Examine how modern protagonists are caught in a classical, tragic tale of revenge and obsession from which their heritage leaves them no escape.
Examine how modern protagonists are caught in a classical, tragic tale of revenge and obsession from which their heritage leaves them no escape.
The following essay studies how the characters' Italian/Sicilian backgrounds influenced the outcome of 'A view from a bridge' by Arthur Miller, a story of treachery and betrayal, towards family and friends and members of the same culture. The protagonists in this story all add a little to this tragic play, from which it seems there is no escape. I shall endeavor to study all aspects of the characters' personalities, and discover why they acted the way they did in certain situations in this book. This story is interesting to the reader, as each character seems to have a different view in each situation, which all add up to the story's climax at the end, when it is clear that although everyone has different views, they all believe Eddie to be in the wrong. Are they correct in thinking this, or was it due to the backgrounds and beliefs of each character?
During Act 1, we are introduced to the first character, Alfieri. This character appears to be the 'narrator' of the story. He starts off by telling us of recent events. He refers to these events as,
'Something amusing that just happened'.
Is Alfieri an unbiased character in this story? Since he is the narrator we assume that he takes an all round view and takes nobody's side. Whether this is true or not, we shall see by the rest of the story.
Are Sicilians pessimistic? He talks as if the whole town is against him. Do all Sicilians tend to be as pessimistic as he appears to be?
'In this neighbourhood to meet a lawyer or a priest in the street is unlucky'.
He believes that people barely acknowledge him in the street, only giving him a nod, hardly even noticing him. Eddy's speech is written in blank verse, his language and speech showing us that he is a well-educated man. His speech is filled with formal and poetic language. He talks as if the world has been unjust toward him, as if he is not quite content with the world around him, but is not quite sure what could be done to correct it all. He tells us:
'Justice is very important here'.
It seems to be ironic that the people are afraid of the law that protects them. They believe in justice and yet they are wary of the law, and therefore do not seem to care to believe that lawyers exist. Alfieri even tells us,
'A lawyer means the law.'
All that he says tends to make us believe him to be a pessimist. He seems to think that everyone is against him. Does he think himself to be a bad person? He talks as though he craves Sicily, although he starts to talk of missing Sicily and hastily covers up by ending the sentence with,
'...And I like it better, I no longer keep a pistol in my filing cabinet.'
He tells us that justice is important here. It must be even more significant to him, because he is a lawyer, and justice is the tool of his trade.
However he does not talk like a happy man. He seems not to particularly agree with all the laws. It appears that he is unhappy with his work. He views it as: -
'Entirely unromantic'.
This implies that he has lost all passion for his work.
Alfieri seems like a man who wishes for more than he has. He is unhappy with the mundane lifestyle that he leads and wishes for some excitement in his life or job. He is a reliable source of unbiased information and it is clear that we can trust him.
At this point in the story, Eddie is introduced into the script. Alfieri introduces him, describing him as,
'A longshoreman working on the docks from Brooklyn Bridge to the breakwater where the open sea begins.'
He says nothing more of Eddie and that is how his speech ends.
We are now faced with Eddie. He is described in the stage directions as a forty-year-old, husky, overweight man. His description is unattractive, and when he starts talking, there is a dramatic change from Alfieri in his conversation. It is more laid back. Alfieri spoke in formal language, but Eddies' speech is entirely relaxed.
'Well, I'll see ya, fellas.'
He appears to be a stereotypical male.
Soon Catherine is added to the conversation. We are not immediately told what her role is in this play. Who is she? She could be Eddie's daughter, but her actions towards Eddie, suggest that she is his wife, and his response to her actions agree with this. She talks to him about the length of her skirt. It is a slightly comical, provocative conversation. The conversation between the two people - Eddie and Catherine - continues to be blatantly coquettish, and suddenly Eddie gets quite protective and turns into something of a father figure, when he accuses Catherine of having a skirt that is too short. Catherine's immediate response is to take offence. She answers with a 'No!' as if the very thought of Eddie disapproving mortifies her. We can see that throughout the play, Catherine is always looking to please Eddie.
If Eddie is Catherine's father, there may be an implication of the potential for incest. It is clear that Eddie has a sense of responsibility for Catherine and that she has a reciprocal respect for him as an adult figure. Eddie has the maturity of years, while Catherine has the innocence of youth.
