The Visit
The action of The Visit takes place in the small town of Guellen, "somewhere in Central Europe." An elderly millionairesse, Claire Zachanassian, returns to Guellen, her home town, after an absence of many years. Merely on the promise of her millions, she shortly turns what has been a depressed area into a boom town. But there is a condition attached to her largess, which the natives of Guellen realize only after they have become enmeshed in her vengeful plot: murder. Out of these elements, Durrenmatt has fashioned a many-leveled play which is at once a macabre parable, a deeply moving tragedy, and a scathing indictment of the power of greed.
A fantastic play at turns grotesque, comic, and austere. The classically tragic vein is more apparent here than in other works by this author, and yet any claims to moral certainty seems forced. A play to make you think. Durrenmatt destabilizes the meanings of words like Justice, Integrity, and Progress, so that any way of looking at the conflict reveals a moral code. Notably, these possible moralities only appear as strong as their adherents, all of whom have realistically limited agency.
Its been a long time since I have read Dürrenmatt and I forgot about his subtle wit. The play is a social commentary on how to handle an immoral offer from the first gut rejection over denial to acceptance. I tremendously enjoyed the over the top character of the old lady.
Final read for our Postal Book Club Round #5Go us!I enjoy reading drama. And our Swiss member picked a Swiss author, so this is very appropriate.This is titled "A Tragicomedy". Perfect for a very dark play that had some humour. The moral of the story? Money corrupts! A universal truth. The stage directions were fantastic. I will keep my eyes out for a live performance.My favourite quote: "Congrats on your brats"Thank you Kats!
I loved this book!I am a huge fan of Mr. Dürrenmatt, even acted as Mr. Möbius in "Die Physiker" in a schooltheater group.But "Der Besuch der alten Dame" was one of those I had in my shelve for too long but never found time to read it. SUCH A SHAME!This is funny, dramatic and it can be adapted to many situations, especially today, in a time when people would do everything for money.I read this novel in 2 days, and couldn'T stop giggling while reading. The characters are portrayed really really
Really loved this tragicomedy. Dürrenmatt's works are timeless, but they are also the product of a Swiss vantage during cold war. In "The Visit" or in German "Der Besuch der alten Dame" an old lady who becomes the wealthiest person in the world returns to the village that cast her out as a young woman and offers riches to the town in exchange for the life of Alfred Ill, who once disgraced her. Its all about an immoral deal: if the town wants her financial support, she wants something in return.
This is another play about how absolutism, no matter what the purpose or just cause, is dangerous and savage and only brings about brutality.In this play a small backwater economically failing little German town gets a visit from a millionairess who grew up there. The town, knowing of her generosity elsewhere hopes she will put them back on track and depends on her high school sweetheart to get her to agree to give the money. She does, but only in exchange for the death of her high school
Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Paperback | Pages: 112 pages Rating: 3.88 | 12025 Users | 423 Reviews
List Of Books The Visit
Title | : | The Visit |
Author | : | Friedrich Dürrenmatt |
Book Format | : | Paperback |
Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
Pages | : | Pages: 112 pages |
Published | : | January 7th 1994 by Grove Press (first published 1980) |
Categories | : | Plays. Classics. Drama. European Literature. German Literature. Fiction. Academic. School |
Relation In Pursuance Of Books The Visit
This is the first complete English translation of the play that many critics consider to be Durrenmatt's finest work. Unlike an earlier version adapted for the English-language stage, this translation adheres faithfully to the author's original play as it was published and performed in German.The action of The Visit takes place in the small town of Guellen, "somewhere in Central Europe." An elderly millionairesse, Claire Zachanassian, returns to Guellen, her home town, after an absence of many years. Merely on the promise of her millions, she shortly turns what has been a depressed area into a boom town. But there is a condition attached to her largess, which the natives of Guellen realize only after they have become enmeshed in her vengeful plot: murder. Out of these elements, Durrenmatt has fashioned a many-leveled play which is at once a macabre parable, a deeply moving tragedy, and a scathing indictment of the power of greed.
Define Books To The Visit
Original Title: | Der Besuch der alten Dame |
ISBN: | 0802130666 (ISBN13: 9780802130662) |
Edition Language: | English |
Characters: | Claire Zachanassian |
Setting: | Switzerland |
Literary Awards: | New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Foreign Play (1959) |
Rating Of Books The Visit
Ratings: 3.88 From 12025 Users | 423 ReviewsCritique Of Books The Visit
Friedrich Durrenmatt is a wonderful Swiss writer who wrote some of the sparest and most compelling words I have ever read. Words which challenge, confound and cause you to happily ponder away for hours while never preaching. The play takes on utilitarianism with a broadside aimed at the famous Bentham quote "it is the greatest happiness of the greatest number that is the measure of right and wrong".In a small Central European city which bears a marked resemblance to an entire number of germanA fantastic play at turns grotesque, comic, and austere. The classically tragic vein is more apparent here than in other works by this author, and yet any claims to moral certainty seems forced. A play to make you think. Durrenmatt destabilizes the meanings of words like Justice, Integrity, and Progress, so that any way of looking at the conflict reveals a moral code. Notably, these possible moralities only appear as strong as their adherents, all of whom have realistically limited agency.
Its been a long time since I have read Dürrenmatt and I forgot about his subtle wit. The play is a social commentary on how to handle an immoral offer from the first gut rejection over denial to acceptance. I tremendously enjoyed the over the top character of the old lady.
Final read for our Postal Book Club Round #5Go us!I enjoy reading drama. And our Swiss member picked a Swiss author, so this is very appropriate.This is titled "A Tragicomedy". Perfect for a very dark play that had some humour. The moral of the story? Money corrupts! A universal truth. The stage directions were fantastic. I will keep my eyes out for a live performance.My favourite quote: "Congrats on your brats"Thank you Kats!
I loved this book!I am a huge fan of Mr. Dürrenmatt, even acted as Mr. Möbius in "Die Physiker" in a schooltheater group.But "Der Besuch der alten Dame" was one of those I had in my shelve for too long but never found time to read it. SUCH A SHAME!This is funny, dramatic and it can be adapted to many situations, especially today, in a time when people would do everything for money.I read this novel in 2 days, and couldn'T stop giggling while reading. The characters are portrayed really really
Really loved this tragicomedy. Dürrenmatt's works are timeless, but they are also the product of a Swiss vantage during cold war. In "The Visit" or in German "Der Besuch der alten Dame" an old lady who becomes the wealthiest person in the world returns to the village that cast her out as a young woman and offers riches to the town in exchange for the life of Alfred Ill, who once disgraced her. Its all about an immoral deal: if the town wants her financial support, she wants something in return.
This is another play about how absolutism, no matter what the purpose or just cause, is dangerous and savage and only brings about brutality.In this play a small backwater economically failing little German town gets a visit from a millionairess who grew up there. The town, knowing of her generosity elsewhere hopes she will put them back on track and depends on her high school sweetheart to get her to agree to give the money. She does, but only in exchange for the death of her high school
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