Rodolfo has come to America from Sicily seeking work. He has blond hair, instantly going against what Eddie feels is right, is young and so lacks a family to provide for (unlike his brother Marco). Eddie tolerates him at first, but as he begins to attract attention form Catherine, Eddie starts to show open hostility towards him. This begins with simply ignoring him, but as the play progresses and you learn of Rodolfo’s antics at work on the piers; ‘he jumps right up and a whole song comes out of his mouth!’ ‘ he even dances, it’s a regular free show!’’ and Rodolfo’s high singing voice and ability to mend dresses and cook, leads Eddie to believe Rodolfo is a homosexual; ‘the guy ain’t right’ he explains. As the relationship between him and Catherine grows stronger, Eddie makes several attempts to put her off, such as explaining that Rodolfo only wants to marry Catherine to become an American citizen. As more and more reasons for hating Rodolfo appear in Eddies mind, he distrust him more and more, leading to aggression towards him. As the prospect of marriage increases, you find the source of Eddies hatred, stemming from a perverse attraction to Catherine, and therefore intense jealousy because Rodolfo has what he never can.
As Eddie’s jealousy begins to consume him, the quiet Marco takes a greater role in the play. Marco is a strong, hardworking man, with a poor family back in Sicily whom he is working to provide for. He is dark with smart clothes and a honourable manner. When Rodolfo and Catherine dance after Eddie has warned Rodolfo to stay away from her, Eddie makes a poorly disguised attack on Rodolfo by ‘teaching him to box’. Eddie punches Rodolfo in the face, and as Marco realises that Eddie is picking on Rodolfo, he makes an attempt to put Eddie in his place by demonstrating his strength lifting a chair awkwardly with one hand. As Eddie repeatedly fails, Marco slowly lifts the chair until it is above his head, as if it were a weapon. Eddie sees this, and suddenly his attention shifts and he perceives Marco as the greater threat. With his own manliness damaged, Eddie goes out and gets drunk.
When Eddies returns he finds Rodolfo and Catherine packing to leave. As a last futile gesture, he first forcefully kisses Catherine, then Rodolfo in an attempt to prove his homosexuality. Eddie releases him but threatens that if he does not leave he will kill him. After this he goes to see the lawyer Alfieri. Alfieri acts as the narrator to the tale, and it is his view from the bridge by which the play is named. An educated man, he can see something bad is going to happen, and as Eddie leaves his office, he calls ‘don’t do it. All those who understood you will turn their backs on you’. Eddie’s aggression eventually causes him to phone the immigration bureau, going against all his honour, and despite the consequences; the probable death of Marco’s children.
When Eddie comes back and learns of two other immigrants staying on the floor above, he realises his horrible mistake, and attempts to get Marco and Rodolfo out of the house in the hope that the new immigrants will be picked up instead. Seeing his frenzy to get them out arouses Beatrice and Catherine’ s suspicions, and as a bang on the door sounds the arrival of the officers, they realise what he has done, and he loses all hope of getting Catherine back or having respect again. As Marco and Rodolfo are taken away, Marco suddenly breaks free and runs to Eddie, spitting in his face. Eddie, being an uneducated man, can think of nothing to do but threaten to kill Marco. Chasing after him, outside the house the local community has gathered to see what’s going on, and Marco shouts what Eddie has done. As stubborn as ever, and trying to hang onto the last dregs of manliness he has, he denies. With the failure of the community to believe him, he is incensed, and returns to his apartment. Marco meanwhile, is with the lawyer Alfieri, who is explaining his situation. Marco is intent on harming Eddie, as he feels his children will die because of Eddie’s actions. A strong believer of honour as part of manliness, Marco cannot understand why nothing can be done about Eddie; ‘’I don’t understand this country’’ he says.
After these events, the same concentrated feelings of anger and aggression are in both Eddie and Marco. As Marco is released on bail by Alfieri, he is forced to promise to do no harm to Eddie. Alfieri does not accept this, and calls to Marco as he leaves ‘’Only god makes justice, not the law. Remember that’’
After he and Rodolfo are gone, Rodolfo’s less entrenched views of manliness come into play. Despite all Eddie has done, he does not wish to see blood spilt, apologises to Eddie and warns of Marco’s enraged approach. Eddie, distant and withdrawn, yet still harbouring his anger, still will not accept. Marco appears outside and shouts for Eddie to face him. The two square up, and as they fight Eddie produces a knife. He has lost everything and he feels is important, and his blind following of the unspoken code of manliness makes him lunge for Marco. Marco’s superior strength defeats him, and the blade finds Eddies chest. He collapses and dies.
The ideas of manliness, hostility and aggression and to an extent honour are linked to the play deeply. Arthur Miller portrays the pursuit of these things as futile, obviously his view, with such dated ideals leading to the gradual falling apart and eventual end of one mans life. Yet there are things to admire in each of the male characters. Eddie, despite being uneducated, has worked hard to get a job and provide for Catherine and Beatrice, and is willing to house men he doesn’t know, albeit with dire consequences. Marco is very hard working and is willing to risk his life to give his family food and shelter, and the same to defend his honour. Rodolfo also has admirable qualities. He is ambitious and caring, and not so stuck on tradition, has the courage to apologise, as he demonstrates. For him, honour is less important than life and death. So, with A View From The Bridge, Miller demonstrates the good and bad side of manliness, and the resulting text is dramatic.
