A View From The Bridge

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                                    Coursework Essay     

Explore how Arthur Miller develops the character of Eddie Carbone in three key episodes in “A View from the Bridge’’

Arthur Miller worked on the Brooklyn docks amongst many longshoremen and dockers such as Eddie Carbone. Working on the docks was a significant time in Arthur Miller’s life because that’s where he met Italian American immigrants which inspired him to write “A View from the Bridge.’’    

Arthur Miller creates Eddie Carbone’s character like a Modern Greek Tragic hero because when the play starts the audience respects and admires his character. He is loving to his wife and protective of his niece. But as the play continues you start to see the real Eddie Carbone unfold.

The audience’s first impression of Eddie Carbone is a very honourable person who has pride in his niece. He is quite concerned about her sexuality, for example he says to her “your walkin wavy” and “heads are turning like windmills.” He is concerned because he wants to protect Catherine and feels that she is sexually vulnerable. Eddie also demonstrates concern for his wife. He says that she has “too big a heart”. The audience would be quite impressed with his sense of responsibility.

Moreover Eddie seems very keen to help the fellow Italians on their arrival. He insists that they behave very discreetly for example when he is describing to Catherine and Beatrice the dangers of holding illegal immigrants he says “You don’t know nothing! They got stool pigeons all over this neighbourhood”. By saying this, the audience would probably think he is very loyal.

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However, Eddie can be seen to reveal a frailty in his character very early on. He clearly shows some paranoia and over-protectiveness for his niece. You can tell this when he complains to her “why didn’t you ask me before you got a job”. Eddie is asking for too much control over Catherine. Like a tragic hero, he is honourable but there is something unsettling about his character. Also his reaction after Catherine lights his cigar could interpret this over-protectiveness he shows for her could in fact be a disturbing feature in his character.

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