Genzo , Patrick and Anar

Notes on the Characterization of Alfred Ill in “The Visit”

Speech:

What Ill says about himself

Ill: Life tore us apart. Life. That’s the way it is. (pg.15)

 He saves himself from the truth of his past wrongdoings by blaming ‘life’ – cowardly, guilty

Ill: I made Clara what she is, and I made myself what I am…It’s all my own work…I can’t help myself and I can’t help any of you, any more. (pg.76)

 The first sign of acceptance from Ill: he recognizes that his ill fate was brought upon by himself

Ill: They will sentence me to death, and one of them will kill me. I don’t know who it will be, and I don’t know where it will happen, I only know that my meaningless life will end. (pg.88)

 An emphasis on Ill’s acceptance which may be interpreted as nobleness and dignity

What others say about/to Ill

Mayor: My dear Ill, you’ve been the most popular person in Guellen… (pg.15)

Ill’s status within the community: he is liked by the townsfolk. Will this last?

Various Characters: Put it on my account / On account

 These phrases is used throughout the entire play to signify that a character has accepted that Ill will be killed

Claire Zachanassian: You chose your life, but you forced me into mine. (pg.39)

 By leaving Claire during her pregnancy, Ill made life difficult for her. He is the source of her misery and unrelenting vengeance.

Priest: Lead us not into temptation with your presence. (pg.58)

 This sentence shows how even the priest, who represents religion, considers the act of murder for a better life. I’ll stands in the way of the prosperity of the town.

Woman’s Voice: A villain! (pg.91)

 Contrasts with the descriptions of Ill in the earlier parts of the play; the town depicts him as a wrongdoer to justify their actions.

Dialogue/Interaction with Other Characters

Claire Zachanassian: I used to call you my black panther.

Ill: I still am.

Claire Zachanassian: Rubbish. You’ve grown fat. And grey…

Ill: But you’re still the same, my little sorceress.

Claire Zachanassian: Don’t be daft. I’ve grown fast as well. (pg.21)

 Ill attempts to rekindle the flame he once had with Claire, hoping to wring some money from her

Ill: A broken-down shopkeeper in a broken-down town.

Claire Zachanassian: Now it’s me who has money.

Ill: I’ve been living in hell since you went away from me.

Claire Zachanassian: And I’ve grown into hell itself. (pg.29)

 Conveys the miserable state that Ill is in and the regret that he feels for not pursuing Claire

Man Two: You’re giving us credit too.

Ill: How are you going to pay? How are you going to pay? How are you going to pay? How? How? (pg.46)

 There is a tremendous sense of fear within Ill as he realizes that the town’s excessive expenditures are due to their confidence that he will be killed.

Ill: I’ll keep quiet.

Mayor: However the decision turns out at the meeting?

Ill: I’ll accept it. (pg.80)

Ill feels responsible for the town’s collapse and owns up to it. A display of dignity

Stage Directions:

Appearance

“a man of near sixty five, all shabbily dressed” p. 13

This is the only mention of Ill’s appearance.

Emotion

“bangs on table” p.51

“suspiciously” p. 52

Ill’s strongest show of emotion was when he was at the bar confronting the policeman. Ill shows frustration by banging on the table as a result of his fear of being murdered. His frustration and paranoia comes after the citizens of Guellen begin buying everything on credit, a sign of their expecting income - and so he says his lines suspiciously.

With Claire

“unsure of himself” p.20

“(wipes away sweat)” p.21

“Ill stands. he is pale, wondering” p.36

“Ill keeps quiet” p. 37

The stage directions when Ill is around Claire illustrate that Ill is under Claire’s control - but in a different manner than her husbands. While her husbands are directly under her control directly, Ill is under her control psychologically. His actions around Claire show submission and strengthen the notion of Claire’s dominance. This could perhaps be symbolic of the relationship of each of the two with the people of Guellen - Claire being stronger and more influential.

“enthusiastically” --> “moved, he slaps her left shoulder, then painfully withdraws his hand” p.30

“kisses her right hand” --> “Ill, horrified, releases her right hand” p.31

These stage directions show a transition of Ill from being affectionate towards Claire to immediately withdrawing the emotion. This shows how Claire breaks Ill down psychologically and emotionally.

With the people of Guellen

“hesitant” p. 59

“uneasily” p. 59

“Ill peers fearfully round like a cornered animal” p. 61

“Ill stands motionless staring at his compatriots” p. 61

“Ill falls on knees” p. 61

“...Ill, surrounded by the citizens of Guellen, his head in his hands, collapses” p.62

The stage directions from pages 59-62, a time when Ill is trying to escape the town, show Ills relationship with the people of Guellen after the choice is given by Claire. Once sure of himself and popular among the people, the stage directions demonstrate Ill’s uncertainty as he speaks uneasily and with hesitation. Towards the end of the act, the stage actions indicate Ill’s demise as he first falls on his knees and then he collapses.

Actor’s Performance:

Ill’s performance throughout the play would evolve and change from being self confident to being paranoid and defiant to accepting his fate. He transforms from the most popular man in Guellen and the mayor’s next successor to a target for the townspeople. To the townspeople, he is a just one man who stands between poverty and a better standard of living in the “tumbledown wreck” town of Guellen.

Ill being confident

  • P.20 – “(proudly). They sure were. (to schoolmaster) See, Professor, I’ve got her in the bag.”  somewhat being cocky
  • P.20 – “ My little wildcat”, “My little sorceress”  patronizes Claire in hopes to drain money off her for the Guellen
  • P. 33 – “(laughs). Clara has such a golden sense of humour! I could die laughing at one of her jokes!” Ill takes Clara for granted and he has no idea of what Clara has planned for Guellen
  • P.35 – “There’s Clara for you! What a jewel! She takes your breath away! Just like her, O my little sorceress!”  Continues patronizing Clara and it is ironic because she does take his breath away at the end of the play.

Ill being paranoid

  • P.46 – “How are you going to pay? (Silence He begins throwing his wares at the customers. They all run away.) How are you going to pay?How are you going to pay? How? How? (He rushes off, back.)  repetition emphasizes paranoid reaction to customers buying products on account.
  • Attempts to arrest Claire:
  • P.47 – “I demand the arrest of Claire Zachanassian”
  • P.47 – “Arrest that woman on the spot”
  • P.48 – “She’s inciting the people of our town to kill me”
  • P.50 – “The town’s getting into debt. The greater the debt, the higher the standard of living. The higher the standard of living, the greater need to kill me”

These quotes illustrates how anxious he is becoming

Accepting his fate

  • P.81 – “There is no turning back. You mustjudge me, now. I shall accept your judgment, whatever it may be. For me, it will be justice”

At this point of the play, Ill is tired of being defiant and trying to escape his fate and so he admits he is guilty and decides to respect the decision on Claire’s offer. He somewhat feels relieved when he confesses the deeds he has done and he seems to bemore confident and relaxed. However he still feels betrayed by the townspeople, even his own family because everyone continues to buy products using credit.