In The Visit by Friedrich Durrenmatt, the use of allusions is very prevalent helping to compare the extent to what Durrenmatt is describing to its allusions. Durrenmatt’s implementation of allusions is used to offer a deeper understanding of the characterization, to compare the current town of Guellen to what it once was in order to explain why the town needs Claire’s money, and to show the irony of biblical ideas in order to show how Claire’s doings are as far from morally right as could be. Friedrich Durrenmatt's use of allusions in order to enhance and describe the characters include the famous Romeo and Juliet, Lais, and Lord Alfred Tennyson. Durrenmatt uses these people in particular to help characterize Claire Zachanassian and Alfred Ill. Durrenmatt first alludes to Lais on page 27. “That conspicuous consumption of husbands; she’s a second Lais.” (Durrenmatt 27) Lais was a prostitute for nobles; she was very attractive and wealthy. Durrenmatt uses Lais to describe Claire and emphasize how Claire had to become a prostitute when she left Guellen and yet, came back still beautiful and wealthy. Durrenmatt uses this characterization to show that she was scorned by love, she scorned other, having nine husbands. We learn later that Claire herself says, “The world turned me into a whore. I shall turn the world into a brothel.” (67) This again alludes to her sexual services, which were bought and she knows through this anything can be bought. To erase this past she wants to erase the beginning of it by killing Ill, and money can do just that. Not only is Lais used to characterize a major character of the play, but also Lord Alfred Tennyson can be used to describe Ill. “Atmosphere like Tennyson” (83) was mentioned by Ill’s Daughter.... ... middle of paper ... ...well.” (89) it is ironic because it alluded to Ill and how his life will end soon as well. It is also ironic in the sense that it is the last song Ill listens to and how he will go Home Sweet Home to heaven after he is killed. Durrenmatt’s use of irony helps show Claire’s evil desire to send Ill to his death. Durrenmatt uses many allusions in The Visit in which its connections sheds so much more light on the play and helps to emphasize even the smallest aspects of it. Durrenmatt’s implementation of allusions to describe characters at a deeper lever, compare events in Guellen to its contrasting Westernized culture and show the irony of what Claire does to what others say, helps us understand The Visit at a much deeper level and far more interesting way. Works Cited Dürrenmatt, Friedrich. The Visit. Trans. Patrick Bowles. New York: Grove Press, 1956.
In literature, insights into characters, places, and events are often communicated to the reader by symbolic references within the text. This is the case in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. In this Medieval romance, the colors and textures of fabrics and jewelry are used heavily by the poet not only as a descriptive tool, but also to give the reader information about the characters’ personalities and roles within the story.
Poe uses irony in his story to engage the reader throughout his text, build suspense and create tension. Poe’s story uses information that readers already know and consequently uses irony in order to sustain the readers interest. He uses dramatic irony, since Fortunato is unaware that Montresor attempts to kill him, but the readers know that he will. Montresor reveals early that he is seeking revenge on Fortunato, therefore, when Montresor expresses concern about Fortunato’s health in line 36, "Come," I said, with decision, "we will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as once I was. You are a man to be missed. For me it is no matter. We will go back; you will be ill, and I cannot be responsible. (36), the reader already knows his plan. He is just trying to trick him into believing him that he cares about him to gain his trust. He also uses verbal irony, "Enough," he said; "the cough's a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough.” (Poe37), but Fortunato already knows how he will die later on. This example illustrates how vague Fortunato is and has no clue of Montresor’s evil intentions. The situational irony Poe uses in the story is when Montresor kills Fortunato and walks out of the catacombs. Montresor says, “my heart grew sick; it was the
It is ironic in the sense that her shortest lines in the poem contradict each other. She discussed the letter in the mail, and then discussed the phone she is using and how she needs to put it down. The sentence “I had the idea” also adds to the thought that in her world, people are thinking using the mind that was wonderfully created without the help of technology. In a busy world of words and moments happening so fast, these short sentences appeal to the readers by letting us take in the words one by one. The purpose of her using these short, easy to understand sentences is to emphasize the idea that these are the little things that we need to most appreciate.
