All the Law-is not in a book - Arthur Miller the writer of " A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE" was born in New York in 1915 and studied at the University of Michigan.

Ese Enahoro

All the Law-is not in a book

Arthur Miller the writer of “ A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE” was born in New York in 1915 and studied at the University of Michigan. He does not only write plays but also writes screenplays for films. His screenplays include The Misfits, starring Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe. ”A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE” is a play that shows different cultures and traditions between two countries America and Italy; the play uses its characters to show the cultures and traditions between the two countries. In this play we see that the Sicilian law which is based in Italy is used very often. E.g. Alfieri says in his opening speech that.

“A Lawyer means the law, and in Sicily, from where their fathers” came, the law has not been a friendly idea since the Greeks were beaten.

The play is set in America, Brooklyn. It is set in a neighbourhood full of immigrants that came to settle in Brooklyn. Alfieri describes this place also in his opening speech when he says…

“ But this is Red Hook, not Sicily. This is the slum that faces the bay” on the seaward side of Brooklyn Bridge.

He is basically saying that they still follow the Sicilian rule in this community. They have a tradition and they use this tradition. Brooklyn is in New York City, which has a small population of working immigrants. The title “AVIEW FORM THE BRIDGE” might mean a lot of things; it might mean somebody looking down from a bridge observing the community, it might also mean Alfieri is being told by someone else about the story of the community being Red Hook. Millar could have seen this district and wondered what that area was like and therefore decided that he was going to write a play about it. Additionally this play might be based on a true story, a true situation that happens in every aspect of life and a true tragedy.

When Marco was in custody he said

“In my country he would be dead now.”

This statement made by Marco shows us the two differences between the American law and the Sicilian law. In the American law it is right to report an illegal immigrant, you might even be rewarded for it. On the other hand in the Sicilian law you are a traitor, you are a dead man or woman. You have reported your own kind therefore you will be dealt with. Marco is unable to understand why Eddie should not be punished for his betrayal. Marcos sense of morality is very clear, he believes in the Sicilian law and strongly believes that Eddie should be dealt with.

Alfieri challenges Marcos viewpoint when he says

“In a book. There is no other law”.

We see that Alfieri reminds him of the existence of American law, he also reminds Marco that he is in America and he should follow the American law not the Sicilian law. We also see that the way Alfieri talks to Marco shows us how dedicated he is to his job. In his own opinion they are all in America so they ...

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Alfieri challenges Marcos viewpoint when he says

“In a book. There is no other law”.

“If he obeys the law, he lives. That’s all.”

In A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE the two cultures are a lot different from each other: in the Sicilian culture it is basic, rough justice based on family honour and preserving a good name. It is also stricter in terms of capital punishment e.g. when Marco kills Eddie. Additionally the Sicilian law is based on emotions. Marco spits at Eddie and accuses and damns him as a criminal, people automatically believe Marco because he is following the Sicilian culture; in the Sicilian culture this action is taken very seriously so therefore Eddies dignity and respect will decline. Eddie becomes so furious because in his eyes, Marco has taken his name and his honour away from him, by accusing him of the ultimate crime. Marco says

“ That one! He killed my children! That one stole the food from my”

Children!

In other words Eddie is a traitor to his own kind, therefore he should be punished for what he has done.

The American law is strait forward, if you obey the rules you have know problems. We see this when Eddie reports about the illegal immigrants Rodolpho and Marco in his house. In the American law Eddies action is of course a good one, he is therefore a responsible citizen who should be rewarded. Individual can apply to the American law. Overall the American law is official; the law is based on logic and reason, applied by the authorities.

Alfieri coming from an Italian background and Italian origin knows the local people and their culture well; he knows the Sicilian law and the American law including the differences between both of them. Alfieri is an example of a changed Sicilian individual who knows the American law. In Alfieris first speech he talks about justice and says that

“There were many here who were justly shot by unjust men.”

This means that in this community some people are rough and don’t even follow both of the laws. Why Afieris opening speech is important is because it tells us the cultures of both countries. In Alfieris opening speech he says

“And now we are quite civilized, quite American. Now we settle for half, and I like it better. I no longer keep a pistol in my filing cabinet.”

This means that this community had nothing to do with the American law before. A lot of crimes have being committed in this community and it also means this community has being following the Sicilian culture all through. But now they have improved civilisation and have moved on. Alfieri says he no longer keep a pistol in his cabinet; this means that it was very unsafe at that time and no one else was safe without a weapon in his/her pocket. At the end of this speech Alfieri gives us an idea that this community might not have changed, there are still some people who are still following the basic Sicilian rule.

Eddie visits Alfieri to talk about Catherine and Rodolpho. In this scene we see the illustrations of the two different cultures, Alfieris argument is in the law. In the other hand eddies argument is rather rational. Eddie tries to make Alfieri understand his feelings and opinions but Alfieri does not. Eddie has this belief that Rodolpho likes Catherine only because she is an American citizen. Alfieri explains the law, what it is and how it works to Eddie. Alfieri says

“Because there’s nothing illegal about a girl falling in”

Love with an immigrant.

