On the other hand, even though Alfieri cannot adjust the future, one function, which he does have, is to be able to foretell the future. From his commencing introduction he informs the audience that it is ‘unlucky’ to ‘meet a lawyer’ because they are ‘thought of in connection with disasters’. This takes place a few seconds before Eddie’s initial meeting with Alfieri. In merely the first paragraph of Alfieri’s speech, he reveals subtlety that he knows the ending, which will not end well. The references to the tragic protagonist, Eddie, are all in the past tense; his ‘name was Eddie Carbone’, ‘eyes were like tunnels’. This should also be noted, as it is a significant indication to the devastating conclusion. Alfieri introduces Eddie’s first appearance to the audience, immediately after describing cases, which ended in blood, to show an indication of Eddie’s outcome. This proves that by the end of all the flashbacks, Eddie will no longer live. Alfieri’s function is to slowly give indications of Eddie’s fate.
Being a character in the play, Alfieri has the important role of the lawyer, a man of the law and giving justice. However, he is not the central character because according to Greek tragedies, the first character to engage the chorus in dialogue, is considered the protagonist; therefore Eddie. Alfieri is not a character in the play until he has his first dialogue with Eddie; this interaction does not happen until the middle of act 1. Soon after, Eddie increasingly seeks out advice from Alfieri, and the audience realises how little, even a lawyer whose main job is to change the course of the future, can do in this particular situation. On the other hand, when Alfieri is being the narrator, his descriptions of the characters, and setting of the scene, at the beginning of each scene helps to distinguish the scenes between the two acts.
The speeches, which Alfieri makes, are not only used to separate each act, but also cunningly cryptic and conceals the intentions to builds up tension towards the finale. Alfieri informs the audience that Eddie’s ‘eyes were like tunnels’. This repeated simile, used by Miller, is very effective. It indicates that Eddie is already lost inside his own mind, with no way out of the sinister and delirious passage. The ‘passion that had moved into his body, like a stranger’ conveys Eddie almost as a paranormal beast, a residue of a Greek tragedy. Alfieri indicates Eddie’s end with his ‘every step, step after step, like a dark figure’ walking down a set path. This fear spoken about Eddie’s end is concurrent to the audience, thus, able to build tension.
A major theme in the play is law and justice, starting with Alfieri who is a lawyer. He establishes from the start that this is an important issue concerning the whole play. Even though ‘the law has not been a friendly idea’, a ‘lawyer means the law’. He states that in the past, sometimes lawyers have not always been successful in stopping a ‘complaint’ from running ‘its bloody course’. This in turn, causes the audience to question how much power the law really has on the people. In the play, and also in the 21st century, a lawyer is considered to be a profession with the most intelligent people, similar to Alfieri. They should have the solution to every problem. However, even these intelligent people cannot stop something tragic from happening. This shows that the law, as it stands, is incapable of doing what it was constructed for. Alfieri’s function as a lawyer, to deliver the law was not successful.
Honour is another driving force of Eddie. He was desperate to be honourable so that he would be respected in the neighbourhood. However, the price to receive his honour caused him to act instinctively without much straightforward thinking. Alfieri gives his advice that Eddie ‘will not have a friend in the world’ if he betrays Marco and Rodolpho. This is ironic because being the lawyer, Alfieri should be persuading Eddie to come forward with the brothers. This shows that Alfieri is loyal to Eddie until the end. Eddie does not take into account the advice given, instead, he snitches to the Immigration on the brothers. Exactly like Vinny Bolzano, Eddie received what he deserved by betraying family. Alfieri’s role in this was simply to observe because there was nothing he could have done to stop this fate from happening.
Whilst being a bridge between Italy and America, he is also a lawyer; therefore a connection between problems in society. Alfieri tries to create a bond with Eddie, Marco and Rodolpho. However this fails because the course of fate and destiny is too strong between the three men, for one diminutive man. Lastly, he is the bridge between the audience and the play. Acting as the narrator, aids the audience with information on what is happening in the play. He is always on stage, therefore, he is able to maintain a close relationship with the audience. Miller uses this advantage so that the audience will believe all of Alfieri’s judgements. This final interpretation of the title is Miller’s connection to a Greek drama. Alfieri associates the audience with the play as if they are directly attached to the play.
On the whole, Alfieri has a huge number of different dramatic functions; telling the story through a Greek-like chorus, symbolising the bridge in many various aspects, being a lawyer and participating in the play. He is an omniscient character because he knows everything; he is always on stage and also speaks directly to the audience. Alfieri tells the story because he considers it to be an interesting case; ‘the dust in this air is blown away’. This shows he does not get emotionally attached to his work, but he finds them entertaining to speculate. The last function of Alfieri in ‘A View from the Bridge’ ties up the play, and ironically brings the audience back to the title. Alfieri is the bridge; it is his flashbacks and opinions, which the audience receives. He commenced, concluded, and had the last word in the play.
