The Visit: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Visit: Analysis of Major Characters" explores the intricate dynamics among key figures in the play, set in the fictional town of Güllen. Central to the narrative is Claire Zachanassian, a wealthy and enigmatic woman who returns to her hometown with a dark proposal—offering a fortune to have her former lover, Alfred Ill, killed for past betrayals. Ill, depicted as a once-respected shopkeeper now facing the consequences of his earlier decisions, grapples with guilt and the shifting loyalties of his fellow townsfolk as they are tempted by Claire's wealth.
Supporting characters include the town's mayor, who initially rejects Claire's offer on moral grounds but soon reveals his own corruption, and the schoolmaster, who struggles with his principles as he witnesses the town's moral decline. The priest and policeman also represent the community's moral ambiguity, with each offering mixed messages about justice and protection. Other characters, such as Claire’s butler and her eunuchs, add layers to the themes of power, manipulation, and the repercussions of past actions. Overall, the character analysis highlights the interplay of greed, guilt, and vengeance, prompting a reflection on societal values and individual responsibility within a community beset by ethical dilemmas.
The Visit: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Friedrich Dürrenmatt
First published: Der Besuch der alten Dame: Eine tragische Komodie, 1956 (English translation, 1958)
Genre: Play
Locale: Güllen, a town in Central Europe
Plot: Tragicomedy
Time: The mid-1950's
Claire Zachanassian, one of the richest and most powerful women in the world and a former resident of Güllen. She is a sixty-three-year-old redhead smartly dressed in black, a grotesque figure with an artificial leg and an ivory hand. Eccentric and extravagant, she rides around in a sedan chair, carries a coffin with her, owns a black panther, smokes cigars, and picks up and discards husbands at will. Once a wild and vivacious young girl in love with Alfred Ill, she lost a paternity suit against him through his deceit and left Güllen in disgrace to work in a brothel, where she was found by a millionaire. Incredibly wealthy, she has sought vengeance by buying up Güllen and shutting off its progress. Cold and menacing, she offers the town a large sum of money to kill Ill.
Alfred Ill, known as Anton Schill in the English translation, Güllen's leading citizen and the town's next mayor. He is a shabbily dressed, overweight, sixty-five-year-old shopkeeper with gray hair. As a young man, he had a passionate love affair with Claire but failed to meet his obligation to her when she became pregnant. Having bribed two witnesses to brand her as a whore, he abandoned Claire and married Matilda to get Matilda's father's general store. When Claire offers money for his life, he feels secure that the town will support him. When he sees his townsmen spending lavishly on credit, however, he flees in panic but is stopped at the train station. Betrayed by his friends, stripped of his position of honor, and branded as a criminal, he courageously accepts the responsibility for what he has done to Claire and goes to his death with an air of tragic dignity.
The mayor of Güllen, a stodgy and long-winded man always trying to orchestrate events and create the appearance of propriety. Although he is the first to turn down Claire's proposal, on humanitarian grounds, he is later seduced by wealth. Eventually, he threatens Ill to keep silent about the bounty on Ill's life and then gives Ill a gun so that he might commit suicide and save the town the messy business of executing him. During the course of the play, he changes from an inept and bungling politician to a snide and manipulative petty official.
The schoolmaster, a small-town teacher who has turned down better offers because he has faith in Güllen's potential. The first to see Claire as a sinister figure, he is the one towns-man who is truly outraged at Claire's proposal because it goes against all the cherished values of Western civilization. When reporters come to town, he wants to tell them the truth, and he urges Ill to fight for his life. Then, overwhelmed by temptation, he finds himself taking part in Ill's murder. Ironically, he gives a speech condoning Ill's murder as an act of justice, not a crime motivated by greed.
The priest, who has purchased new bells for the cathedral on credit. When Ill comes to him seeking sanctuary, he tells Ill to be concerned about his eternal life, not his earthly one. Stricken by pangs of conscience, he urges Ill to flee, for the temptation to kill him is too great.
The policeman, the town constable. When Ill asks for protection, he uses doubletalk to assure Ill that no harm will come to him, but Ill becomes suspicious of his hedging when he discovers that the policeman has bought a gold tooth. In the end, the policeman takes a self-righteous and brutal attitude toward Ill.
Boby, Claire's eighty-year-old butler, who wears dark glasses. He was the chief justice who ruled against Claire in her paternity suit. She bought his services as a butler and lets him go after Ill is condemned to death.
Koby and Loby, Claire's two talkative, overweight, and aging eunuchs, who constantly repeat themselves. They are the two men bribed by Ill to swear that they slept with the young Claire. She tracked them down in Canada and Australia and had them blinded and castrated.
Roby and Toby, two husky, gum-chewing gangsters from New York who act as Claire's porters and always speak in unison. Roby plays the guitar while Ill and Claire reminisce.
Matilda Ill, Ill's thin, pale, worn-out, and embittered wife. When the money is promised, she refurnishes the general store and jubilantly buys a fur coat, thinking that everything will work out for Ill.
Ill's grown children, a daughter and a son. They diligently seek work to aid the family until Claire's proposal drives the son to buy a new car and the daughter to play tennis and study literature. Before Ill goes to his execution, his children, along with their mother, drive out of town.