Mr Alfieri is used as the bridge between the audience and the characters on stage. This is shown when he addresses the audience directly. “You wouldn’t have known it, but something amusing has just happened.” Arthur Miller uses the second person to show that Alfieri addresses the audience directly. This shows a clear connection between the audience and the characters.
As the chorus, Mr Alfieri links the scenes together and gives the audience an objective viewpoint of the play and the character of Eddie. After Beatrice talks to Catherine the “…lights go out on them and up on ALFIERI, seated behind his desk.” The lights come up on Alfieri alone; this brings the audience’s full attention to Alfieri. He is seated “At the right, forestage, a desk this is Alfieri’s law office.” His law office has been placed at the very front of the stage were it will be easier for him to address and communicate with the audience. He then “…grinning, speaks to the audience.” This shows a connection with the audience, usually the audience is looking in on what is happening on the stage but Alfieri is making eye-contact with the audience and making direct link between himself as a character and the audience. As he is “grinning” this gesture shows friendliness and familiarity and links the audience to the performance on stage.
Eddie has mixed feelings towards Catherine at the beginning of the play. At first we believe that Eddie is a father to Catherine, later we are lead to believe that Eddie may have sexual feelings towards Catherine and they could perhaps be lovers. Miller confuses the audience as to the relationship that Eddie and Catherine have as he uses small gestures and parts of dialogue that could be interpreted either way.
At first we believe that the relationship between Eddie and Catherine is of a father daughter relationship. This impression is made when Eddie says,
“I promised your mother on her death bed. I’m responsible for you. You’re a baby you don’t understand these things.” This quote suggests that Eddie is Catherine’s father as Eddie refers to a promise made to Catherine’s mother, who has passed away, about Eddie looking after Catherine and being responsible for her. And so we naturally assume that Eddie must be Catherine’s father as he has responsibility over her and has promised to look after her well-being. Another contributing factor to the impression that Eddie gives as a father figure is later when he calls her “…baby.” This suggests that he is much older and wiser as he tells her that she won’t understand these things. Eddie treats her like a “baby” by compelling her to believe that she isn’t old enough to understand such matters. “Baby” is also a nickname that a father would usually give to his child therefore implying the Eddie is a father figure for Catherine.
Another example of how Miler portrays Eddie as a father figure in Catherine and Eddie’s relationship is through stage directions. “With a sense of her childhood, her babyhood and the years...” After this Eddie lets Catherine take the job that her school head has offered her. The stage directions show that he is thinking about her childhood and how he raised her and is now finally letting her go. This is a fatherly reaction as Eddie is finding it hard to let go of Catherine but then gives in because he wants to see her happy. This gives the impression that Eddie is a fatherly figure as he is almost spoiling her just to see her happy.
Another example that gives the impression that Eddie is a fatherly figure is when he comments on Catherine hair and new skirt. “You look like one of them girls that went to college. Where you goin’?” Eddie is begging to become protective over Catherine as he is telling her that she is looking older and more matured and probably a lot nicer. Eddie finds this threatening as she is growing up and Eddie still thinks of her as his baby and so wants to protect her from anyone who might take advantage. Eddie assumes that she is going out because she is wearing nice cloths and so is telling her to be careful. This protective nature can also be seen as jealousy that you would find in a boyfriend or husband figure. This confuses the audience as they question Eddie’s motive; is he the over-protective father or the jealous lover who doesn’t want other men to look at his wife or lover. In both scenarios Eddie would act protectively over Catherine as he would be looking out for her.
However, the audience are also given the impression that Eddie is sexually attracted to Catherine. “Beautiful. Turn around and lemme see the back.” From this the audience become aware that Eddie may have sexually attracted to Catherine as firstly he compliments her by calling “beautiful” which you would assume he would call his wife or lover. Eddie then asks her to turn around this gives the impression that he wants to look at her curves in a sexually manner. It shows that Eddie and Catherine may be in lovers instead of having a father daughter relationship.
The sexual attraction between Eddie and Catherine is also shown through the stage directions. Eddie has just returned home from work and Catherine greets him. “He is pleased and therefore shy about it.” This shows that Eddie has sexual feelings towards Catherine as he is pleased to see her but then hides it because Catherine is his niece. I t is interpreted that Eddie like Catherine but won’t show it as he knows that such feelings for his niece are wrong and therefore shy’s away. The audience believe that they are lovers.
