Analysis Of The Visit By Frank Durrenmatt

The Visit, written by Friedrich Durrenmatt is set in a notorious town called Guellen.In the play, The Visit, Friedrich Durrenmatt raises the question of the corruptibility of justice by asking whether it can be bought in return for material wealth. In The Visit, Durrenmatt reveals that although money is powerful, it cannot buy justice. He reveals this through Ill’s backstory, through the characterization of Butler, and through the bribery of the town.
Durrenmatt effectively uses Ill’s backstory to show that even though Ill had bought his way out of the crime, he was still punished. Ill agrees that he had committed a crime calling it “an old story” in a conversation with the Butler. But eventually, it can be seen that Ill got punished for his

As mentioned in the play, the Butler was the “Chief Justice Courtly” in Guellen. But “twenty-five years ago”, “Madame Zachanassian offered” him “the post of Butler in her service. A somewhat unusual career for an academic man, however, the salary involved was really quite fantastic ..” Butler explains that he was the Chief Justice Courtly of Guellen 45 years ago. Claire in some way did punish Butler because the post of judge is of high regard and high self esteem. But Claire shattered that self respect by buying the Butler to work for her. By paying Butler a fantastic salary, she has made him look foolish and mindless in front of the citizens. This can be seen through the reaction of the schoolmaster when he got to know who the Butler actually was. The schoolmaster said “Chief Justice Courtly!?!?!”. The tone of this phrase is Astonishing and Surprising. Butler is also the character who links Claire’s past with the justice she deserves. He does this by interrogating Ill. He said “The year was nineteen ten. I was Lord Chief Justice in Guellen. I had a paternity claim to arbitrate. Claire Zachanassian, at the time Clara Wascher, claimed that you, Mr lll~ were her child 's father.” The Butler is the one reminds the town of the case and makes everyone aware of the false evidence and the “false oath” swore by the Blind Pair. Therefore, it can

In the play, when priest was questioned about the death sentence by Claire, he said “The death sentence has been abolished in this country.” The priest clearly defines that in Switzerland, there are no capital punishments such as the death penalty. But the desire for the “One million pounds” offered by Claire increases so much that the people of the town decide something extra judicial. The people of the town vote whether do they want justice to be given to Claire. The Mayor asks everyone who are “pure in heart, who want justice done, raise their hands.(All except Ill raise up their hands.)” The quote above juxtaposes the priest’s statement of Death Sentence. The need for the money amongst the people increases so much that they value One Million Pounds more than a life of a