In "The Scream", what is the central figure doing with its hands?

In “The Scream,” the central figure is covering its ears with its hands.

The figure stands on a bridge or walkway, pressing both hands against the sides of its head while opening its mouth in a silent-looking cry. This gesture is one reason viewers often interpret the figure as overwhelmed by sound, fear, or psychological distress. Munch’s own account described hearing an “enormous, infinite scream of nature,” making the gesture especially evocative.

The figure is not intended as a realistic portrait of a named person. Its simplified, skull-like face and elongated body turn it into a symbolic image of modern anxiety. Two background figures continue walking, creating a contrast between the central figure’s crisis and the apparent indifference of others.

People sometimes say the figure is holding its head, which is also visually defensible. However, “covering its ears” is the standard quiz answer because the hands are placed directly beside the ears, emphasizing the figure’s attempt to shut out the overwhelming sensation.