincere in the fact that he want's to help, but obviously has some issues himself. He definitely expressed his anger when he used force to open the girl's mouth because she was being difficult, but he was only trying to help her, when in fact she had diptheria. We also have to take into consideration that he didn't know this family before hand, and the parents were nervous from the start, making the child even more nervous, along with the doctor.