Alfieri has also been cast as the Greek chorus, a non-judgmental role, in Eddie’s inevitable tragedy. The Greek chorus cannot affect the course of the play because Eddie has a fatal flaw, which unfortunately leads to a tragedy. He opens and closes the play, bridges the gaps between time and place along with introducing us to the characters. Alfieri admittedly cannot help Eddie; he has to defenselessly watch the tragic events unfold before his eyes. He as a Greek chorus is like Miller, when he first heard the tale of the longshoreman. The Brooklyn Bridge looks over to Red Hook where immigrants live. Alfieri looks over the bridge, and as a Greek chorus he tells the tale of Eddie Carbone. He is an ordinary person who offers his own views; he acts as a witness to the events.
Alfieri is also a symbolic bridge between tribal laws and the American law. Being an Italian- American he can emphasis with the other characters and is true to his ethnic identity. He is well educated; he studies and respects the American law, but is still loyal to Italian customs. Alfieri is a middle class man and with a profession like his he has to be rational. He sympathizes with Eddie and offers advice as his lawyer and a friend. Alfieri knew Eddie before the events because he had previously worked with his father.
Behind the hardworking hero of the tragedy there is a jealous, over protective Italian- American. Italians are a proud race and have a strong sense of traditional values in their communities. Eddie betrays his wife’s cousins by calling the authorities. Marco, as any man, is angered by such behavior. He spits in Eddie’s face announcing,“ I accuse that one “. Eddie is envious of Rodolfo and barely speaks to him; he refers to him in the third person. All because Rodolfo has fallen for his niece, like he himself has. Eddie is the tragic protagonist with a fatal flaw which is he cannot settle for half. He demands respect, he wants to promote and protect his innocence. His main focus is protecting Catherine, seventeen years old, from a male relationship, due to the fact he wants to control and posess her. Eddie seems unable to understand his feelings for his Beatrice’s niece, until the end, unlike other characters who realize at the beginning. Beatrice articulates his desires, “ You want something else, Eddie, and you can never have her “. Eddie fails in his life, he lives in his own world, he only cares for himself and Catherine. However he seeks redemption and victory in his death. A tragic figure who regains some of him former self in the loss of his life. He allows himself to become whole again. A wholly self-interested act is when he avenges Marco and believes he will regain his pride in the community. Eddie’s tragic flaw is the constructed world he exists within but is unable to escape or recognize.
Eddie, although a diligent man, is not educated. Alfieri is a proper articulate, unlike Eddie who uses a naturalistic Brooklyn slang accent. He speaks simply but also with an irrational tone. Alfieri, as a Greek chorus and character, stays calm throughout. Including when Eddie goes to visit him and he is offended yet puzzled by his lawyer’s talk. Alfieri answers, “I gave you my advice…That’s it”. He has given Eddie his opinion yet Eddie does not listen, he believes he is correct. Both men are of the same generations yet Alfieri has left his childish behaviour where it belongs. Alfieri has common sense in contrast to the main character who acts on raw emotion. For example he kisses Rodolfo, making the matter in hand worse. He does not think before he acts. Neither males are romantic, Beatrice talks to Eddie in a mature, loving way but her relationship with his seems more of a friend rather than that of a lover. Eddie is obsessed with himself and Catherine, not for Beatrice.
Alfieri describes Eddie, “ His eyes were like tunnels; my first thought was that he had committed a crime, but soon I saw it was only a passion that had moved into his body, like a stranger,” apon their first meeting as a person unable to control himself. The passion that Alfieri describes is that for Catherine. This quote also reveals Alfieri’s style. He tells the tale of Eddie as if he is a legend. In their second encounter Alfieri counsels Eddie to no avail. He sees no point in repeating what he had voiced in their first meeting, that only law can help. Instead, he can foretell that desperation will direct him to betraying the brothers, he warns him against it. Alfieri had to, “Sit there powerless and watch it run its bloody course”. There is nothing he could do even at the beginning. Eddie had a fatal flaw. He cannot settle for half, he wants everything, mainly wishing for respect.
Alfieri’s final words, “ Most of the time we settle for half and I like it better. Even as I know how wrong he was, and his death useless, I tremble, for I confess that something perversely pure calls to me from his memory… Not purely good, but himself purely…And yet, it is better to settle for half, it must be! And so I mourn him- I admit- with a certain…Alarm,” are those which close Miller’s play. With the central conflict of A View From The Bridge, the self will verse the will of the community. Eddie’s actions are completely motivated by his own desire at the expense of others. Alfieri suggests that Eddie acted as a whole person who is unrestrained. We as humans should act halfway to preserve the rules of the community and lives of others. We are not the only people in the world; we should do what we can for fellow people, especially family and friends. His wholeness is an interest in his own life. Self-interest is also a flaw that Alfieri sees both admired to and alarming.
