Friedrich Dürrenmatt Criticism
Friedrich Dürrenmatt, a Swiss-German playwright, novelist, and essayist, is an influential figure in modern drama, renowned for his distinctive portrayal of a chaotic world that defies individual control. His works frequently explore themes of justice, existential dilemmas, and human powerlessness, employing a blend of irony, humor, and philosophical depth. This unique style is apparent in his early plays like Es steht geschrieben and Der Blinde, though it was the success of Romulus der Grosse that first drew significant critical acclaim. Dürrenmatt's international breakthrough was marked by popular works such as Die Ehe des Herrn Mississippi, Der Besuch der alten Dame (The Visit), and Die Physiker (The Physicists), which tackle complex moral dilemmas and the repercussions of knowledge. His detective novels, notably Der Richter und sein Henker (The Judge and His Hangman), intertwine intricate plot twists with philosophical musings, as highlighted by Wright.
Although Dürrenmatt faced early critical challenges, his later works, such as adaptations like Play Strindberg, were well-received, demonstrating his ability to blend traditional theatrical elements with his own distinctive style. His shift toward fiction, seen in works like The Assignment, reflects his growing disillusionment with theater and introduces themes of observation and surveillance, which Jennifer Michaels describes as portraying alienation and dehumanization. His contributions to the detective genre further explore the nuanced nature of truth and justice, a theme dissected by William Gillis, who emphasizes Dürrenmatt’s philosophical investigations into justice.
Dürrenmatt's dramatic philosophy is thoroughly examined in his essays, particularly in Theaterprobleme, where he scrutinizes his plays, the broader role of the artist, and the essence of playwriting itself. This collection reveals his tendency to question rather than resolve, a method Kenneth S. Whitton contrasts with Brecht's approaches. His dramatic techniques, including romantic irony and tragicomedy, are compared to those of Kafka and Hoffmann by Adolf D. Klarmann. Despite the bleakness of his portrayals, Dürrenmatt maintains a belief in human integrity and resilience, explored through Calvinist theology by Edward Diller.
His plays often feature ironic tragic heroes navigating societal absurdities, as Stephen Tapscott notes, and they seamlessly blend comedic and grotesque elements to critique modern existential frustrations. In The Visit, Dürrenmatt employs comedy to address social decay, as Edward R. McDonald observes, while in The Meteor, he uses a similar approach to satirize existential despair, according to Sister Corona Sharp. By evolving from direct despair to utilizing irony and grotesque elements, as Armin Arnold outlines, Dürrenmatt's body of work continues to challenge and enrich literary discourse.
Contents
- Principal Works
- Dürrenmatt, Friedrich (Vol. 4)
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Dürrenmatt, Friedrich (Vol. 1)
(summary)
In the following essay, Murray B. Peppard explores Friedrich Dürrenmatt's use of grotesque humor and satire to critique justice, human frailty, and societal flaws, while emphasizing his unique blend of comic form with profound existential themes across his plays and stories.
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Dürrenmatt, Friedrich (Vol. 15)
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Friedrich Dürrenmatt
(summary)
In the following essay, Armin Arnold examines Dürrenmatt's evolution from depicting direct despair and theological themes in early works like Die Stadt to employing irony and grotesque elements in later plays, highlighting his persistent themes of human injustice and existential horror while emphasizing his innovative narrative techniques across various genres.
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Disclaimers and Paradoxes in Dürrenmatt
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In the following essay, Peter J. Graves explores the paradoxes in Friedrich Dürrenmatt's theatrical works, arguing that while Dürrenmatt attempts to distance his plays from moral and philosophical labels, his dramatic depictions of chaos, powerlessness, and personal responsibility inevitably convey deeper existential themes.
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Friedrich Dürrenmatt and the Legacy of Bertolt Brecht
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In the following essay, Kenneth S. Whitton argues that while Friedrich Dürrenmatt has been influenced by Bertolt Brecht's epic theatre, his works diverge significantly in their focus on human nature and the unpredictability of chance, favoring a symbolic dramaturgy that questions rather than answers, unlike Brecht's solution-oriented narratives.
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Friedrich Dürrenmatt's 'The Visit': Comedy or Tragedy? Avant-Garde or Traditional Theatre?
(summary)
In the following essay, Edward R. McDonald explores Friedrich Dürrenmatt's use of comic elements in "The Visit" to expose the tragic implications of a materialistic society, arguing that despite the comedic tones, the play profoundly critiques the erosion of individuality and moral values in modern life.
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The Dance of Death in Modern Drama: Auden, Dürrenmatt and Ionesco
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In the following essay, Sister Corona Sharp examines Dürrenmatt's play The Meteor as a modern reinterpretation of the Dance of Death, highlighting its grotesque and comedic universe where the protagonist Schwitter's repeated deaths and resurrections critique modern society's values and existential frustrations.
