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= Growth_of_the_Soil =
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Introduction
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'Growth of the Soil' (Norwegian 'Markens Grøde') is a novel by Knut
Hamsun which won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. It follows
the story of a man who settles and lives in rural Norway. First
published in 1917, it has since been translated from Norwegian into
many languages including English. The novel was written in the popular
style of Norwegian new realism, a movement dominating the early 20th
century. The novel exemplified Hamsun's aversion to modernity and
inclination towards primitivism and the agrarian lifestyle. The novel
employed literary techniques new to the time such as stream of
consciousness. Hamsun tended to stress the relationship between his
characters and the natural environment. 'Growth of the Soil' portrays
the protagonist (Isak) and his family as awed by modernity, yet at
times, they come into conflict with it. The novel contains two
sections titled 'Book One' and 'Book Two'. The first book focuses
almost solely on the story of Isak and his family and the second book
starts off by following the plight of Axel and ends mainly focusing on
Isak's family.
Book One
==========
The novel begins by following the story of Isak, a Norwegian man, who
finally settled upon a patch of land which he deemed fit for farming.
He began creating earthen sheds in which he housed several goats
obtained from the village yonder. Isak asked passing by Lapps, nomadic
indigenous people, to tell women that he is in need of help on his
farm. Eventually, a “big, brown-eyed girl, full-built and coarse” with
a harelip named Inger, arrived at the house and settled in. Inger had
her first child which was a son named Eleseus. She then had another
son named Sivert.
The Lensmand Geissler came by their farm one day informing them that
they were on State land and assisted them in purchasing it. They named
the farm Sellanraa. Soon after, Geissler was discharged from his
position as Lensmand after a sharp reprimand from his superior and was
subsequently replaced with Lensmand Heyerdahl. One day while Isak had
left the farm to sell a bull in the village, Inger gave birth to a
child and had killed it upon seeing that it had a harelip and would
undergo the inevitable suffering in life she herself had experienced.
One day, Oline, Inger's relative, visited the farm and figured out
that Inger had killed a child. The news of the infanticide now spread.
One October day, the Lensmand and a man showed up at their doorstep to
investigate and find evidence pertaining to the crime. Oline had
agreed to serve at the farm while Inger was serving her eight-year
sentence in prison.
Geissler returned one day, interested in prospective copper mining
grounds near Sellanraa. Apparently, Geissler did not come to the farm
just for the ore, but he also intended on planning to have Inger
released from prison as soon as possible.
Brede Olsen, the Lensmand's assistant, had now settled on the land
halfway between Sellanraa and the village. The farm of his was named
Breidablik. One day, people came out to mark the route for a telegraph
line that was to run near Isak's farm. Meanwhile, Inger had given
birth to another baby girl, Leopoldine, at the prison. The following
day, Geissler returned to Sellanraa. He first addressed the matter of
the copper tract. He purchased the land for 200 daler from Isak, money
unheard of to him until this day. Geissler also spoke of Inger and how
he submitted a report to the King and the Governor regarding the case
asking for her release. Inger was to be released early. Isak was
stupefied by the generosity of Geissler.
Isak drove down to the village to meet Inger. Great changes had
occurred while Inger was away. No longer had she the harelip but
merely a scar on her face. And now she was with the daughter Isak had
not yet met, Leopoldine. When one of the telegraph engineers stopped
at Isak's house, a job was offered to Eleseus to work under his care
in the village. Eleseus went to work in town.
A new settler arrived in between Sellanraa and Breidablik, his name
was Axel Ström. He named his farm Maaneland. Axel Ström was offered by
Brede to have his daughter Barbro assist him at his place.
Inger once again gave birth to a daughter named Rebecca. When Oline
arrived one day, she told the family that Uncle Sivert, the one who
Sivert was named after, had fallen terribly ill. It was agreed upon
that Sivert was to inherit the big fortune which his uncle was to
leave behind. Eventually, Uncle Sivert died and later, the fortune was
to be determined.
Geissler and a few prospective mining buyers arrived at the farm by
horse one day. Geissler acted as Isak's advocate and sold the section
of Isak's land for four thousand Kroner. Isak marvels at how much
Geissler has assisted him in making money.
