Pan (novel)
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Pan is a 1894 novel by the Norwegian author Knut Hamsun. Written while he lived in Paris, France, and in Kristiansand, Norway, Hamsun was directly influenced by the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky. It remains one of his most famous works today.
Plot summary
The novel begins with Lieutenant Thomas Glahn, a hunter and ex-military man, who lives alone in a hut in the forest with his faithful dog Aesop. Upon meeting Edvarda, the merchant's daughter, he quickly falls in love, but she proves fickle, having affairs with multiple young men in the nearby town. Overwhelmed by rejection, Glahn behaves childishly toward Edvarda and humiliates her friend, the Doctor, whose affection for her has created a love triangle. At the end of the novel, Glahn visits Edvarda for the last time in his fine military uniform; she thus asks for Aesop as something to remember Glahn by. Instead of graciously allowing her to have the dog, he is afraid she will abuse him. Glahn instead shoots Aesop, sending Edvarda the corpse before he sails off for duty.
Symbolism
The changing seasons are reflected in the plot: Edvarda and Glahn fall in love in spring; make love in the summer; and end their relationship autumn.
The contradicting symbols of culture and nature are important in the novel: Glahn belongs to nature, while Edvarda belongs to culture.
Much of what happens between Glahn and Edvarda is foreshadowed by dreams of two lovers experienced by Glahn and the conversations the lovers have.
Epilogue
The Epilogue: Glahn's Death is a number of stories told about Glahn ending with his "accidental" shooting and death. However, this is highly contradictory the most of novel of Pan was written in first person from the perspective a Glahn, and it can be theorized that he wrote this as well. It is said [by whom?] that he faked his own death, simply for the purposes of the novel. Another possible reason for the "death" is that Glahn was ultimately getting back at Edvarda for their failed attempts at love.