I think this statement is very important because he tells Eddie directly to his face what his own opinion is. He also tells Eddie how he thinks he should tackle this situation. Alfieri is also trying to make Eddie understand that this is a situation that needs to be solved by him only. If Eddie forgets about the relationship between Catherine and Roldopho and just allows it, the whole situation will be solved; eventually everyone can get on with their own lives. Eddie argues with Alfieri about Rodolpho and his relationship with Catherine.

Eddie cannot understand why there is not a law, which can prevent Rodolpho marring Catherine. In the traditional Sicilian society, if Roldolpho is considered

Unsuitable he would simply be forbidden to see Catherine. Catherine would have been ordered to stop seeing him. Both would have accepted the decision of the family. Eddie does not like Rodolpho and therefore Rodolpho shouldn’t be allowed to see Catherine. Eddie is quite unable to call upon any law, written or unwritten, to support him in these circumstances. He wants to stop Catherine from getting married to Rodolpho but does not know how; he is therefore frustrated, angry, prepared to act against Rodolpho to stop him. At the end of this scene Alfieri’s comments suggest impending disaster yet to come he says

“Yes, but those things have to end. Eddie, that’s all”

The child has to grow up and go away.

This piece of information and others foreshadows later events in the future. Alfieri’s last speech tells us that he knows what’s going to happen. Alfieri said that he even went up to an old woman in the community for advice and she only said pray for him. He knew the future, he could tell, he could read it but yet he could not stop this tragedy.

When Marco finally comes for Eddie and the two confront each other, They are more influenced by the Sicilian law. They will now finally settle their case once and for all; they will also regain honour for victor and regain their dignity back. This is the basic fight to death; neither of them can withdraw. Seeing this if any one withdraws maybe or will be seen as a coward and therefore will not be seen as a man. Neither of them will compromise because that is the American law. They don’t want to follow the American law because they are Italians and they are also in an Italian community. So if any of them should compromise that person will be following the American law and on the other hand will be against the Sicilian law. Overall we see one of the differences between the American law and the Sicilian law; the Sicilian law is uncompromising, the two characters do not settle for half. They will fight just to regain their respect for being a dominant male till death and they will also fight just to claim their dignity. But the American law is compromising; although if the two characters did follow the American law they would have settled for half and this situation would have been forgotten.

The old law has greater hold on both characters than contemporary American law. Marco has given an apparent promise that he will not touch Eddie, but will he fulfil this promise? No he will not. Marcos intention to punish Eddie is not a selfish one; he feels that it is his duty to do so. His revenge is inevitable: it is in contact with nature, it is an event that can not be stopped or cannot be taken back to its beginning. The American laws being an essentially foreign country have no hold over Marco. In this scene we see the similarities between Eddie and Marco. When their minds are made up, they are totally focused and they employ tunnel vision.

Alfieri is left at the end of this tragedy with mixed feelings. He mourns Eddies useless and unnecessary death. Thoughts begin to occur in Alfieris mind If only he had compromised, if only he would have settled for half and didn’t allow his evil mind to take over him. To Alfieri settling for half and compromising is the sensible thing to do if it allows you to remain alive. But also admires Eddie for his honesty and following his destiny: at the end if Eddies death Alfieri says

“He allowed himself to be wholly known.”

This means that he respects Eddie for allowing himself to follow his true feelings although he is a bit alarmed about his feelings for Eddie, he is alarmed that he admires Eddie because he followed his own way.

In “A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE” not only the two conflicting attitudes are presented, but also the backgrounds of different characters are presented. Both Marco and Rodolpho come into America and tries to adapt to the new law. But we see that Marco has difficulty adapting to the new law and this is were the Sicilian law is taken into his own hands. It is hard to decide on which sides I will agree with because I think both cultures have advantages and disadvantages. They are the same although what might be good on the other culture may not be good in the next one. There are different laws in both cultures but are somehow linked to each other.

I can’t sympathise with Eddies dilemma because I think he was the cause of this tragedy, which he ended up dead. If only he allowed the relationship between Rodolpho and Catherine to carry on without his interrogations, they wouldn’t have been in this situation. Additionally he wouldn’t have ended up dead. I strongly don’t agree with Marco’s actions at the end of the play, even though he might have followed the Sicilian law. This is were I think the American law is better, if you kill someone else it is a serious crime and you will be seriously dealt with. Marco took the law into his own hands and I personally think he wanted to kill Eddie not only because of the Sicilian law but also because of his own cruel mind. Marco wanted to kill Eddie; he wanted to stop Eddie from coming between Rodolpho and Catherine so he decided to kill Eddie, which he succeeded.

I think it is “better to settle for half” because everything does not have to end in a particular way. Even though you lose your dignity, you don’t have to die like the way Eddie did. Alfieri says

“Most of the time now we settle for half and I like”

It better.

This shows that Alfieri did not support what Marco did. Over all it is better to compromise, to accept the fact that you are not going to get the exact thing you want.