Money And Temptation In The Visit

1584 Words7 Pages

Money and its relation to power and temptation in The Visit
“Everything has a price”. This is the principle by which Claire Lives every day. But, is it true? What makes people do anything for money? A very clear example of Claire’s Principle put into practice is the Gullen’s citizens lifestyles after her arrival.
Before Claire Zachanassian’s return to her hometown, Gullen was a poor town, which showed in every aspect of it. The poverty in Gullen is shown first of all through it’s name - literally “liquid manure”. This, if the reader has any knowledge of the word’s meaning, gives a hint of what the town will be like. The ruin of the town is also shown through the stage directions and dialogues between the characters at the beginning of the first act, …show more content…

We’d slept with Clara [...] We swore on false oath [...] Ill bribed us” (Act One, page 37-38). His power doesn’t come from an abundant wealth, but from the knowledge of other’s desires and addictions. After this, Claire pays the townspeople to kill Ill, as she believes that death is the right punishment for what he did to her: “BUTLER. And now you desire justice, Claire Zachanassian? / CLAIRE ZACHANASSIAN. I can afford it. A million for Gullen if somebody kills Alfred Ill” (Act One, page 38). This last three examples show how “justice” has - as everything else - a price, and that some people are above it because of their wealth.
The other side of the coin for the power money gives over people it the temptation it represents to someone who is looking to improve their lifestyle and living conditions, no matter what the cost. In this case the townspeople, even though “civilized” on the outside, show signs of unconsciously giving in to the temptation Claire’s reward produces. They start spending more, buying “new yellow shoes” (46), better products, and doing expensive things they wouldn’t normally do.
MAN TWO.

Open Document