Another example of how Eddie and Catherine may be lovers is when Catherine says “I’ll get you a beer…” This quote suggests that they may be married as in this time it was rare for women to work and therefore they married and so had children and made good house for the husband to come back to. As soon as Eddie comes home Catherine seats him in the armchair and is then continually running around after him and fussing around him in this case getting him beer which he could do himself but she feels the need to do so herself. This shows that she is reading his needs as he does not directly ask her to bring him a beer she immediately gets him one as if she knows what he wants. This gives the Impression that may be married and therefore have sexual feelings towards each other.
Another example that can be used to show that Eddie and Catherine are lovers is when Eddie comments on the length of Catherine’s skirt. “I think it’s too short. Ain’t it?” This again shows a protective jealous nature. He doesn’t want other men to look at Catherine a sexual manner and so wants to protect her. This can also be said for a fatherly figure as they would also want to protect his daughter from young men who would take advantage.
Arthur Miller keeps the audience guessing as to Eddie’s true feelings towards Catherine and their relationship. He does this by using a series of dialogues that could be interpreted as something you would expect both a fatherly figure and a lover. This is done to keep the audience interested as they will want to know how the relationship progresses and Eddie’s true feelings and whether he is a fatherly figure to Catherine or in fact lovers.
Eddie is Beatrice’s husband and so should be loyal to her as they are married and have raised Catherine up together. However, Eddie ignores this loyalty and treats her badly because of his confused feelings for Catherine.
Eddie and Beatrice suffer from problems in their relationship. Eddie confronts her by asking her, “What are you mad at me lately?” As if to pass the blame onto her. To avoid a conflict with Eddie she busies herself with housework and asks “Who’s mad?” The stage directions show that she is agitated as she continues to clear the table. Their relationship is strained because of Eddie’s sexual attraction to Catherine. The tension in the relationship and Eddie’s mixed feelings toward Catherine are emphasized when Catherine comes out with matches and a cigar and lights it for Eddie. Catherine understands Eddie’s need and is once again reading him better the Beatrice, who is his wife and should be reading him better. Catherine comments on this when she says to Rodolpho “ If I was wife I would make a man happy instead of going at him all the time …I can tell when he’s hungry or wants a beer before he even says anything…I mean I know him.” This clearly shows that the relationship between the three of them is confused.
Another example of the strained relationship between Eddie and Beatrice is the conversation when Eddie is waiting for Catherine and Rodolpho to come home from the pictures. Beatrice confronts Eddie on their relationship problems, “When am I gonna be a wife again Eddie?” This shows that because Eddie has ignored his loyalties and has therefore made Beatrice feel as if she is no longer a wife. He responds by saying that he simply doesn’t “feel good.” This makes Beatrice question herself and say “…Am I doing something wrong. Talk to me.” This shows that they aren’t communicating well as she is asking him to talk to her. From this section of dialogue we also find out that Eddie and Beatrice have not been having an intimate relationship for three months. To this Eddie barely responds which again shows that aren’t communicating well with each other.
Eddie dislike Rodolpho from the very beginning. He barely speaks to him and only talks to Marco. However, overtime tensions flare as the relationship between Rodolpho and Catherine strengthens. Eddie becomes more and more to dislike Rodolpho. This turns the relationship between Eddie and Marco becomes spiteful.
From the moment Marco and Rodolpho enter the house, he shows disinterest in Rodolpho. Eddie “shakes Marco’s hand” but then does not even properly acknowledge Rodolpho. This instantly shows a lack of respect towards Rodolpho. However, at this point Eddie would be more likely to talk to Marco as he is older and more mature. Eddie finds that Marco has come over to America so he can support his family who are starving in Italy. This Eddie can relate to as he has a family and has provided for them all his life. Whereas as, Eddie is aware that Rodolpho is only in search of a new life where he can earn more money and live the American dream and so Eddie seems only to talk Marco. Later on, we again find that Eddie speaks to Rodolpho and the stage directions tell us that “he is coming more and more to address MARCO only.” This shows that his dislike for Rodolpho is growing and that he is talking to Marco more then to Rodolpho and so we see that Marco has more in common with Eddie and are getting on better.
