Dürrenmatt

What is something that is given value that runs the world? Money. It is something that many people strive for in which it corrupts them or allows them to take unethical measures for it. This is observed in Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s, The Visit. Dürrenmatt wrote his play during a time where immorality showed the most: after World War II and during the Cold War. In The Visit, playwright Friedrich Dürrenmatt uses the immorality of the citizens of Güllen to represent societies worldwide. He shows this through Claire’s actions, the corruptness of authoritative figures, and the townspeople’s actions. Dürrenmatt uses the townspeople’s actions to parallel the immoralities that people in societies worldwide have. People lust over money because money

The citizens all know that Alfred Ill will die eventually without knowing who will perform the murder, which is how the author shows that people in the real world are similar: people do not do things they are not directly responsible for. Another issue is people will go along with what will benefit them. In the case of the citizens of Güllen, they are letting Alfred Ill die for his money. The author also shows how people in societies worldwide make selfish decisions based on what solely benefits them and not others through the actions of the townspeople of Güllen. When Claire Zachanassian first introduces her bribe, the town of Güllen claims that they would not kill Alfred Ill. “‘Mrs. Zachanassian, we are still in Europe; we’re not savages yet. In the name of the town of Güllen I reject your offer’” (35). This quote is said by the mayor, but is expressed by all of the townspeople. Later in the novel, when the bribe is called upon the town to decide again, the town reacts in support for killing Alfred Ill. The townspeople exclaim that they are doing so in justice for Claire when they never claim anything of the

People tend to listen to authoritative figures without questioning, which is problematic if the person in authority does questionable actions. In the case of the doctor, he claims a false autopsy by announcing, “ ‘heart attack.’ ” (109), while the mayor says, “ ‘died of joy’ ” (109), so that the media would not interpret the town of Güllen negatively. When the town decides upon choosing justice for Claire, most of the townspeople and the journalists leave the building. Alfred Ill, and some of the authoritative figures stay and kill Alfred Ill. The journalists come back in and the doctor claims it was a heart attack, while the mayor continues the lie. This shows how authoritative figures get involved in conspiracies to benefit themselves and portray themselves in good light, so that controversy does not arise. This happens in real life, mostly in politics and in business. Authoritative figures also tend to partake in wrongful actions, such as briberies. It can be seen with this following quote: “ ‘But wouldn’t it be your duty, as a man of honor, to face the facts and put an end to your life? If only for the sake of the community, out of love for your hometown’ ” (89). The mayor tries to persuade Alfred Ill to kill himself by saying it’s something a man of honor would do and by saying it is for the better good. When Alfred Ill claims that