The Visit By Frank Durrenmatt Analysis

Friedrich Durrenmatt, accomplished author and dramatist, in his play, The Visit, describes the corruption of a town caused by the manipulation of millionaire Claire Zachanassian. Durrenmatt’s purpose is to bring readers’ attention to how people act differently around the presence of money and bribery. Durrenmatt adopts a mocking tone in order to convey the theme of power and how it can cause a person to make bad decisions. Claire personifies the theme of power by having the citizens of Gullen wrapped around her finger by manipulation and money.
Claire Zachanassian abuses her immense power and money to put a ransom on the death of Alfred Ill. Claire’s plan for revenge was in the making for years prior to her return to Gullen. Claire

makes sure her ransom is inescapable for Ill and the townspeople. Claire tells the town “…I am prepared to give Gullen a present of one billion.

Five hundred million to the town and five hundred million divided among all the families” (30). By announcing this to the entire town, Claire now has every member of the bankrupt town at her mercy. Claire knows that the citizens will be eternally grateful and will want to repay her in some way, shape or form. Claire then states “I can afford Justice. One billion for Gullen, if someone kills Alfred Ill” (35). Claire now reveals her true plans to the town and she knows it is just a matter of time until they give in to receive the money. Later on in the play, the teacher tells Claire “You remind me of a heroine from antiquity, of Medea” (72). Medea was a character in Greek mythology who killed her own children to bring her justice. Although this does not directly correlate with Claire’s ransom on Ill, both stories revolve around the larger message of killing the ones you love in order to receive revenge. Durrenmatt’s use of this reference give the reader a better understanding of Claire’s character and her obsessive need to have justice for herself. Claire later states “With financial power like mine, you can afford yourself a new world order” (72). By this, Claire means that if you have money like she does,

you can corrupt just about any system or place in order to get what you want or what you think you deserve. Claire uses her financial power in order to put the ransom on Ill even though it is illegal. Since she has money, the local government will not do anything to stop or punish Claire for her unjust request. At the very end of the play, Claire Says “Mayor. The check” (110-111) and the chorus later states “With her noble entourage” (114). Ill is killed by the end of the play and Claire follows through with her plan of paying the families and the town of Gullen. The townspeople also call Claire ‘noble’ while she blatantly put up a ransom to have a man killed because she believes he had mistreated her. The ransom for Ill’s death was a way to get the city of Gullen wrapped around Claire’s finger so they would do whatever she pleases.
Claire also abuses her power and money by purchasing Gullen and running it into bankruptcy on purpose. While the teacher and doctor are trying to convince Claire to buy the town and lift the ransom on Ill, Claire says “Except it’s not feasible. I can’t buy the Hopewell Foundry, because its mine already” (71). She also explains “…the factories, Puckenried Valley, Petersen’s barn, the town, street by street, house by house. I had my agents buy the whole mess and shut every business down. Your hope was a delusion, you perseverance was pointless, your sacrifices were stupid, and your whole life has been a useless waste” (71). These statements show who Claire really is. She reveals that she has been planning her revenge for a very long time. She is abusing her financial power because she buys the entire city and purposely puts it, and the people in it, into bankruptcy. Claire has taken away every opportunity for the town to survive or to get back on their feet without her help. This benefits her because the citizens of Gullen may now feel obligated to kill Ill in order to get their money they need to survive. Claire also states “... I decided I would come back one day. Now I am here. Now I set the conditions, I drive the bargain” (72). Claire is right about her driving the bargain. Because she owns the city, only she can make deals and she has the upper hand. Claire has been planning her revenge for too long to let the city off without killing Ill. That is all she came for and the entire reason as to why she buys out the town. Claire also says “The world made a whore of me, now I’ll make a whorehouse of the world. Pay up or get off the dance floor. You want to join the dance? Only paying customers merit respect. And believe me, I’ll pay” (72). The first part of this quote describes how Claire feels toward this town. Gullen and the people in it forced her to be a prostitute, or into a life of working to please other people. Now that she owns Gullen, she sees it as her ‘whorehouse’ so they will work to please her. In other words, kill Ill. By “Pay up or get off the dance floor” (72), Claire means that she wants her payment of Ill’s death or for the people to get out of Gullen. Getting out of Gullen would be very complicated, seeing that they are all broke and Claire owns it, just as it is getting out of an actual ‘whorehouse’. “Only paying customers merit respect. And believe me, I’ll pay” (72) means that Claire will only respect you if you pay her what she wants and on her own terms. In return, she gives her town and the families’ money. Claire uses her large sum of money in order to buy Gullen to ensure the citizens would not be able get out debt if they did not kill Ill.
Claire uses her money to put the citizens of Gullen on a credit until Ill is dead. This gives the citizens a feel for the life they could have if they kill Ill for her justice. While Ill is still running the store, the citizens come in and buy lots of expensive items. While Ill is talking to two women, they make this exchange; “and white bread. Two large loaves.” “Must have come into money, ladies” “Charge it” (40). Ill knows what these women normally buy in his shop and he now believes they have come across some money. No money is coming into Gullen because it was bankrupt, but Claire had already put the ransom on Ill. Later on in his store, Ill is talking to a man and has this exchange; “That’s twenty thirty five. No one can afford that.” “A man deserves a treat now and then” (42). At this point, Ill knows that the citizens are taking advantage of having the ransom hanging over their heads by purchasing more expensive things and taking advantage of the luxury. Ill also makes the observation “You too. New yellow shoes” (43). Many people in the town show up to Ill’s shop with something that is yellow or gold and is brand new. The colors represent wealth and Ill still knows that no one in the town is wealthy. Claire knew that the citizens would most likely give into her bargain if they were given a taste of what their lives could be like afterward.
Claire Zachanassian is clearly portrayed by Durrenmatt as a power and wealth driven woman. She is easily able to manipulate the people of Gullen into thinking that her revenge is a logical way for them to get their money and be out of debt. Not only did she buy the whole city, but she also put a ransom on Ill and put the whole town on a credit until Ill was dead. Durrenmatt’s portrayal shows just how corrupt some people can be while under the influence of heavy power and immense wealth.