The VisitThe Visit

Section 2Section 2

The play has a dark tone throughout the The play has a dark tone throughout the novel, which suddenly gives way to a novel, which suddenly gives way to a prosperous cheerful ending on behalf prosperous cheerful ending on behalf of the townspeople, which underscores of the townspeople, which underscores the main themes of the play. Note any the main themes of the play. Note any passages that reflect these tones. passages that reflect these tones.

At the end of the play, with Ill dead at the At the end of the play, with Ill dead at the town’s feet and Claire’s check in the Mayor’s town’s feet and Claire’s check in the Mayor’s hand, “order” and “community” are restored, hand, “order” and “community” are restored, but now the audience knows these ideas are but now the audience knows these ideas are grotesquely false. In the closing scene, the grotesquely false. In the closing scene, the townspeople appear as much slaves as they townspeople appear as much slaves as they did at the beginning; if at first they were did at the beginning; if at first they were victims of poverty, they are now captives of victims of poverty, they are now captives of prosperity. Only Ill has found freedom, and he prosperity. Only Ill has found freedom, and he has attained this only by withdrawal from the has attained this only by withdrawal from the community into death. Comment on this community into death. Comment on this scene.scene.

With nowhere to turn, Ill takes responsibility With nowhere to turn, Ill takes responsibility for his crime. He achieves the serenity and for his crime. He achieves the serenity and acceptance Durrenmatt saw as the pinnacle acceptance Durrenmatt saw as the pinnacle of human heroism. He gains stature in our of human heroism. He gains stature in our eyes through his transformation. He can eyes through his transformation. He can reject the city’s offer to commit suicide. In reject the city’s offer to commit suicide. In The VisitThe Visit, Ill is the only dynamic character , Ill is the only dynamic character who changes and grows. Only Ill had the who changes and grows. Only Ill had the epiphany of self-knowledge that Durrenmatt epiphany of self-knowledge that Durrenmatt prized so highly. Note these passages. prized so highly. Note these passages.

Durrenmatt was from Switzerland, a country Durrenmatt was from Switzerland, a country which remained neutral during World War II. which remained neutral during World War II. Their refusal to acknowledge aggressor or Their refusal to acknowledge aggressor or victim, that they took money from aggressor, victim, that they took money from aggressor, and pretended neutrality and morality all and pretended neutrality and morality all affected him. The German WWII mentality of affected him. The German WWII mentality of scapegoat and group thinking also influenced scapegoat and group thinking also influenced him. Note any passages that reflect these him. Note any passages that reflect these influences. influences.

In In The VisitThe Visit, D., writes a classical tragedy for the 20, D., writes a classical tragedy for the 20thth century, a modern answer to the ancient question of century, a modern answer to the ancient question of honor, loyalty, and community. When honor, loyalty, and community. When The Visit The Visit was was written, every town was a Guellen. He wrote that in written, every town was a Guellen. He wrote that in the 20the 20thth century because ‘we no longer find tragic century because ‘we no longer find tragic heroes, but tragedies staged by world butchers and heroes, but tragedies staged by world butchers and carried away meat-grinding machines…power today is carried away meat-grinding machines…power today is only minimally visible, since like an iceberg the largest only minimally visible, since like an iceberg the largest part is sunk in faceless abstraction…Today’s state has part is sunk in faceless abstraction…Today’s state has been impossible to survey, anonymous and been impossible to survey, anonymous and bureaucratic…genuinely representative people are bureaucratic…genuinely representative people are lacking and the heroes have no name.” Note any lacking and the heroes have no name.” Note any passages that reflect this aspect. passages that reflect this aspect.