Performed in 1956, Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s tragicomedy, The Visit, fixates on a poverty-stricken town, Güllen, in need of financial salvation. When that comes in the form of Claire Zacchanassian, a previous resident of the town, the town is saved. However, Claire comes to Güllen demanding justice and her money allows herself to command the town to her will. Claire associates her end goal with justice as well as vengeance. In the case of The Visit, Claire Zacchanassian's notions of vengeance and justice are blurred as she attempts to right those who wronged her. When they were young, Alfred Ill wronged Claire, and when Claire comes back to Güllen, she desires both vengeance and justice for Ill’s actions. Ill had impregnated Claire and they went to court. Ill denied paternity, “You denied paternity, Mr. Ill” (Dürrenmatt 32), and bribed Walter Perch and Jakob Duckling to lie and say they slept with Claire, “Ill bribed us, Ill bribed us” (Dürrenmatt 33). Ill’s decision to lie influences Claire’s path to prostitution. Thus, when Claire comes back to Güllen, she is demanding justice. Her justice comes in the form of Ill’s death. Claire offers the
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She effectively attains both justice and vengeance in the death of Ill, the servitude of Koby and Loby, the payout of Boby and Güllen’s justice system, the corruption of the townspeople, and her several husbands. According to Claire, there is no difference between justice and vengeance when she has the money to obtain both. Typically, justice is viewed as just from both sides while vengeance is the desire for revenge against someone who has wronged another. However, these notions of justice and vengeance are blurred as Claire tries to change her past by destroying those who ruined it. Thus, Dürrenmatt utilizes Claire’s character in The Visit to illustrate the consequences and dangerous actions of someone who believes justice and vengeance are one and the
She effectively attains both justice and vengeance in the death of Ill, the servitude of Koby and Loby, the payout of Boby and Güllen’s justice system, the corruption of the townspeople, and her several husbands. According to Claire, there is no difference between justice and vengeance when she has the money to obtain both. Typically, justice is viewed as just from both sides while vengeance is the desire for revenge against someone who has wronged another. However, these notions of justice and vengeance are blurred as Claire tries to change her past by destroying those who ruined it. Thus, Dürrenmatt utilizes Claire’s character in The Visit to illustrate the consequences and dangerous actions of someone who believes justice and vengeance are one and the