In what ways is this scene important in the play? How does Arthur Miller make it particularly dramatic?

Authors Avatar
Sally Hargreaves

In what ways is this scene important in the play? How does Arthur Miller make it particularly dramatic?

Arthur Miller's 'A View From a Bridge' is a play that is all about tragedy and its inevitability. It deals with the themes of reputation, good name, honour and justice throughout the whole of the play, as these were important issues to people living in New York at that time.

The particular scene, involves Eddie, an over protective, loving and hardworking labour man, his niece Catherine and her fiancée Rodolpho. The scene is one of the most important from the play as it is when Catherine finally stands up to Eddie fro the first time in her life and Eddie is clearly taken back by this.

'Eddie, I'm not gonna be a baby any more!

[He reached out suddenly, draws her to him, and as she strives to free herself he kisses her on the mouth.]'

This particular part of the play also is important for a very different reason. When Eddie kisses her is when he realises he is going to lose her. Eddie has his strongest feeling of injustice when Rodolpho arrives. Eddie has been a father to Catherine all her life and "gave her the food out of his mouth". He paid money for her so that she would meet a better class of people and there all are subtle hints that he is attracted to her as well in more than a father-daughter relationship way. He is justified to feel jealous and spiteful towards Rodolpho when he comes over from Italy and secures Catherine's love. He feels betrayed by Catherine that she has suddenly run off and lives her own life (this also could be attributed to his fear of Catherine growing up, and that she is not his little baby anymore as she says in the quotation above.) The kiss symbolises how he is trying to regain 'control' of Catherine and stop her from growing up and growing away from him, it is shown through his emotion and affection for Catherine.
Join now!


This scene also shows the aggressive side to all characters. It seems that all characters in this scene get aggressive when they are trying to protect someone they care for.

'[With tears of rage.] Don't say that to me!

[Rodolpho flies at him in attack. Eddie pins his arms, laughing, and suddenly kisses him...

She tears at Eddie's face.]'

Rodolpho is attacking because Eddie is being disrespectful to Catherine his fiancée, but Eddie knows that he could beat Rodolpho in a fight anytime and mocks Rodolpho by kissing him, showing his complete contempt and ...

This is a preview of the whole essay