Hence, upon analyzing the story, one can conclude the certain themes that parallel through the pages. Firstly, a theme of unity and trust is present at the end of the play. This is supported by the image of the cathedral, which is a place of unity. Most importantly, the notion of equality among people is the main theme within this story. The narrator starts as a biased, idiot, who dislikes all people that are not like himself. He even at times is rude to his wife. Ironically, it takes a blind man to change the man that can literally see, to rule out the prejudices and to teach him that all men are created equal.
Rochette-Crawley, S. (2004) James T. Farrell. The Literary Encyclopedia. April 2, 2004. Retrieved on May 13, 2009 from http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1487
Murphy, B. & Shirley J. The Literary Encyclopedia. [nl], August 31, 2004. Available at: http://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2326. Access on: 22 Aug 2010.
Schmidt, A.V C. "'Latent Content' and 'The Testimony in the Text': Symbolic Meaning in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight." Oxford University Press 38.150 (1987): 145-68. JSTOR. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.
Through Alceste, the misanthrope of the title, Molière mocks and attacks the behavior of the highest level of his society. But Alceste is no Tartuffe, censuring those about him, while giving the appearance of a puritan, set apart from society. No, Alceste, himself an owner of estates, yearns to be accepted by the very society he condemns, and that was seen from the first in the costume which Molière wore when he played Alceste, a costume that represents the latest fashion--expensive, tasteful, and stylish.
Greenblatt, Stephen, and M. H. Abrams. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 9th ed. Vol. A. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012. Print
At the outset, an insightful reader needs to draft the general boundaries of allegory and symbolism in the story. To put it most simple, the problem of distinguishing between good and evil undergoes a discussion. It is not difficult to notice that the Grandmother stands for good and the Misfit for evil. But such a division would be a sweeping and superficial generalisation, for both the characters epitomize good and evil traits. Moral evaluation is a very complex process and it is not the human who is to decide on that. There are rather various degrees of goodness and evil, both interwoven, also in their religiousness. Th...
From “Literature: The Human Experience” written by Abcarian and Klotz, “Irony is figurative language in which the intended meaning differs from the literal meaning” (1615). There is more than one level of irony at work in this story. Dramatic irony occurs when a reader or audience know things a character does not and, consequently, sees things differently (Abcarian & Klotz 1615). Gilman uses dramatic irony when the narrator states, “I’m feeling so much better” (Gilman 1005) as if the narrator believe that she is normal, but when she states “I think that woman gets out in the daytime! And I’ll tell you why-privately- I’ve seen her!” (Gilman 1006), the reader knows that she is actually going in sane. It is dramatic irony because the reader‘s understanding of the narrator’s speeches is different markedly from the narrator’s. Through this dramatic irony, Gilman has let the reader knows how complete seclusion can only add to the desolation and push people to the verge of insanity. The order of “rest cure” treatment may symbolize her husband’s love towards her, but ironically it makes her condition worse. This plot symbolizes how women were oppressed and dominated by their husbands and they had no place for self expression.
Abrams, M.H. and Greenblatt, Stephen eds. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: Seventh Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2001.
Irony can often be found in many literary works. “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin is masterfully written full of irony. The characters of the short story, Mrs. Mallard, Josephine, Richards, Mr. Brently Mallard, and the doctors all find their way into Chopin’s ironic twists. Chopin embodies various ironies in “The Story of an Hour” through representations of verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony.
Fraistat, Neil. "Broadview Press." Broadview Press :: Independent academic publishers since 1985 :: English Studies :: Zastrozzi a
Irony is a useful device for giving stories many unexpected twists and turns. In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," irony is used as an effective literary device. Situational irony is used to show the reader that what is expected to happen sometimes doesn't. Dramatic irony is used to clue the reader in on something that is happening that the characters in the story do not know about. Irony is used throughout Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" through the use of situational irony and the use of dramatic irony.