News arrived that Breidablik was going to be sold. The real reason
Brede was selling his place was because there were some money issues
associated with the banks and stores at the village, but they made it
seem as though he was selling the place on his own freewill in order
to avoid disgrace.
The last part of Book One tells of Isak obtaining another wonder for
his farm, this time, a mowing machine. He attempts to assemble it but
fails and requires Eleseus’ reading skills to help him fix it. People
from all over assemble to witness this luxury in use.
Book Two
==========
After the officials went through the financial books, it was
discovered to the shock of the family that Uncle Sivert had nothing
left of his fortune.
Isak went to the auction of Breidablik. Axel, to the surprise of
everyone, had purchased the farm. When asked, he said that he was
buying it on someone else's behalf. Meanwhile, Eleseus had left the
farm and headed back to town for a job which was no longer available
for him.
On the third of September, Axel could not find Barbro anywhere. He
searched around and eventually finds her on the banks of a stream. He
wonders what has happened to the child Barbro was pregnant with.
According to her, she had been near the stream collecting juniper
twigs for cleaning buckets when suddenly, she slipped into the river
at the same time she was to give birth. It was too late as the baby
had already succumbed to drowning. Axel went to look for the infant
and found it under a heap of moss and twigs wrapped in a cloth. He ran
home for a shovel to bury the body properly. Axel and Barbro argued as
she continued to claim that the baby drowned when she accidentally
slipped into the water. Barbro, in the heat of the argument, confessed
that she had once killed another baby and threw it off a boat. That
winter, Barbro went to the village to visit the dentist. Axel had no
faith in her returning and as he predicted, she had gone to Bergen,
another large city, to stay.
One day, Axel was going out to the forest to fell some trees when he
sees Brede going up the hill, most likely on an errand to fix
something relating to the telegraph line. Axel started chopping down a
tree when suddenly, his foot slipped into a cleft in a stone and the
tree came crashing down on him. There was a blizzard that day and
night was setting in. Axel struggled for hours trying to free himself
but was not able to reach for the axe lying on the ground to cut his
way out. Axel yelled to Brede hoping that he would be returning from
his errand soon. Surely enough, after a few hours, Brede came by but
simply ignored him pretending that he was unaware of the situation. He
walked on and left Axel to die. When all hope was lost, Oline found
Axel. She freed him and helped him return home. On their way back,
they encountered Brede who claimed that when he encountered Axel on
the ground, he showed no signs of needing help or that anything was
wrong.
The next day, the news reported that there was a new settler arriving
below Maaneland. He was apparently very rich and was going to open a
store at the location. His name was Aronson and he called his place
Storborg. Spring arrived and engineers and workmen from Sweden began
work on the mine. Storborg was prospering with all of these workers
buying things at his trading post. The work on the mine continues but
there was news that the yield of ore was not as good as promised. As
expected, the commotion at the mine started to subside and workers
were being dismissed. Now that the mine had been deemed fruitless, the
engineer wanted to purchase the land south of the water owned by
Geissler. Geissler anticipated that this would happen and so he
offered the land at an exorbitant price showing that he had nothing to
lose if they did not want to buy it.
Eventually, the ordeal with Barbro was discovered and she was arrested
in Bergen, the city where she was staying. Now the time had come for
Barbro and Axel's trial to take place. Amazingly, the Lensmand's wife,
Mrs. Heyerdahl, had stepped up for Barbro by giving a great, eloquent
speech that moved everyone. The jury was obviously affected by this
speech and Barbro and Axel were fully pardoned. Mrs. Heyerdahl had
then gotten Barbro to come work for her.
Meanwhile, Aronsen was furious that Geissler was refusing to sell his
tract of land to the mining company. His trading business depended on
a lot of foot traffic but since there was no more, there were no more
customers. Geissler was taking revenge on the village for removing him
as Lensmand. The entire fate and economy of the district hinged on
whether he would sell the land. Eventually, Aronsen, not able to
handle it anymore, sold his place to Eleseus who decided that he would
become a farmer. Geissler had finally sold his land and the mine was
operational again. Later, Aronsen returned to buy back the farm from
Eleseus but to no avail.