Catherine behaves in a mixed way; she acts as if she is trying to be sophisticated, and as she points out to Eddie her skirt is the latest fashion, as are her high heels. She has changed her hair in to a fashionable style. The body language that Catherine conveys to Eddie is slightly babyish, asking for his approval, and running to get him a beer to keep him from getting mad at her.
We do not yet know of Catherine's age. Eddie calls her a college girl, which implies that she is not yet old enough ...
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Catherine behaves in a mixed way; she acts as if she is trying to be sophisticated, and as she points out to Eddie her skirt is the latest fashion, as are her high heels. She has changed her hair in to a fashionable style. The body language that Catherine conveys to Eddie is slightly babyish, asking for his approval, and running to get him a beer to keep him from getting mad at her.
We do not yet know of Catherine's age. Eddie calls her a college girl, which implies that she is not yet old enough to go to college, as he is commenting on how she looks older. However her clothes and the way she poses for Eddie, suggest that she is 16 or 17, her words and actions tell us differently, she appears by her words to be a young daughter of Eddies. Always trying to please, and horrified at the thought of displeasing him. A lady known as 'B' is now introduced to the script she has not yet entered the room but is being shouted by Catherine and Eddie. It is Catharine who introduces 'B' calling her to hurry up. Eddie has not yet even asked where 'B' is. We do not know the relationship of any of these people. When Eddie does speak to 'B' he shouts her to hurry up, stating that
'Her cousins landed'
As the story unfolds, the full implications of this statement become clear and the scene is set for the plot to develop.
When 'B' is told of this news, she immediately enters. Eddie explains to Beatrice that a man named 'Tony Bereli' told him that the
'Ship was in the North River'
Beatrice panics and wants everything to be perfect for when they arrive. Eddie is clearly not as excited, and helps to calm Beatrice down. Eddie acts strangely toward Beatrice, in a way he acts as if he has to look after her, however there is no where near as much emotion in this conversation between Eddie and Beatrice as there was between Eddie and Catherine. Beatrice also calls Catherine 'baby', from the way Catherine is treated it is easy to assume that she is a child.
As the family start to eat, there is another conversation, this is between all three of them, Eddie, Beatrice and Catherine. Catherine tells Eddie that she has got a job. Eddie reacts as a father figure towards Catherine when he is told this and immediately reacts, taken aback by what she has told him. He acts fairly over protective on Catherine, because if she is to get a job, she cannot be a child. Eddie wishes for Catherine to finish school, even though - as Catherine tells him - Her teacher advised Catherine to take the position, telling her that she can come back to school later and take the exams. It's a good, well paid job but Eddie still disagrees with Catherine and believes that she should finish school. Beatrice joins in with the conversation. She agrees with Catherine, and she is of the opinion that it can do nothing but good for Catherine to take the job. Eddie makes up a lot of excuses why he does not want Catherine to work for the company. Finally the real reason comes out. He tells her that it is not in a good neighbourhood, because it's close to a plumbing company, and it's by the waterfront so there will be a lot of sailors. It seems that he is jealous, it is as if he does not want Catherine to meet new people, namely men.
Beatrice tells us Catherine's age. In the argument of whether Catherine should work or not, Beatrice shouts at Eddie: -
'She's 17 years old!'
This is interesting, as this is the first time Catherine's age is mentioned it is a very important factor in the story as it changes our whole perspective of the play. The way Catherine acts towards Eddie is strange, as they cannot be husband and wife as Eddie is 40 and she is 17. However she is also not a child. Her actions in the first scene lead us to believe that she is either Eddie's wife or a young child talking to her father or close relative. Considering the age gap, if Eddie is not the father, then is his behavior towards her acceptable? If he is not the father then what is the relationship between the two? Eddie gets upset when thinking about Catherine getting a job, and when he reluctantly agrees that Catherine should be allowed, he seems to get even more upset, and sentimental in a way. The stage directions say; '...with a sense of her childhood, her babyhood, and the years'. This tells us a significant amount about Eddie, it tells us that he has looked after her, or known her since Catherine was a small baby. It means that Catherine grew up with Eddie and probably Beatrice. Eddie goes on to agree to Catherine working and then starts to state how this is just the start, and how as soon as she has enough money she'll move away, he says: -
'That's life. And you'll come visit on Sundays. Then once a month, then Christmas and New Years, finally.'
