# Isak — Growth of the Soil character guide > Isak in Growth of the Soil by Knut Hamsun. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Isak Sellanraa, III Isak, That Isak, Sellanraa, XI Isak, XIX Isak **First appearance:** 0000-book-i ## Snapshot A silent, ox-strong settler who breaks ground in the Norwegian wilds, measuring his worth in cleared soil and the buildings he raises from it. ## Who they are Isak is the founding figure of Sellanraa, a man who walks out before dawn and returns after dark, heaving stones and ditching bog with a patience that looks like prayer. His deepest tension is between the wilderness he loves as it is and the tilled, ordered ground he keeps imagining — a piece of soil is 'like right and order to his mind.' His wordless labor and his willingness to take the long view make him the moral center of the early settlement, the standard against which the traders, officials, and restless children are quietly measured. ## Relationships ### [Inger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/inger) _family_ Husband and wife, partners in building a life on the farm, bound by deep mutual reliance and affection. ### [Geissler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/geissler) _friendship_ A benefactor and ally, Geissler admires Isak's steadfastness and helps him secure land and resources. ### [Oline](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/oline) _psychological_ Oline is a manipulative gossip who constantly schemes against Isak and his household, causing trouble. ### [Eleseus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/eleseus) _family_ Father and son, with tension arising from Eleseus's rejection of the farming life Isak holds sacred. ### [Sivert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/sivert) _family_ Father and son who share a deep, unspoken understanding and mutual respect for the land and hard work. ### [Brede Olsen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/brede_olsen) _rivalry_ Brede envies Isak's success and tries to compete for land, but his laziness makes him a weak opponent. ### [Barbro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/barbro) _social_ Distant acquaintances; Barbro briefly works near Isak's farm but has little direct interaction with him. ### [Inger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/inger) _family_ Husband and wife, partners in building a life on the farm, bound by deep mutual reliance and affection. ### [Inger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/inger) _family_ Husband and wife, partners in building a life on the farm, bound by deep mutual reliance and affection. ### [Geissler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/geissler) _friendship_ A benefactor and ally, Geissler admires Isak's steadfastness and helps him secure land and resources. ### [Eleseus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/eleseus) _family_ Father and son, with tension arising from Eleseus's rejection of the farming life Isak holds sacred. ### [Oline](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/oline) _psychological_ Oline is a manipulative gossip who constantly schemes against Isak and his household, causing trouble. ## In the story ### [Book I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/book-i) Main protagonist; arrives in wilderness, builds farm, marries Inger, fathers children. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/i) The protagonist, a rugged and solitary man who travels north to settle in the wilderness. He builds a hut, acquires goats, and begins farming. He is strong, silent, and resourceful, and later welcomes Inger as his wife. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/ii) Works alone, builds a new house, and is deeply affected by Inger's absence and return. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/iii) Works tirelessly clearing land, cutting logs, trading for goods, and sowing corn; shows deep attachment to his family and farm. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/iv) Works tirelessly to build a shed, procure goods, and manage the farm despite drought; shows practical care for his family. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/v) Isak is patient through the bad year and works the land. He is anxious but cooperative when Geissler arrives to survey and price his farm. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/vi) Works on building and land, feels neglected by Inger's lack of praise, but is buoyed by Oline's flattery. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/vii) Isak works tirelessly on the farm, completes the barn, and tries to support Inger after her crime. He considers seeking Geissler's help. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/viii) Isak returns home from the village, troubled by Inger's absence and Geissler's uncertain return. He shows patience and gentleness, filling gaps in the storehouse wall to free trapped birds, hoping it might hasten Inger's return. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/ix) Teaches his sons practical skills, reads Inger's letter aloud, refuses the telegraph linesman job to focus on farming, and confronts Oline about the missing goat. ### [Geissler's Visit and Inger's Freedom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/x) Isak sells a copper mine tract to Geissler, receives news of Inger's pardon, and prepares for her return by painting buildings and working the land. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xi) Shaves his beard to look younger, meets Inger at the dock, and proudly shows off the farm's improvements. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xii) Works on the sawmill with his sons, feels tired, and struggles with Inger's changed attitude. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xiii) Buys Inger a gold ring, discovers her with a telegraph hand in the woods, struggles with jealousy but ultimately shows restraint by returning the worker's bundle to the barn. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xiv) Struggles with Inger's changed behavior, confronts her about stealing money, and builds a boat with Sivert. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xv) Humbled after his harsh grip on Inger; steadfast in his natural place on the soil; welcomes Geissler and shows him the sawmill. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xvi) Takes charge as head of the house, hires Jensine, sends a telegram to Eleseus, plans to build a new house, and chooses the name Rebecca for his daughter. ### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xvii) Agrees to let Geissler handle the sale of his share in the copper mine. ### [Chapter XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xix) Returns from the village with a new horse and a mowing-machine, which he hides and tests himself. He is proud and secretive about the machine, and later reveals it to his sons. ### [Book II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/book-ii) Continues to build and expand Sellanraa, working the land and raising livestock. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/i) Attends the auction at Breidablik, shows restraint and patience regarding Oline's gossip, and gives Eleseus money as he departs. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as the boldest and wisest settler, having ventured farthest by settling at Sellanraa. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/iv) Sells planks and supplies to the mine engineers, and slowly loses connection with Eleseus. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/v) Returns from fetching a forge, anxious to host Geissler properly, and marvels at the new hayrake. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/vi) Isak shows his steady, forgiving nature by comforting Inger without knowing her specific troubles, and later contemplates buying Aronsen's place for Eleseus. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/viii) Isak initially refuses to buy Storborg but later considers it after Eleseus returns home. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/ix) Feels the pride of being the first pioneer but struggles with aging and declining strength; begins clearing ground for a new house. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xi) Drives down to the village to fetch Jensine back to Sellanraa, showing his practical concern for the farm's needs. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/chapters/xii) Mentioned as having built a new house and as the kind of man the country needs; his farming is held up as an ideal by Geissler. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters/isak - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/growth_of_the_soil_se/characters