James Wood's Knut Hamsun's Christian Perversions clearly defined some of the central ideas of Hamsun's Hunger. One thing Wood describes is how Hamsun criticizes society: on page 94, Wood states "the outrageous and mendacious hero strops his dangerous individuality against the leathery norms of the community". I think this applies quite well to Hunger, as the protagonist is clearly different from the "norm". In another novel, Mysteries, society is described as gullible, mechanical, habitual, and meaningless: this is similar to Hunger as the protagonist sometimes tries to do what he thinks is right (like giving away money, being respectable, and showing his intelligence and gentleman-ness) yet never gains any respect or benefit from doing what society deems as 'good'. I think Ylayali could perhaps represent this idea as well, as she flirts with the protagonist and seems to truly like him- yet when he tells her she has no money and is probably crazy, he finds her on the arm of another man. Later on, Wood states how the protagonists "cast themselves out... on the enormous centrifuge of their own pride". Pride plays a great deal in the actions of the protagonist. This stresses the idea that the protagonist himself causes what is happening to him, and not anyone else who he feels compelled to blame. These things could emphasize in fact how much of society live their lives. Although the protagonist seems so much like an outcast, instead he might in reality represent the people who merely follow society's rules: how people try so hard to do what they are told and yet are pushed down and scorned by the very thing they are trying so hard to be. Because we view the protagonist as somewhat of a lunatic, we could as well look at society as being crazy and pointless as well.
All of these ideas, however, could also fall under the category of criticism of Christianity. Looking at christian ideals, it does seem as if the protagonist follows the rules and again is always worse off than before. Wood points out how the Christian system of "reward and punishment, confession and absolution, pride and humility" crop up in the protagonist's actions. There are two ways of looking at "Hamsun's Christian Perversions". The first way, the protagonist tries to do what Christian rules tell him to do, like giving away his money, and yet it is shown to the reader how ridiculous that is, despite the fact that they seem to follow under Christianity's ideals. Nothing good seems to come of a good act, and if anything does occur it is almost always something negative: thus, Christianity is wrong. The second, that Christianity is limited and incorrect to put things into "good" and "evil" boxes without having any gray areas. This is revealed as the protagonist always reaches in his pocket to give something those who need it, only to remember that he has nothing either, and his pride diminishes. Wood says that the protagonist "is trapped in his restless tilting between pride and humility". Although the protagonist does Christian things, and tries to give charity, he does so because of his pride, and wanting to look good in others' eyes. Charity cannot be either 'good' or 'bad': it can be both. Charity can be because one truly feels for those worse off and a desire to help, but it is also done to make oneself feel better only- to seem what society says is nice, or to show that one has money.
Wood continues on to parallel Hamsun's novels with his ideas on Christianity. What I found really interesting is how similar Hamsun is to the characters in his books. As I read about the connections to Christianity, I realized that these criticisms could be applied just about to any religion- or even, any moral judgments. This is why Hamsun's own story is key to understanding his idea of Christianity. Although Hamsun does not believe in any god, his own personal history contains Christianity. Wood states how "Hamsun's formative experience of Christianity was a system of punishment and reward", and continues on to describe the beatings and enforcement of the bible. This explains his hatred of Christianity. It is not only religion and the ideas of god that both the protagonist and author share: it is the entire personality. Of course a bit of the author always appears in the characters in their novels- but here it seems the similarities are more than most. On page 95 it is said "He was ... hysterical, skittish, often rudely eccentric. A friend said that he 'repelled many because of his eccentricities. He could of course conduct himself in an extremely refined and considerate fashion when he wished to; but his behavior could also on occasion arouse contempt'". If one looks at just about any passage from Hunger, one will find that this description could very well apply to the protagonist. We as readers have seen the main character act proper and intelligently, yet rapidly deteriorate into a madman following women telling them that "they are losing their books" when it is clear they have none. Whatever these central ideas may mean or try and criticize, I am not sure how either criticizing society or religion apply to the ending of the novel: where the protagonist gets on the ship to leave Kristiania.
One thing is definitely true that Wood states: they are not knowable and the fact that they resist this knowability makes them that much harder to comprehend. "Monsters of self-consciousness, they are also damaged heroes of selfhood, painfully assembling and disassembling an individuality so extreme that it is uncontainable".
All of these ideas, however, could also fall under the category of criticism of Christianity. Looking at christian ideals, it does seem as if the protagonist follows the rules and again is always worse off than before. Wood points out how the Christian system of "reward and punishment, confession and absolution, pride and humility" crop up in the protagonist's actions. There are two ways of looking at "Hamsun's Christian Perversions". The first way, the protagonist tries to do what Christian rules tell him to do, like giving away his money, and yet it is shown to the reader how ridiculous that is, despite the fact that they seem to follow under Christianity's ideals. Nothing good seems to come of a good act, and if anything does occur it is almost always something negative: thus, Christianity is wrong. The second, that Christianity is limited and incorrect to put things into "good" and "evil" boxes without having any gray areas. This is revealed as the protagonist always reaches in his pocket to give something those who need it, only to remember that he has nothing either, and his pride diminishes. Wood says that the protagonist "is trapped in his restless tilting between pride and humility". Although the protagonist does Christian things, and tries to give charity, he does so because of his pride, and wanting to look good in others' eyes. Charity cannot be either 'good' or 'bad': it can be both. Charity can be because one truly feels for those worse off and a desire to help, but it is also done to make oneself feel better only- to seem what society says is nice, or to show that one has money.
Wood continues on to parallel Hamsun's novels with his ideas on Christianity. What I found really interesting is how similar Hamsun is to the characters in his books. As I read about the connections to Christianity, I realized that these criticisms could be applied just about to any religion- or even, any moral judgments. This is why Hamsun's own story is key to understanding his idea of Christianity. Although Hamsun does not believe in any god, his own personal history contains Christianity. Wood states how "Hamsun's formative experience of Christianity was a system of punishment and reward", and continues on to describe the beatings and enforcement of the bible. This explains his hatred of Christianity. It is not only religion and the ideas of god that both the protagonist and author share: it is the entire personality. Of course a bit of the author always appears in the characters in their novels- but here it seems the similarities are more than most. On page 95 it is said "He was ... hysterical, skittish, often rudely eccentric. A friend said that he 'repelled many because of his eccentricities. He could of course conduct himself in an extremely refined and considerate fashion when he wished to; but his behavior could also on occasion arouse contempt'". If one looks at just about any passage from Hunger, one will find that this description could very well apply to the protagonist. We as readers have seen the main character act proper and intelligently, yet rapidly deteriorate into a madman following women telling them that "they are losing their books" when it is clear they have none. Whatever these central ideas may mean or try and criticize, I am not sure how either criticizing society or religion apply to the ending of the novel: where the protagonist gets on the ship to leave Kristiania.
One thing is definitely true that Wood states: they are not knowable and the fact that they resist this knowability makes them that much harder to comprehend. "Monsters of self-consciousness, they are also damaged heroes of selfhood, painfully assembling and disassembling an individuality so extreme that it is uncontainable".
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