A View From The Bridge Coursework
A View From The Bridge is partly about the family life of one Eddie Carbone and partly about a man's story of self-destruction as a social being. After raising his niece like his own daughter his life takes a turn when he accommodates two immigrants in his home. Up until now he has lived as a docker with his wife Beatrice and Catherine (his niece) as the head of the household and the only man in his niece's life. The arrival of the brothers brings jealousy and rivalry into the lives of these simple working class Sicilians. The author of the book, Arthur Miller, was no stranger to sudden, unexpected dramatic changes in his own life and had just about established himself as a major dramatist when he wrote the book. Here are two scenes that I think had the most visual impact on the story as a play.
Teaching Rodolpho to box:
It's an afternoon of confrontation at the Carbone household; Eddie has just finished warning Rodolpho in a friendly way about keeping Catherine out too late. After an awkward silence Catherine decides to put on a record and offers Rodolpho to dance. Rodolpho, feeling very intimidated declines at first feeling intimidated by Eddie's soft but forceful words a few minuets earlier. He is encouraged by Beatrice and the two dance while Eddie brings up the topic of boxing with Marco
In this scene there is a lot of tension taking place as Eddie offers to teach Rodolpho to box.
As Eddie is a very proud character who wouldn't talk openly about his feelings he shows his negative feelings for Rodolpho by trying to undermine him in front of the others. This scene is important because it reveals even to the more naïve audience how much Eddie really dislikes Rodolpho, the visual impact is that it reveals a part of Eddie that not even Beatrice or Catherine knew existed; a part of him that would do any sly, nefarious thing possible to undermine Rodolpho and remain the only major male role in Catherine's life.
This scene is a turning point in the story because it is the beginning of Eddie's childish battle to rid Rodolpho from his and his family's life. Rodolpho is a threat to Eddie's slowly surfacing obsession or undying love as it may be for his niece; the girl who he brought up like his own daughter. He is growing to love Catherine more physically than protectively and Rodolpho is interfering with this forbidden, but fatal love in which Eddie is going to make sure Rodolpho regrets ever taking Catherine as a ticket out of Italy (which is what Eddie assumes is the only reason Rodolpho is wooing her).
A View From The Bridge is partly about the family life of one Eddie Carbone and partly about a man's story of self-destruction as a social being. After raising his niece like his own daughter his life takes a turn when he accommodates two immigrants in his home. Up until now he has lived as a docker with his wife Beatrice and Catherine (his niece) as the head of the household and the only man in his niece's life. The arrival of the brothers brings jealousy and rivalry into the lives of these simple working class Sicilians. The author of the book, Arthur Miller, was no stranger to sudden, unexpected dramatic changes in his own life and had just about established himself as a major dramatist when he wrote the book. Here are two scenes that I think had the most visual impact on the story as a play.
Teaching Rodolpho to box:
It's an afternoon of confrontation at the Carbone household; Eddie has just finished warning Rodolpho in a friendly way about keeping Catherine out too late. After an awkward silence Catherine decides to put on a record and offers Rodolpho to dance. Rodolpho, feeling very intimidated declines at first feeling intimidated by Eddie's soft but forceful words a few minuets earlier. He is encouraged by Beatrice and the two dance while Eddie brings up the topic of boxing with Marco
In this scene there is a lot of tension taking place as Eddie offers to teach Rodolpho to box.
As Eddie is a very proud character who wouldn't talk openly about his feelings he shows his negative feelings for Rodolpho by trying to undermine him in front of the others. This scene is important because it reveals even to the more naïve audience how much Eddie really dislikes Rodolpho, the visual impact is that it reveals a part of Eddie that not even Beatrice or Catherine knew existed; a part of him that would do any sly, nefarious thing possible to undermine Rodolpho and remain the only major male role in Catherine's life.
This scene is a turning point in the story because it is the beginning of Eddie's childish battle to rid Rodolpho from his and his family's life. Rodolpho is a threat to Eddie's slowly surfacing obsession or undying love as it may be for his niece; the girl who he brought up like his own daughter. He is growing to love Catherine more physically than protectively and Rodolpho is interfering with this forbidden, but fatal love in which Eddie is going to make sure Rodolpho regrets ever taking Catherine as a ticket out of Italy (which is what Eddie assumes is the only reason Rodolpho is wooing her).
