A View from the bridge

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Mohammed Hussein Ahmed (Asghar)

A View from the Bridge

“The most dramatic moment of ‘A View from the Bridge’ are those when Eddie’s sense of his own masculinity is most threatened”

A View from the Bridge was written by Arthur Miller in 1955. The play is set in Brooklyn in America, New York. The plays context revolves around the illegal migration of poor unemployed people from Italy to the US during the 1950’s to find jobs.

The main characters are:

The Carbone Family – Eddie Carbone, the master of the house, he is 40 years old; he is described as “a husky, slightly overweight longshoreman.” He is self protective, selfish, has a code of honour, and during the course of the play obsessive. All these attributes conclude to a tragic death at the end, he loses everything. Eddie causes three types of conflict: verbal, Physical and personal. Eddie’s Wife, Beatrice Carbone is described as loving, caring, she is a typical Italian women of the household, thought the course of the play we see how Eddie’s love for Beatrice is deteriorating she asks “when am I gonna be a wife again, Eddie?”. She does not have children of her own and therefore cares for Catherine as if she is her own daughter. Catherine is 17 years old and an orphaned daughter of Beatrice’s sister Nancy. She is described as attractive, energetic, cheerful, yet also naïve, throughout the play she gains independence and maturity and grows strong. She loves Eddie like a father, she asks for approval from him for everything; but we later find that this relationship is extending. Catherine is the pivot in the play and she alone can stop it, so she is partly responsible for the tragedy.

Beatrice’s Cousin Marco is an illegal immigrant from a poor village is Sicily, he has left his family to earn money for a better life, he loves his family. He is described as extremely polite, simple, clear, responsible, protective, strong “as a regular bull”, honours justice, and feels he has a duty. Marco, due to his sense of justice and honour, is responsible for killing Eddie even though he was breaking a promise, although it could be perceived as self defence. Marcos younger brother Rodolpho, he is described as having good looks, has a sense of humour, talented, sensitive and approaching the end of the play, responsible. Rodolpho’s  is also a pivotal character in the play, his impression on the family makes him popular, he can cook, sing and sew, this tests Eddie’s Masculinity.

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Throughout the play, Alferi, who is a lawyer born in Italy and lived in Brooklyn for 25 years, commentates the action as if it is a flashback. He is interpreted as compassionate and abides by the justice. He is powerless to change the tragedy which he feels is inevitable.

The characters are all from Sicily, Italy, which has a history of gangsters – mafia, and violence. The people have a custom of honour, the worst crime that can be committed is ‘snitching’ on your family. The story of Vinny Balzona is an example of the consequences of ...

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