The Mutation of Morality into a Commodity in the Visit
The play the visit is a thrilling tale of a corrupt town anIn the play The Visit by Friedrich Durrenmatt, the motif of justice is mutated into a commodity instead of defined as a moral standard, this is shown through foreshadowing, symbolism and the evolving actions of the characters throughout the three acts. Claire Zachanassian uses her wealth to act as a diety over a small struggling town, she makes them an offer that is hard to decline and as a society their morals are tested, we see the materialistic greed of humans and the corruption that can be caused by prosperity.
Durrenmatt gives us a look at Claire Zachanassian who comes to the town of Gullen seeking reveng on her ex-lover Alfred Ill, In fact she plans to buy her way to justice, in the beginning of the play, when she explains to the People of Gullen the real reason she has come, “ I can afford justice, one billion for Gullen, if someone killls Alfred Ill ” (35). Durrenmatt shows his use of the character Claire to show what people can buy in such a materialistic society as the one we live in. Everything Claire does throughout the play is specifically to enact revenge on her …show more content…
In the play, upon Claires visit she brings with her a black panther in a cage, which is used to symbolize Ill, in the play Claire even calls Ill her, “black panther” (20). It is as though Ill already belongs to Claire, before the town even agrees to the deal. Right after the deal is announced, the panther escapes and is shot and killed right before Ills store which foreshadows Ills certain demise. Claire knows the panther will be killed which is observed by her emotionless reactions to the animals death. She wants Ill to know she has the power to buy his life. Claire was powerless for so many years and had
The play the visit is a thrilling tale of a corrupt town anIn the play The Visit by Friedrich Durrenmatt, the motif of justice is mutated into a commodity instead of defined as a moral standard, this is shown through foreshadowing, symbolism and the evolving actions of the characters throughout the three acts. Claire Zachanassian uses her wealth to act as a diety over a small struggling town, she makes them an offer that is hard to decline and as a society their morals are tested, we see the materialistic greed of humans and the corruption that can be caused by prosperity.
Durrenmatt gives us a look at Claire Zachanassian who comes to the town of Gullen seeking reveng on her ex-lover Alfred Ill, In fact she plans to buy her way to justice, in the beginning of the play, when she explains to the People of Gullen the real reason she has come, “ I can afford justice, one billion for Gullen, if someone killls Alfred Ill ” (35). Durrenmatt shows his use of the character Claire to show what people can buy in such a materialistic society as the one we live in. Everything Claire does throughout the play is specifically to enact revenge on her …show more content…
In the play, upon Claires visit she brings with her a black panther in a cage, which is used to symbolize Ill, in the play Claire even calls Ill her, “black panther” (20). It is as though Ill already belongs to Claire, before the town even agrees to the deal. Right after the deal is announced, the panther escapes and is shot and killed right before Ills store which foreshadows Ills certain demise. Claire knows the panther will be killed which is observed by her emotionless reactions to the animals death. She wants Ill to know she has the power to buy his life. Claire was powerless for so many years and had