Barbro was evicted from Mrs. Heyerdahl's house after an argument in
which Mrs. Heyerdahl discovered that Barbro was often sneaking out to
celebrations when she was supposed to be working. Mrs. Heyerdahl was
outraged that this was what she got after saving Barbro from the
clutches of the law. Barbro daringly returned to Axel but
unfortunately, Oline had taken her place in the household while she
was away. Oline really does not want to leave the place and asked Axel
to call for the doctor as she was not feeling well one night. She
criticizes them for trying to evict such a poor, ill woman. Oline had
died that night.
When Eleseus returned home, he talked privately with Sivert telling
him his big plans - he was going to start a new life in America.
Sivert was shocked and advised his brother not to go but seeing that
this was futile, he gave him 25 kroner for his journey. Eleseus left
that day on a boat and never came back. What was once barren land is
now rich of settlers, all started from the one pioneer Isak.
Isak
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Isak, the protagonist of the novel, is described as a "strong, coarse
fellow, with a red iron beard, and little scars on face and hands". He
is the first settler on the 'Almenning' near the village. He is the
husband of Inger and father of Eleseus, Sivert, Leopoldine, and
Rebecca. The character of Isak conforms to Hamsun's ideal individual:
hard working, with a large family, and averted to modernity but rather
finding roots with the agrarian lifestyle. Isak is often portrayed as
very simple. He has no education and is unable to read well or write.
Isak is a pioneer of the land, starting a farm and family from
virtually nothing, a trait which Hamsun admired in individuals. There
are several moments when Hamsun reveals Isak's crude and violent side,
such as when he slams his wife Inger to the floor when he finds out
she has been stealing from him. Isak is admired by many, his farm is
very developed compared to his neighbors. He has many sheds, fancy
tools that come as gifts from Geissler and a mining operator, good
land, an advanced irrigation system, and more, which are a significant
cause of this admiration.
Inger
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Inger is Isak's wife. She is described as being "a big, brown-eyed
girl, full built and coarse, with good, heavy hands, and rough hide
brogues on her feet as if she had been a Lapp..." She also had a
harelip. She is the mother of two boys, Eleseus and Sivert; two girls,
Leopoldine and Rebecca; and a fifth child, whom she killed because it
was born with a harelip. She wanted to spare the child the kind of
suffering she knew this defect would bring. People soon realized that
something had happened to her pregnancy, and the body of the child was
discovered buried in the forest. Inger was sentenced to eight years in
prison out of a maximum sentence of life. Prison was a positive
experience for her. She learned how to knit, do various types of
needlework, read, write, and other things. In addition, Inger's
harelip was surgically repaired when she was in prison. Hamsun
described Inger as being quite ugly, unrefined, and unintelligent. She
is always amazed at everything Isak does. Whenever he purchases
something at the village, Inger marvels at it. However, her time in
prison and resulting introduction to modernity cause her to lose her
fervor for Isak's abilities and their simple country life.
Isak's children
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Isak had four children: Eleseus, Sivert, Leopoldine, and Rebecca.
There was also one child that was killed just after birth by Inger.
The eldest child is a boy named Eleseus. He represents the
intellectual of the family. Eleseus was offered a job in the village
by a man where he learned many academic skills which are foreign to
the rest of his family. His parents frequently sent him money which he
would spend frivolously thus angering them. Upon returning home for a
vacation, his position at his former job was lost. While staying at
the farm again, it is evident that Eleseus is weak compared to his
brother and isn't a physical worker. After much consideration, Eleseus
purchased Aronsens' home with Isak's money. He stayed for a while but,
after realizing a general ineptitude for prospering off the land and
being enticed by the grander things in life, set off to America, never
to be seen again. Sivert, the second eldest son, is a strong,
hard-working person. He is similar to his father in terms of strength.
Sivert is named after his uncle who was supposed to leave his nephew
most of his supposedly large fortune, which amounted to nothing at his
death. Leopoldine is one of the daughters which Inger bore while she
was serving her prison sentence for committing infanticide. Rebecca is
the youngest daughter who was born afterwards.
Geissler
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Geissler is the ex-Lensmand of the village. He was a great friend of
Isak and helped him sell his land, release Inger from prison, and give
advice on selling the mine. Geissler was replaced by Lensmand
Heyerdahl after a sharp reprimand from his superior. Isak admired
Geissler and was always excited when he came by. Geissler would often
be doing big business with other people and travelling but, towards
the end of the novel, he appears worn out and in ill health. As the
plot progresses, Geissler becomes antagonistic, as his personal
business begins negatively affecting the lives and businesses of the
township.
