Durrenmatt

In the face of vulnerability, Claire Zachanassian is portrayed as a powerful figure through descriptions of wealth and reputation. She establishes hope for restorative measures in the decaying town of Guellen. However, the citizens are left with an ultimatum. In exchange for the economic prosperity of Guellen, she desires the end of Alfred Ill’s life. Capitalism is defined as a “an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market” (Merriam-Webster). Her stance on the citizens of Guellen is representative of a capitalistic power hold, similar to a government style used during the time of Post-WWII. As citizens observe the town’s continuous vulnerability to economic decay, they are tempted by Zachanassian’s promising offer. Throughout the entirety of The Visit, objects and situations expressed in each act allude to some aspect of Capitalism. Durrenmatt expresses the role of Capitalism in The Visit through …show more content…
These ideas recur throughout the contextual and cultural background provided by the interactive oral. The contextual information that represent the authority of a political and economic system, reflects off the cultural considerations during Durrenmatt’s time. During the Mid-1900’s, Post WWII Europe’s historical significance with the emergence of Capitalism is integrated in Durrenmatt’s diction. Similarly to The Visit, this can lead to the interpretation that in Post-WWII, Capitalism’s adherence to the vulnerability of the citizens and victims of WWII transformed as a period of “economic prosperity”. As the downfall of Ill’s character represents the destruction of previous democracies or authoritative structures, reflective of