Alfieri is a fundamental device in the play. He helps the reader to appreciate the complicated scenarios in the play. He analyses the more complex parts of the play and is used, almost as Miller’s personal device to get a message to the reader. Being affiliated with both state justice and vigilante law makes him an unbiased character, and as a consequence, creates a significant, sincere and reliable character for the readers to use as their ΄window΄ to the events in the play.
Alfieri is a man of morals. Again, referring to the end of Act 1, Alfieri knows it is not illegal for Eddie to engage in a sexual involvement with Catherine, because, although her legal guardian, Eddie is not her blood relative. However, when he assumes Eddie is suggesting anything of the sort, he immediately replaces these thoughts with questions to try and discourage Eddie, such as, ΄you wanna marry her? ΄ He realises Eddie is in quite a volatile condition. He tells Eddie that he will need evidence to prove anything. It shows Alfieri is trying to help on a personal basis, but, he is a lawyer and he cannot help unless he is administered proof that Rodolpho is gay or is marrying Catherine for immigration.
I think the title of the play can also refer to Alfieri’s character. ΄A view from the bridge΄ could exemplify the bridge between the characters, Eddie and Rodolpho, or the social bridge between the play and its audience. Both images could include Alfieri as the main device. For example, the bridge between Eddie and Rodolpho is viewed by Alfieri, who has the legal advantage of being closely engaged with both characters. However, the bridge between the actual storyline and the readers would be Alfieri, as he is the tool which enables us, the audience, to recognize what is going on in the play as well as making it easier for us to experience a close relationship with the characters and the writer.
It seems quite appropriate to have a lawyer playing the crucial role that Alfieri plays, especially in this play which focuses on laws, codes, trust and legality. In this play, Alfieri is known as the ΄smart man΄, because, although a diminutive, neighbouring lawyer, he’s still the most educated man in the neighbourhood and is well respected. He gives the impression that he could be greater in his profession when he states, ΄my practice is entirely unromantic΄, it’s a modest practice, but he is aware of this, almost as if he chooses to be a minor in his league. Nevertheless, he is still looked up to by the dockers and labourers, and he probably enjoys helping those who are usually neglected. This adds humbleness to his character and makes him more of someone to look up to as a reader.
It seems as though, during the two acts of this play, even Alfieri has gathered a slight understanding of the bridge between law and fairness. Since the beginning of the play, we see Alfieri’s views change to some extent as he is undergoing this significant ΄learning process΄. We can notice this as he changes from saying ΄law is very important here΄ to ΄justice is very important here΄. I assume Miller used these two inputs purposefully to illustrate how the characters views on ΄omerta΄ had intensified after witnessing the consequences of breaking this highly appraised, time-honoured law.