Isak's neighbours
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Isak's neighbours are Brede Olsen, Aronsen, Axel Strom and Barbro. The
first neighbour to settle near Isak was Brede Olsen of the farm
Breidablik. He was scatterbrained and unable to look after a farm
properly. Evidence of neglect of Brede's tools were seen as Isak
passed by his farm to go to the village. Brede's place was eventually
sold because of outstanding charges with the banks in the villages.
They allowed Brede to make it seem like he was selling Breidablik out
of his own will to avoid unnecessary embarrassment. Breidablik was
purchased by Axel Strom who bought it for his brother. Axel Strom was
the owner of Maaneland. He was not as proficient at farming as Isak
was but received help from Barbro, Brede's daughter, who went to work
for him. Aronsen was another very rich settler who set up a store in
order to make profit from the many miners who would be in the area
working on the mine near Sellanraa (Isak's farm). His place was named
Storborg. Seeing that there was no more business as they were leaving
due to a failure of yield, Aronsen sold his place to Eleseus, Isak's
son.
Major themes
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Hamsun's protagonists were often outcasts and vagabonds that opposed
civilization, industrialization, and modernisation. These rootless
individuals who distrusted organized society were a reflection of
Hamsun himself. The novel “Growth of the Soil” expresses
back-to-nature, old-school philosophies, and peasant life. His works
set simple agrarian values against those of industrial society,
showing a deep aversion to civilization proving that people's
fulfillment lies with the soil. The novel showed Hamsun's favour of
primitivism and aversion to modernity. He opposed naturalism and
realism and wanted “modern literature to represent the complex
intricacies of human mind”. Hamsun believed that the true nature of an
individual could only be revealed through a subjective and irrational
approach. Hamsun's political beliefs and ideologies were often
expressed in his books, especially Growth of the Soil.
The character 'Isak' conforms to Hamsun's vision of an ideal
individual. He has little connection with industrialized society or
modernity, and when he does, it usually is in a negative light. For
example, when he was informed that he was needing to purchase the
farms land from the State, Isak was confused as this had never crossed
his mind. Luckily for him, the cost was mild thanks to Lensmand
Geissler's generosity. Isak was a pioneer of the soil, he started with
nothing and built a great farm out of it. The theme of hard work
yielding results was evident throughout the book with Isak as an
example.
Style
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The novel is written in the style of Norwegian new realism, a literary
movement which was used in Hamsun's later novels. This style was
common during the first half of the 20th century in Norwegian
literature. Hamsun utilized techniques fairly new to the time such as
stream of consciousness or interior monologue.
Reception
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'Growth of the Soil' is regarded as a historical classic. It has been
acclaimed by many and won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1920.
Hamsun's support of the German occupation of Norway has drawn much
controversy. Subsequently, many refuse to acknowledge his success as
a writer. William Worster, in an afterword to his 1920 translation of
'Growth of the Soil', describes the novel as follows:
Film adaptation
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'Growth of the Soil' is a 1921 Norwegian silent film based on Hamsun's
'Growth of the Soil' by the Norrøna Film company with an orchestral
accompaniment composed by Leif Halvorsen. It was directed by Gunnar
Sommerfeldt who also wrote the script and played the role of Lensmand
Geissler. The original film was 107 minutes long and cost about
240,000 kroner to make, a very considerable sum of money at the time.
It was filmed in Rana Municipality, Norway. The film cast stars Amund
Rydland as Isak, Karen Poulsen as Inger, and Ragna Wettergreen as
Oline (Inger's relative). The chief photographer was George
Schnéevoigt.
Nobel Prize
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The novel 'Growth of the Soil' was awarded the Nobel Prize for
Literature in 1920. This is Hamsun's speech at the Nobel Banquet at
Grand Hôtel, Stockholm, December 10, 1920 (translated to English):
External links
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*
* 'Growth of the Soil' (1921)
[
https://archive.org/details/growthsoil00hamsgoog Book I],
[
https://archive.org/details/growthsoil00worsgoog Book II] at the
Internet Archive
*
*
License
=========
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License URL:
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Original Article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growth_of_the_Soil