He is acting as if he never wants her to leave him, as if he is begrudging her wish to be independent. He seems to want to make Catherine feel guilty because she has to grow up. After this passionate conversation between Catherine and Eddie, of which Beatrice was not a part, They go back to a simple conversation about Eddie's day. Catherine moves the conversation back on to the immigrants. They haven't yet said anything about the fact that what they are going to do (house immigrants) is in fact illegal. It is at this point that Catherine asks what will happen if someone asks if the immigrants are living there. Eddie refers to Catherine again as 'baby', which we now know she is definitely not. Eddie acts as though Catherine is too young to understand but at 17 years old this is not the case. Eddie at this point even talks to Beatrice as if she were a child, Beatrice argues that she understands, but Eddie does not think that this is true. This shows a little more of his character, it shows that he likes to look down on people and treat them younger than himself, as if he is the know-all and everyone else only pretends to be. It also shows us a little of Catherines and Beatrice's character, it shows that Catherine like to be fathered she likes to be treated as a child, whereas Beatrice resents being treated as if she does not understands she wants to be thought of as Eddies equal.
Catherine is always running to help Eddie, constantly trying to please, she likes to be treated like a child, and like to be complimented by Eddie. Eddie enjoys to be waited on by Catherine he likes to let her do things for him such as fetch him a beer and light his cigar. Beatrice acts like the odd one out. She seems to compete for affection with Catherine, from Eddie.
At this point in the play, Alfieri returns into the script. He tells us that Eddie was a good man, and then he introduces the cousins into the script. It is a short paragraph but tells us a little of Alfieri. He talks in past tense, telling us he was a good man. What does he mean by this? It tells us he thought a lot of Eddie before a certain time, but that his opinion of Eddie has changed.
There are three new characters introduced to this play now, two of which will play a vital part in the events to come. Marco, Tony and Rodolfo enter. Tony is the man who was spoken of earlier, the man who was to deliver the immigrants to Beatrice's, Catherines and Eddies home. That means that Marco and Rodolfo are the immigrants. When they are introduced to the family, Eddie gives Marco a handshake, but does not at this point in the play acknowledge Rodolfo. Now, Beatrice introduces Catherine as her sisters' daughter. So now we know that Eddie is Catherines uncle. This gives us entirely different perspective on their relationships, and makes us think that perhaps Eddie and Catherines relationship is bordering on incest.
Marco is very polite towards the family, whereas Rodolfo seems shy and stays very quiet. Rodolfo says nothing until Catherine asks of him: -
'How come he's so dark and you're so light Rodolfo?'
This is not particularly polite and very inquisitive of Catherine, however since it is her home, she probably feels that she can say what she likes to these people who are so deeply in her and her families debt. Eddie interrupts the conversation between Catherine and Rodolfo with an insignificant question,
'How's the coffee doing?'
After Catherine has answered Eddie directs his entire conversation towards Marco. Perhaps it is due to the fact that Marco seems more appreciative and more adult than Rodolfo. Half way through Eddies and Marcos conversation, Rodolfo add a little. He seems to have gained confidence through listening to Eddies and Marcos talk.
Throughout the following conversations, Eddie address' everything he says more and more to Marco rather than Rodolfo. It even notes this in the stage directions. When Rodolfo really starts to come out of his shell, and tells everyone what he wants to do with the money he makes living with them, Eddie laughs when Marco contradicts what Rodolfo says. It is not clear whether Eddie is laughing with Rodolfo or at Rodolfo.
It is obvious that from the moment Catherine laid eyes on Rodolfo there was something about him that attracted her to him. This is not a strange thing as their characters are very similar. They are both very charismatic, slightly immature in the same ways as Catherine is.
When Beatrice and Eddie are on their own, they have a discussion about Rodolfo. This conversation is clearly sometime later, a few weeks since the cousins arrived perhaps. Eddie appears to have a problem with Rodolfo, but Beatrice doesn't understand why. The conversation starts off with Eddie stating the time. It is immediately obvious that he is expecting someone. Beatrice replies: -
'It's a long show at the paramount.'
