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A review by sidharthvardhan
Hunger by Knut Hamsun
5.0
The whisper of Blood
Knut Hamssun, the receiver of Nobel Prize for literature in 1920 for his novel 'Growth of Soil' have remarked that literature should try to study the working of human mind - "whisper of the blood, and the pleading of the bone marrow".
His novel 'Hunger' is based on personal experiences from days when he was suffering high financial crisis and had to go at stteches of days with out food.
The first person narration brings you his extreme moodiness during those days,he starts having crazy ideas and hauliciations. He would curse god, do strange things. It was a wonder he could actually hold on to morality to the extent he did. Hunger can easily screw anyone's idea of honour. He never even begged.
But not everyone will have strength. I personally won't and I'm not even now sure that it is a crime for a starving person to steal, is it? Most of us never were hungry for such long time. People will eat something even when they fast (I'm cooking as I write).Though it could be greatly educative experience to force starvation on oneself for some days - specially for politicians and moralists. Then most of what we have, is inherited (atleast educational opportunities),then are we worthier than a starving person, who didn't have such luck, Of food we eat? If not, than isn't the thief for food just takng his right.
The past tense shows that narrator has survived the worst, the small love affair probably had a role. Though there is no denying of his moral strength. The novel ends with narrator undertaking a sea journey as a sailor. The novel was published soon after author's return from similar journey.
A very simple book and a greatly experimental work given the time it was written in. Its use of interior monologuas are beautiful. The author is known to be a great inspiration on big guys such as Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka, Hermann Hesse, and Ernest Hemingway.
Knut Hamssun, the receiver of Nobel Prize for literature in 1920 for his novel 'Growth of Soil' have remarked that literature should try to study the working of human mind - "whisper of the blood, and the pleading of the bone marrow".
His novel 'Hunger' is based on personal experiences from days when he was suffering high financial crisis and had to go at stteches of days with out food.
The first person narration brings you his extreme moodiness during those days,he starts having crazy ideas and hauliciations. He would curse god, do strange things. It was a wonder he could actually hold on to morality to the extent he did. Hunger can easily screw anyone's idea of honour. He never even begged.
But not everyone will have strength. I personally won't and I'm not even now sure that it is a crime for a starving person to steal, is it? Most of us never were hungry for such long time. People will eat something even when they fast (I'm cooking as I write).Though it could be greatly educative experience to force starvation on oneself for some days - specially for politicians and moralists. Then most of what we have, is inherited (atleast educational opportunities),then are we worthier than a starving person, who didn't have such luck, Of food we eat? If not, than isn't the thief for food just takng his right.
The past tense shows that narrator has survived the worst, the small love affair probably had a role. Though there is no denying of his moral strength. The novel ends with narrator undertaking a sea journey as a sailor. The novel was published soon after author's return from similar journey.
A very simple book and a greatly experimental work given the time it was written in. Its use of interior monologuas are beautiful. The author is known to be a great inspiration on big guys such as Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka, Hermann Hesse, and Ernest Hemingway.