Final answer:
The hunger artist in Franz Kaf_ka's short story demonstrates immense mental stamina, willing to fast beyond the 40 days expected by the audience, reflecting a deep commitment to his art amidst a lack of understanding from spectators.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage in question is from Franz Kaf_ka's short story "A Hunger Artist", and it explores themes of artistic dedication, misunderstanding between the artist and the audience, and the concept of art as a spectacle. The hunger artist's mental stamina is depicted as relentless, as even after 40 days of fasting, which was already an extraordinary feat, he believes he could continue for an unlimited duration. His dismay at being forced to end his fast is not due to physical limitations but rather a lack of understanding and appreciation from the audience. The phrase 'it is the great stimulus, the great stand-by in times of great stress, when the ordeal comes near to breaking a man up' is not from Kaf_ka's story directly but aligns with the protagonist's reliance on his inner determination to persist beyond what is expected or understood by others.