Although we don't actually know who it is that has gone to the paramount, we can be sure that it is going to be Catherine and Rodolfo. Eddie appears to be worried about Catherine and Rodolfo, from the way he talks we can tell that he was against the idea of Catherine going to the pictures with him anyway. He is acting like a father figure, overprotective and full of worry. Beatrice is behaving very differently. She realises that Catherine is old enough to stay out with whom she may choose, whenever she fancies. It is however, only 8:00. This is grossly unfair toward Catherine, for Eddie to be so protective when it has just gone 8:00 and she is 17, and he is not even her father.
Eddie tells Beatrice that Rodolfo: -
'Gives him the heebie-jeebies'
Beatrice doesn't understand why he is so against Rodolfo, and why he has taken such a disliking to him. He seems to think that Rodolfo is a slightly effeminate character. Beatrice cannot understand, and thinks that Eddie will never think that anyone is good enough for Catherine.
It becomes clear in this conversation that Beatrice has realised how Eddie is totally overprotective of Catherine, and approaches Eddie with the subject. He just ignores her and denies that she ever even spoke of it, makes his excuses and leaves the conversation. During this conversation, Beatrice even perhaps sounds slightly jealous of Catherine. Maybe that is the reason why she wanted Catherine to take the job and encourages her relationship with Rodolfo.
Catherine rushes toward Eddie as soon as she sees him to tell him of the picture she had seen. Catherine is still adamant to please Eddie. Eddie does not seem to be able to see his obsession with Catherine growing. Catherine cannot see that it has even ever existed, the only one who has realised is Beatrice, who has had to put up with being second best since Catherine was placed in their care.
In the next page of dialogue, Eddie confronts Catherine about Rodolfo, he tells her;
'He don't respect you.'
We can see from this line that Eddie does not really have a reason for not wanting Catherine with Rodolfo, except that he wants her for himself, because this is a different reason to the reason that he told Beatrice. He tries to think up things that Rodolfo has done to upset him, but the fact is Rodolfo has done nothing wrong.
In the next section of dialogue, Beatrice speaks with Catherine about Eddie. She tells her that Eddie is extremely jealous of Rodolfo, because it means that she is no longer Eddie's baby. Beatrice does not blame everything on Eddie, she blames it on Catherine to, and she tells her that she does not help the situation by acting like a little girl in front of him. Catherine denies this but in her heart she knows what Beatrice says makes sense. Catherine comes round to the idea of acting more mature in front of Eddie.
Eddie now talks to Alfieri. So far Alfieri's only roll in the play has been narrator, now he has switched to Eddies friend. Eddie talks to him about what legal rights he has. This shows that he is getting quite desperate, but also that he is coming to terms with the situation. Alfieri tells him that legally there is nothing Eddie can do. Alfieri tells him that the only thing he can do is tell the immigration officers that they are immigrants. Eddie tells Alfieri he would never do that. Eddie is angered by the fact that there is nothing he can do, and leaves Alfieri's office, practically in tears.
Eddie asks Rodolfo if he has ever boxed before. Rodolfo says no, and Eddie asks if he would like him to show him how it' done. Reluctantly Rodolfo agrees. Rodolfo doesn't want to box, but he is so desperate to please Eddie that he agrees. Eddie only wants to make a fool out of Rodolfo. After the fight it is as if the fight has enlightened Rodolfo, he now half realises, that Eddie dislikes him completely, and there is nothing he can do to correct that. Rodolfo asks Catherine to dance. This is done to annoy Eddie, and it works just as Rodolfo wished it to.
We now come to the end of act 1. We have seen most aspects of each persons personality, and where they stand in the story. WE shall now discover what lengths each character will go to, to have his/her own way.
Alfieri introduces this act, back in the roll of narrator. He tells us the date, the 23rd of December. He also tells us that it is the first time Catherine and Rodolfo have been alone in the house together.
One of the earlier excuses Eddie had given to Catherine why she should not marry Rodolfo, was because Eddie thought all that Rodolfo wanted from her was rights to be a citizen. Catherine asks Rodolfo, as a test, if she wanted to, if they could live in Italy when they get married. Rodolfo hates the idea, which only worries Catherine even more. It seems now that everyone except Eddie and Catherine realise Eddie's infatuation with Catherine is serious. And here, Catherine starts to realise it too.
