The Role Of Alfieri in A View From A Bridge

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English Literature Coursework

The Role of Alfieri in A View From A Bridge

This essay that I have written about is from the book "A View from the Bridge". And I am going to discuss how  Miller (the Author of this play) has achieved such dramatic impact by using Alfieri.

In this play Alfieri's role is very important. He tells us more about the characters like a narrator; he sets the scene and the environment. He is an engaged narrator, helping the audience in every way to understand the story. Arthur miller has used the characteristics in Alfieri to divide the play in different ways. The character helps us to understand the background information, which we might have missed.
Alfieri's role is to unfold the play to the audience. He makes the audience get involved and plays with their emotions and helps them understand the story. The audience, including me, believe Alfieri because he is a lawyer and knows the most. He creates tension and emotion for the audience and the characters.

I think he has so much pressure from being told the background information about the characters. I think he is drowned in stress and needs to talk to someone. I think that's why he talks to the audience. Alfieri also gives the feeling that he is retelling the story, because he mostly speaks in the past tense. The community in this play respect Alfieri because he is a lawyer and helps the rest of the characters
out.

Alfieri's role is like a chorus, always reminding its tragedy. He creates suspense in the audience and gets them hooked to the play. The author must have thought very hard about this. The author makes the play feel like it's a cliffhanger and makes them addicted to the play and makes them want to watch more. When Rodolpho wins Catherine, Eddie feels left out and jealous. He feels betrayed by Catherine and that she has ran off and lives her own life. This could also be the reason for his fear of Catherine growing up, and that she is not a
 baby anymore. Eddie thinks Rodolpho is gay because he has blond hair and does cooking and sewing. Eddie
feels justice must be served.

Eddie goes to Alfieri (the lawyer) and tells him about Rodolpho. Alfieri is an educated lawyer, this contrast with the characters like Eddie. Alfieri's language is very high standards. His role is to be an expert adviser and represents the American law. He is Eddie's advisor. Sometimes he uses imagery to describe something. He uses similes and
metaphors. He is giving the audience a clearer view and to convey to the audience that this story will end tragically. He keeps the audience thinking and helps them concentrate towards the play. He also uses imagery to tell the audience about his characters. For example: "He walked in the room, and his eyes were like tunnels". This is a simile, this could mean Eddie was thinking deeply and like he committed a crime or he had some passion or he was stressed, obsessed or he had a deep desire or he was not aware of what's going on.

In most of Alfieri's scenes he develops tension, action, he also helps us like a guide. He moves the scene on to the next one. In the first scene in Alfieri's office is where the main message of the play comes to light. That is love, morality, law come to life. The way the Arthur Miller done this is very clever. At the start of each scene Alfieri
introduces who is in the scene and the setting, plus he creates the time and atmosphere.

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Alfieri's first appearance is when he opens the play with an introducing  that gives the audience background information. He introduces the play by telling the audience about the Italian American theme. He introduces himself as a lawyer. He explains about the Italian culture and how they take the law into their own hands. It
those times they would do everything themselves, however they are now half civilised.

Alfieri's second appearance is when he describes Eddie Carbone. Then later on in the play the cousins come and Catherine and Rodolpho show a liking to one another, "especially when they are so ...

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