Dicsuss the themes of masculinity and Hostillity in a View from a bridge. How does Miller present these themes?

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Ravi Lakhani 11Y

Discuss the Significance of the Themes of Masculinity and Hostility in a View from the Bridge. How does Miller present these themes.

Masculinity is one of the prevalent themes in A View From a Bridge .  The four main male roles in the play: Eddie, Rodolpho, Marco and Alfieri each convey a separate sense of masculinity. It appears that the men’s different ideas about masculinity lead to hostility between them and to the inevitable ending.

The main character Eddie Carbone, is of a low social class and not  well educated. His views of masculinity are very strict and particular. He believes that men should be strong, they should be the breadwinner in the household and someone who cares for their family. He also feels that men should protect their family, tell them when they are doing wrong, and guide them back on to the right path. He says to Cathrine “I’m responsible for you.” These strong views cause hostility throughout the play.

Any man who does not conform to Eddie's views, becomes his enemy; this is clearly shown in his relationship with Rodolpho. Rodolpho is very effeminate character who clearly does not match up with Eddie's image of what makes a man. Eddie picks on Rodolpho about the fact that he has blonde hair, cooks, sings, is weak  and makes dresses; which in Eddie's eyes are characteristics of a typical woman, or maybe even a homosexual. Eddie’s own masculinity is threatened as he has some feelings for Catherine and Rodolpho is going out with her. His dislike of Rodolpho is further heightened as he feels that Rodolpho is  dishonourable in marrying Catherine, not out to love, but as a means of staying legally in America.  

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To justify his hatred of Rodolpho, Eddie interprets everything Rodolpho does into something different, and more typical of a woman. He ridicules Rodolpho's blonde hair, which he believes is feminine and is continuously saying to Beatrice such things about Rodolpho  as: "wacky hair", "he's like a weird", "blondie" and "he's like a chorus girl". All these mocking comments are trying to persuade Beatrice that Rodolpho is an unusual and effeminate man. Eddie also tries to pick away at Rodolpho by saying that he is a singer and that people ridicule him for singing on the boats, where Rodolpho used ...

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