The Visit: sub-text

Sub-Text in The Visit

Background Motivations

Sub-text is evident in the hidden motivations of the characters. The townspeople pretend to uphold societal rules and code of morality, but their true quest for material gain drives their actions.
Claire’s apparent desire for justice hides her deeper thirst for revenge against Alfred Ill and the town that rejected her. Her vindictiveness guides all of her actions throughout the play.

Hidden Agendas

Characters often disguise their intentions, bringing unspoken meanings or implications into their dialogue and actions. The mayor and the schoolmaster, for instance, are quick to condemn Claire’s proposal, but subtly begin to influence the townspeople towards accepting it.
Alfred Ill initially tries to rally the town by appealing to their morality and shared history, but his underlying fear and desperation slowly surface as he senses the changing sentiments.

Silent Communication

Much of the play’s sub-text comes through silent cues and non-verbal communication. The townsfolk don’t openly discuss their agreement to Claire’s proposal, but their growing display of unexplained wealth speaks volumes.
Claire’s changes of attire, the increasing number of yellow shoes, and Alfred Ill’s declining mental state are all examples of information being communicated without direct statements.

Misleading Speech

Characters often employ sub-text by saying one thing while meaning another. There is a constant discrepancy between what the townsfolk say about justice, honor, and solidarity, and their covert actions.
This is exemplified in the scene before Ill’s death when the townspeople deliberately ignore the truth of his fate, instead insisting on celebrating his ‘new job’ and their newfound prosperity.

Societal Pressure

The sub-text also reflects the oppressive weight of societal expectation and conformity. The fear of poverty and the desire for economic stability override moral judgement, subtly nudging the town towards collective crime.
Similarly, Ill’s eventual resignation to his fate conveys the sub-text of societal victimization and conformity under pressure. He accepts his execution as inevitable due to the overwhelming force of the corrupt community.