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Friedrich Dürrenmatt
(summary)
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Dürrenmatt, Friedrich (Vol. 102)
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Justice Breeds Murder: Justice in Dürrenmatt as Theme and as Theatrical Material
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In the following essay Robinson examines Dürrenmatt's use of justice. She looks at how justice is depicted as paradox and how the characters "choose to play madmen, clowns or victims in order to achieve their goals."
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Friedrich Dürrenmatt's Story 'Das Sterben der Pythia': Farewell to Theatre and a Return to Fiction and Essays?
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In the following essay, Spycher examines Dürrenmatt's use of chance and coincidence, specifically in 'Das Sterben der Pythia,' in place of fate.
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Scientific Method and Rationality in Dürrenmatt
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In the following essay, Wright shows how Dürrenmatt explores what is real by juxtaposing scientific method and speculation in his detective novels.
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Review of Achterloo
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In the following review, Mueller praises Dürrenmatt, but is disappointed by Achterloo. He reflects on his long-time appreciation for Dürrenmatt's earlier works and expresses concern that the playwright's latest work lacks the coherence of his previous plays.
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Lovers, Labours, and Cliff Top Meals: The Architectonics of Dürrenmatt's two Herkules Dramas
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In the following review, Wolfe compares the love scenes in the 1954 radio drama to the 1963 stage version of Dürrenmatt's Herkules. She contends that the love scenes were awkward in the radio drama, but are a more important subplot in the stage play.
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Space, Scenery and Action in Dürrenmatt's Plays
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In the following essay Yaron discusses how Dürrenmatt's use of specific and detailed stage directions yields an allegorical background for his plays.
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Through the Camera's Eye: An Analysis of Dürrenmatt's Der Auftrag
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In the following, Michaels examines Dürrenmatt's use of observation in Der Auftrag. Typical of his work, Dürrenmatt's characters are in a dichotomy—this time of not wanting to be observed, yet wanting to observe.
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Crimes of the Mind
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In the following review, Birkerts looks at the mind games and plot twists which Dürrenmatt has placed in The Execution of Justice and The Assignment.
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Terror as Usual in Friedrich Dürrenmatt's The Assignment
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In the following essay on Dürrenmatt's The Assignment, Scanlan explores the fragmentation of identity and 'the paired themes of terrorism and literary realism.'
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Review of Midas oder Die schwarze Lenwand
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The following is a favorable review of Dürrenmatt's Midas oder Die schwarze Lenwand, which narrates the story of an industrialist facing bankruptcy and a plan devised by his board of directors to help him, involving a fatal insurance scheme.
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Justice Breeds Murder: Justice in Dürrenmatt as Theme and as Theatrical Material
(summary)
- Dürrenmatt, Friedrich (Vol. 8)
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Dürrenmatt, Friedrich (Vol. 11)
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Friedrich Duerrenmatt and the Tragic Sense of Comedy
(summary)
In the following essay, Klarmann examines Dürrenmatt's plays, highlighting his use of baroque and often reworked titles, his embrace of the macabre akin to Kafka and Hoffmann, and his dramatic techniques such as romantic irony, soliloquy, and a blend of tragicomedy, while also addressing themes of human incomprehension and guilt.
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Dürrenmatt and the Detectives
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In the following essay, William Gillis explores how Friedrich Dürrenmatt elevates the detective genre to articulate his philosophical belief in the ultimate certainty of justice, emphasizing that justice transcends the capabilities of traditional detectives, aligning with the notion that true justice is a divine pursuit.
- Edward Diller
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Friedrich Dürrenmatt's Chaos and Calvinism
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In the following essay, Edward Diller explores how Friedrich Dürrenmatt's works reflect a religious conception rooted in a Calvinist theology, emphasizing man's helplessness and God's omnipotence, and highlighting the importance of divine justice over human endeavors in a world perceived as chaotic and absurd.
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The Fool as Tragic Hero: A Generic Reading of Friedrich Dürrenmatt
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In the following essay, Stephen Tapscott argues that Friedrich Dürrenmatt's plays feature tragic heroes who are foolish figures embodying ironic double-reversals, blending tragic and comic elements to critique the absurdities of contemporary society, with characters navigating their own absurdities while maintaining a sense of integrity and freedom through their choices.
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Escape into Inquietude: 'Der Richter und sein Henker'
(summary)
In the following essay, G. F. Benham explores the unsettling nature of Dürrenmatt's novel "Der Richter und sein Henker," emphasizing its departure from traditional detective stories and its thematic resonance with post-war Europe, particularly through the complex characterization of Kommissär Bärlach and the enigmatic criminality reminiscent of the Nazi era.
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Friedrich Duerrenmatt and the Tragic Sense of Comedy
(summary)
- Further Reading