Pregnancy

The servant’s pregnancy symbolizes social embarrassment. After Karl has a sexual relationship with a female servant, the servant becomes pregnant by him. Karl’s parents then send him to America, presumably out of a sense of social shame.

Photograph

Karl’s photograph of his parents symbolizes his estrangement from his home and family. After he is sent to America, his only tangible reminder of home is a photograph of his parents. He loses the photograph to Delamarche and Robinson, and this loss reinforces Karl’s estrangement.

Letter from Jacob

The letter from Uncle Jacob to Karl symbolizes abandonment. After Karl accepts an invitation to visit the country house of Mr. Pollunder, Jacob becomes suddenly and inexplicably angry. Jacob then sends a letter to Karl, and in the letter, Jacob disowns Karl and tells him to never contact him again.

Trunk

Karl’s trunk symbolizes the...