How does Miller use the role of Alfieri to involve the audience and illustrate the cultural context of the play?

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How does Miller use the role of Alfieri to involve the audience and illustrate the cultural context of the play?

In Millers play 'A View from the Bridge', the character of Alfieri is used to include the audience and demonstrate the cultural context of the play in a number of ways. For example, Alfieri commentates on the action in detail so that the audience can understand the events more vividly. In ancient plays, an essential part of the play was that of a chorus: a group of figures who would watch the action, comment on it, and address the audience directly. In this play, Alfieri is the equivalent of the chorus.

The play is opened with a prologue- a speech given by Alfieri. It is used, for us to have an idea of the setting to the plot. Alfieri's speech introduces the major themes of the play and places them in past perspective. In addition, this gives the audience an impression of the modern stereotype of Italian immigrants into the country. It is also instantaneously obvious that Alfieri is a significant character involved in the action as well as being the narrator of events that have happened.