Hunger Criticism
Hunger (1890), by Norwegian author Knut Hamsun, is a seminal work in modern literature, often celebrated for its psychological depth and innovative narrative style. The novel, which is partly autobiographical, follows a struggling writer in Christiania (now Oslo) as he grapples with poverty and existential despair, reflecting Hamsun's own early hardships and quest for literary recognition. As noted by Stagg, Hamsun's writing is both powerful and vivid, making Hunger a distinguished example of the psychological novel and an early adopter of the stream-of-consciousness technique, a style later popularized by authors like James Joyce.
The novel's narrative is characterized by its lack of plot and traditional character development, focusing instead on the inner turmoil of the unnamed protagonist. This introspective approach, highlighted by Paul Auster, marks a shift from the social realism prevalent in 19th-century Scandinavian literature towards a more existential exploration of the human condition. Hamsun's protagonist, resembling a Dostoevskian hero, battles physical and mental degradation, emphasizing the psychological effects of hunger as he seeks artistic purity amidst adversity.
Critics like Riechel point to Hamsun's use of ambiguity and contradiction to achieve narrative effects, while Sandberg suggests that the novel, though highly subjective, also engages with the public world of news and economics. The novel's existential themes are further elaborated by Axelrod, who examines the themes of movement and change within the narrative.
Upon its release, Hunger received significant acclaim, establishing Hamsun as a vital voice in Norwegian literature. As asserted by Ferguson, the novel’s focus on the interiority of the human mind was groundbreaking, presenting consciousness itself as the central hero. This pioneering work laid the groundwork for the neo-romantic movement in Scandinavia and remains a critical study of personal and artistic survival against the odds, as explored by Coles.
Contents
- Principal Works
-
Essays
-
Review of Hunger
(summary)
In the following review of Hunger, Stagg lauds Hamsun's powerful and vivid writing style.
-
Knut Hamsun: The Beginning and the End
(summary)
In the following essay, Coles summarizes the major action and themes in Hunger, concluding with a short history of Hamsun's literary career and political struggles.
-
1888-1890: The Breakthrough: Hunger
(summary)
In the following essay, Ferguson creates an outline of events in Hamsun's life immediately preceding the publication of Hunger, including several anecdotes about Hamsun's relationships with other writers during this time.
-
Knut Hamsun's ‘Imp of the Perverse’: Calculation and Contradiction in Sult and Mysterier
(summary)
In the following essay, Riechel studies two of Hamsun's early novels, noting that the narrative effects in both Hunger and Mysteries are achieved from a combination of ambiguity, irony, and self-contradiction.
-
The Art of Hunger
(summary)
In the following essay, Auster offers a thematic analysis of Hunger, characterizing the work as a pioneering text about artistic achievement.
-
Writing on the Wall: The Language of Advertising in Knut Hamsun's Sult
(summary)
In the following essay, Sandberg proposes that although Hunger is often regarded as a subjective novel of private literary expression, it is equally valid as a text that links itself, via its language, to the public world of news, economics, and advertising.
-
The Poetics of Peripatetics and Peripety in Hamsun's Hunger
(summary)
In the following essay, Axelrod examines the use of space, travel, movement, and change in Hunger.
-
Review of Hunger
(summary)
- Further Reading