Responsibility. “The state or fact of being accountable or to blame for something.” Synonym: Guilt. In Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s The Visit, responsibility is a major theme. In The Visit, Man Two declares Jews conspired to Guellen’s bankruptcy and detriment. Likewise, in Tadeusz Borowski’s This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen, the narrator declares Jews are not only accountable for their impending doom, but they are also accountable for the narrator’s lifestyle. It is plain that responsibility is placed into the hands of the Jews. In The Visit, Claire discloses to the townspeople that she arranged Guellen’s economic undoing to avenge the injustice perpetrated against her by Ill. Upon the realization of Ill’s part in their town’s ruination, the townspeople responded by justifying Ill’s imminent demise. He was guilty (responsible) of a grave injustice against Claire, an injustice that resulted in her suffering, after all. Ultimately, Ill is killed by a townsman, but with the validation of the whole town, including Ill’s family. This convolutes responsibility since it is out of the question for one individual to take responsibility for Ill’s death. Moreover, it is unfeasible for the whole town to take responsibility for Ill’s death, as a good deal of individuals partook in Ill’s killing.

In his interview, Jacques Ellul declares, “In a society such as ours, it is almost impossible for a person to be responsible.” He demonstrates this by providing a situation in which a dam is built somewhere and bursts. He continues by asking, “Who is responsible for that?” Is it the geologists, engineers, workmen, or politicians? He answers his question with, “No one. There is never anyone responsible. Anywhere.” This is in view of the fact that fragmentation occurs everywhere, specifically in the building of the dam in this situation. Jacques Ellul declaring it is impossible for a person to be responsible is exemplified in The Visit. When all’s said and done, no one in the town will be held responsible for Ill’s death because every townsperson was involved – Claire, the Mayor, the Priest, the Policeman, the Schoolmaster, Ill’s wife, Ill’s son, Ill’s daughter, and the remainder of the town. Everyone took delight in acquiring luxuries as a result of the remuneration received by the townspeople from Claire for Ill’s death.