Visit+-+Question+8

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** Visit - Study Questions 8 **

8. Why does Claire keep Ill's body? What might this mean for her string of marriages? Claire keeps Ill’s body as a token and a remembrance of Ill, of the betrayal and abandonment he had done to her when they were young. The coffin containing the remains of someone who had left her for another woman would remind her of what he did to her, and how //“The world turned [her] into a whore” (page 67)//. The coffin can also show others that money can bring great corruption and power upon a community, and that she has the ability to manipulate anyone to do anything, as how she manipulated the people of Guellen to allow the murder and death of Ill using money and greed. The coffin is also a reminder that she is barely human and has no sympathy for anyone. Claire keeps the coffin on an exotic location in Capri (an island near Italy), describing it as //“Deep blue. A grandiose panorama” (page 88).// This rather beautiful and aesthetically pleasing description of Ill’s resting place may suggest a small hint of Claire’s love or admiration still present for Ill, and that she gives him this resting place as a sign of pity, and possibly even to remind her of the young days of her affairs with Ill. Claire also says she will put the coffin in a mausoleum, which is a large grand building that houses a tomb for an authoritative figure (Kings, Queens) or a symbol of nobility. The lavish tomb indicates Claire’s strong purpose and effort to bring Ill to his death, giving the ordeal of betrayal from Ill a great importance to Claire. This important event of Ill’s death means Claire’s “final wish” has been accomplished, and the final part of her that is still human is gone with Ill’s demise With Ill still alive, there was still a little bit of sorrow, pity, anger and love inside Claire. Furthermore, a mausoleum, as said before, is a grand building that houses a tomb, and can also house several tombs. This could indicate Claire’s plan to kill all the husbands (possibly using money as a manipulation) and tomb them like trophies, as soon as the first (Ill) has been buried, thus the countless marriages with Claire stop. This also shows Claire’s powerful figure as a rich person and her ability to get whatever she wants through money. Claire might also stop her string of marriages because, since Ill is dead, there is no more humanity left in Claire, and it would be pointless to continue. This can be seen in the end of the play (after Ill’s death) where Claire seems cold and emotionless about Ill’s death.

- Dezzer M.