Book Cover Analysis for The Metamorphosis

Authors Avatar

        When the painting “Family Picture” by Max Beckmann was chosen as the book cover for The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, one can argue that the selection was adequate.

        First of all one should look at the bland, sad and unanimated expression that the people in the painting posses. This part of the picture clearly attributes and compares to the bland, boring and unanimated life that the Samsa’s go through daily. On the right corner of the painting there is a man holding what appears to be a newspaper. This connects with the constant mention in the novel of people reading the newspaper, for example the father and the roamers.

Join now!

        On the left side of the painting there is a woman in her undergarment contemplating herself in a hand mirror, but the reflection of her face shows that she lacks eye balls. The undergarment is a clear translation into the job that Mrs. Samsa had to get in order to help out with the economic difficulties that the family was going through. Another interpretation that we can make of the undergarment is that it can be interpreted that the lady in it is Greta who is depicted as somewhat promiscuous. What seems to be unclear is the fact that the ...

This is a preview of the whole essay