Dürrenmatt's The Visit: Key Quotes on Justice, Corruption and Morality
Summary
This document gathers essential quotations from Friedrich Dürrenmatt's play The Visit, organised by act. It focuses on the themes of revenge, justice, temptation and moral corruption in the town of Guellen. Students can use the quotes to follow how the townspeople's conscience changes as Claire Zachanassian's offer is made.
Key points
- Claire Zachanassian offers a million to Guellen in exchange for justice against Alfred Ill, who wronged her in the past.
- The Mayor first rejects the offer in the name of humanity, saying the town would rather live in poverty than with blood on its hands.
- Claire declares she will wait, and Alfred Ill realises he has no moral right on his side.
- The Priest warns of temptation and treachery, urging Ill to flee.
- The Schoolmaster and the citizens claim to act 'not for money but for justice and conscience', showing the town's hypocrisy.
Dürrenmatt's *The Visit*: Essential Quotes on Justice and Corruption
Act I: The Price of Revenge
Schoolmaster: “Like one of the Fates; she made me think of an avenging Greek goddess. Her name shouldn’t be Claire; it should be Clotho. I could suspect her of spinning destiny’s webs herself.”
Claire Zachanassian: “I’m giving you a million, and I’m buying myself justice.” (Deathly Silence)
Mayor’s Speech: “You forget, we are not savages. In the name of all citizens of Guellen, I reject your offer; and I reject it in the name of humanity. We would rather have poverty than blood on our hands.” (Huge Applause)
Claire Zachanassian: “I’ll wait.”
Act II: Temptation and Condemnation
Policeman: “That screwy millionaire has lost her little lapdog. The black panther. Now I have to hunt it down.”
Alfred Ill: “It’s me you’re hunting down, me.”Alfred Ill: “They’ve already begun adorning my coffin, Mister Mayor. For me, silence is too dangerous. […] You’ve already condemned me to death.”
The Priest: “Flee! We are all weak believers and unbelievers. Flee! The Guellen bells are tolling, tolling for treachery. Flee! Lead us not into temptation with your presence.”
Act III: Morality and the New World Order
Claire Zachanassian: “Feeling for humanity is cut for the purse of an ordinary millionaire; with financial resources like mine, you can afford a new world order.”
Claire Zachanassian: “The world turned me into a whore. I shall turn the world into a brothel.”
Schoolmaster: “Like an archangel I’m telling them, in forceful ringing tones. (Wavers) Because I’m a humanist.” (Followed by Ill telling him to hold his peace.)
Alfred Ill: “I’ve realized I haven’t the least right on my side.”
Schoolmaster: “No right? No right compared to that damned old woman, that brazen arch-whore!”Alfred Ill: “I shall accept your judgement, whatever it may be. For me, it will be justice; what it will be for you, I do not know.”
Schoolmaster’s Speech: “We are not moved by the money (Huge Applause); we are not moved by ambitious thoughts of prosperity and good living, and luxury: we are moved by this matter of justice.”
Mayor and Citizens (Akin to a Greek Chorus):
Mayor: “Not for the sake of money,”
Citizens: “But for justice,”
Citizens: “And for conscience’s sake.”The Priest: “I’ll pray for you.”
Alfred Ill: “Pray for Guellen.”
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Who is Claire Zachanassian in The Visit?
Claire Zachanassian is a wealthy millionaire who returns to Guellen, the town of her youth. She offers the townspeople a million in exchange for the death of Alfred Ill, who wronged her long ago.
What does the Mayor say when he rejects Claire's offer?
The Mayor says that the citizens of Guellen are not savages and rejects the offer in the name of humanity. He adds that they would rather have poverty than blood on their hands.
Why does Alfred Ill say he has no right on his side?
Alfred Ill admits that he has realised he has not the least right on his side. He accepts that the judgement of the town will be what it is, and that it will be justice for him.
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