THE CROSS IN THE LITERARY AND ARTISTIC WORK OF GÜNTER GRASS

Abstract

The cross motif occupies a central position within Grass’s creative production, both in his literature and in his graphic work. Grass’s representation of the crucifixion can be related to the interpretation which Luther had already given. He regarded it as the result of the struggle between the opposing world powers, the good and the evil, through which Jesus sacrificed himself for the sake of mankind. Grass takes it to a more radical extent: he portrays this fact as mankind, along with the whole creation, bringing about its own end. We reproduce in this paper several illustrations of the cross motif by the German author, as well as quotations from his novels in which it takes a central position. This has been made possible through the collaboration with Jan Menkens (‘Verlag Steidl’), and Hilke Ohsoling (‘Günter und Ute Grass Stiftung’).