While this may not seem like a crippling social problem, trust is an often forgotten pillar of society, necessary for the proper functioning. Because all societies are based on cooperation, the less trust there is the fewer things get accomplished. In “Trust” by Francis Fukuyama, Fukuyama describes a functioning society as one with an atmosphere of strong cooperation and a “culture of trust.” (86) Also, according to the European Journal of Public Health, differing incomes in society or unequal treatment leads to less trust which therefore leads to higher homicide rates and lower health (Elgar and Aitken). Kafka uses allusions to an unequal society and mistrust when describing The Hunger Artist and how nobody really believed he was fasting the entire time. The townspeople did not see him as an equal and an honest man and believed that something was suspicious about the fasting man even though he did nothing to deserve this treatment. The butchers or other watchers “made his fast seem unendurable.” This so offended The Hunger Artist that he would somehow muster up enough strength “to sing during their watch for as long as he could keep going…”(789). Although, he mastered this feat, the townspeople believed that he was somehow “able to fill his mouth even while singing”
While this may not seem like a crippling social problem, trust is an often forgotten pillar of society, necessary for the proper functioning. Because all societies are based on cooperation, the less trust there is the fewer things get accomplished. In “Trust” by Francis Fukuyama, Fukuyama describes a functioning society as one with an atmosphere of strong cooperation and a “culture of trust.” (86) Also, according to the European Journal of Public Health, differing incomes in society or unequal treatment leads to less trust which therefore leads to higher homicide rates and lower health (Elgar and Aitken). Kafka uses allusions to an unequal society and mistrust when describing The Hunger Artist and how nobody really believed he was fasting the entire time. The townspeople did not see him as an equal and an honest man and believed that something was suspicious about the fasting man even though he did nothing to deserve this treatment. The butchers or other watchers “made his fast seem unendurable.” This so offended The Hunger Artist that he would somehow muster up enough strength “to sing during their watch for as long as he could keep going…”(789). Although, he mastered this feat, the townspeople believed that he was somehow “able to fill his mouth even while singing”