When Eddie gets home and realises that Catherine and Rodolfo have slept together; Eddie goes mad and his immediate reaction is to tell Rodolfo to pack his bags and leave. Catherine faces up to the situation finally and tells Eddie that she must go with Eddie. Eddie denies her the right completely and refuses to let Catherine go. In Catherine's next piece of dialogue we see all her problems come out in her words. She loves Eddie, but not in the same way that he loves her. She wants to stay with Rodolfo because she is the one she truly loves, but Eddie does not want Catherine to go with Rodolfo, and Catherine knows this and does not want to upset Eddie. She knows that she must upset Eddie, as it is the only way out of the situation. Eddie tells her that she: -
'Ain't goin' nowheres'
And then he kisses her on the lips. Why does he do that, is he finally facing up to his feelings?
Rodolfo lunges at Eddie in anger, but Rodolfo is no match for Eddie, and Eddie merely pins him and then kisses him. This kiss is to ridicule Rodolfo, to show Catherine that she should not marry someone so weak as to let another man kiss him. Or maybe he does this because he thinks that Rodolfo is homosexual.
After this scene the play suddenly calms down and becomes certainly more serene. Alfieri narrates, and then turns to when Eddie comes to see him.
From what Eddie says, it seems that Eddie got his way. He tells Alfieri that Beatrice is renting a room for Marco and Rodolfo. Eddie wants to know again, if there is anything he can do. Alfieri tells him,
'Morally and legally you have no rights, you cannot stop it; she is a free agent.'
This is in regard to Rodolfo marrying Catherine. When Eddie finally excepts it. A telephone glows on the opposite side of the stage, and Alfieri realises what Eddie is going to do. He shouts after him,
'You won't have a friend in the world Eddie! Even those who understand will turn against you, even the ones who feel the same will despise you! Put it out of your mind! Eddie!'
This is the last piece of advice Eddie is given, and he does not listen to it.
He telephones the immigration bureau and reports two illegal immigrants. At home he acts as if he has done nothing. He argues with Beatrice normally, as if he has no guilt for what he has done.
Catherine tells Eddie of her and Rodolfo's plans of marriage. He gets upset despite the fact that he knows they will never marry.
Just before the immigration officers arrive, Eddie realises what he has done and screams at Beatrice and Catherine to get Rodolfo and Marco out of the house, but it is too late.
The immigration officers arrive, both Beatrice and Catherine realise what Eddie has done. Catherine streaks into the bedroom and Beatrice stares at him in horror. Eddie tries to deny it. But there is nothing he can do. He has done it now.
The scene now is all of his friends, leaving him, just like Alfieri said they would, one by one they leave Eddie standing there alone, and they only person left is Beatrice.
The next scene involves Marco, Alfieri, Catherine and Rodolfo. Alfieri tells Marco that there is a chance that Rodolfo can stay and marry Catherine, but he will have to go back to his country, but as long as he promises not to try to kill or in any way harm Eddie, he could possibly get bail. Marco finds it difficult, but agrees that he will not harm Eddie.
The scene changes back to just before the wedding, Eddie will not permit Beatrice to go to the wedding, Catherine is outraged, and tries to persuade Beatrice but they are interrupted by Rodolfo who shouts,
'Marco is coming, Eddie'
He knows that Marco will kill Eddie, but Eddie will not move, no matter how much Beatrice tries to persuade him. Rodolfo tries to apologise to Eddie, is he apologising because he's not a man or because he is more than a man?
Eddie wants to fight to prove that he is a man, and Marco wants to fight to show people what he did to him, to get his revenge in a way. Eddie seems to be finding it hard to stay sain. Eddie could easily walk away, but he doesn't want to because of Sicilian honour.
The knife, which Eddie is ready to kill Marco with, kills him. His lasts words are to Beatrice, which is interesting, and shows that maybe that's what it took for him to realise that what he had before with Beatrice meant so much more.
The play finishes with a speech by Alfieri. A line, which means a lot, is: -
'...For that I think I will love him more than any of my sensible clients'
It is making a joke out of a clearly unfunny situation, but it lightens the play, and it is a good time to put it in.
It finishes with: -
'And so I mourn him - I admit it - with a certain...alarm.'
This is a very good place to end the play. Alfieri was the unbiased character who gave us an all-round view, and was a good friend to all the characters involved.
Eleanor Dyson A view from a bridge, by Arthur Miller