Catherine confronts Eddie on how he treats Rodolpho. “Why don’t you talk to him? He blesses you and you don’t talk to him.” This clearly shows that Eddie dislikes Rodolpho and so does not speak with Rodolpho as much as he does with Marco. The dislike towards Rodolpho has escalated to point to which other members have begun to notice the mounting dislike that Eddie has towards Rodolpho. Eddie responds by shifting the blame onto her by saying “I bless you and you don’t talk to me.” This clearly shows that is some kind of jealousy as Eddie realises that Catherine and Rodolpho are falling in love and that this is something that Eddie can’t have with Catherine. This is significant as this is the first time that Catherine is standing up to Eddie and questioning which she would not have done before.
Catherine and Rodolpho are falling in love with each other and Eddie realises that he will never be able to have sexual relationship with Catherine. Eddie’s jealousy drives him to accuse Rodolpho of being gay. “This ain’t no tenor. If you come in the house and you don’t who was singin’ you would be looking for her.” Eddie is trying to find any legal way of getting rid of Rodolpho and even goes as far as to accuse him of being gay. However, the audience understand that Eddie does not actually believe this but is trying to persuade other characters that he is because Eddie is jealous of the relationship that Rodolpho has with Catherine that he can never have.
Another example of how Eddie treats Rodolpho badly is when Eddie insists on teaching Rodolpho how to box. Eddie is directed to “feints with his left hand and lands with his right. It mildly staggers RODOLPHO. MARCO rises.” This shows that Eddie is intimidating Rodolpho as he is again trying to reinforce that Rodolpho is gay by saying “he cooks, he sings, he makes dresses” These things you would usually expect a woman to do. Eddie then challenges him by asking him to box. Eddie is aware that Rodolpho by making him do something that he can’t actually do. Eddie is intimidating Rodolpho as Boxing is seen as stereotypically being a man’s sport and so Eddie is trying to prove that Rodolpho is not a real man because he can’t box but can do things that you would stereotypically expect a woman to be able to do. Eddie is trying to force the others to believe that Rodolpho is gay.
This scene does improve the relationship between Marco and Eddie. As Eddie has just punched Rodolpho, Marco responds by placing a chair in front of Eddie. Marco asks Eddie to lift the chair “… he tries again and again fails…” Marco has asked Eddie to lift the chair which he can not do. To lift the chair he would need to be very strong something that only a man would be able to do. Just as Eddie made Rodolpho Box which he could not do but was seen as being a male thing he has asked Eddie to lift the chair which requires a lot of strength which Eddie does not have which all real men should have. Marco is intimidating Eddie by treating him in the same manner and Eddie has just treated Rodolpho. Marco then responds by “…Kneels, grasps and with strain slowly raises the chair…Marco raises the chair above his head.” This is significant as Marco is doing something that Eddie can’t just as Eddie did with Rodolpho. Marco then “is face to face with EDDIE…the chair raised like a weapon above his head...transforms what might appear as a glare of warning into a smile of triumph…”Just as Eddie made Rodolpho seem weak and make him feel as if he was not a real man and ‘embarrassed’ him in front of everyone. Rodolpho has done exactly the same to Eddie. Almost as if he is trying to threaten Eddie by saying if you insult my brother then I will insult you.
Another example of how the relationship between the Eddie and Marco deteriorates, is the spitting scene when Marco rightfully accuses Eddie of being the “one who stole the food from my children.” Eddie has just called the Immigration Office and has reported two illegal immigrants. Marco realises what has happened and takes the opportunity to “…spits into Eddies face.” This a clear indication of how angry and betrayed Marco feels. It also relates back to what Eddie said at the beginning of the play about the boy who “….snitched on his own uncle.” Where we are told that his family dragged him into the street and spat on him. The reoccurrence of this gesture of disgust, anger and betrayal indicates that this is an action that is socially acknowledged to be used against the person who has deceived you. In this case Eddie betrayed Marco and Rodolpho by telling the Immigration Office that they were in America illegally.
Before this Eddie, has a scene with only Catherine and Rodolpho. They are both in the apartment alone and Catherine questions Rodolpho as to his true felling towards her. They then go into the bedroom it is Christmas and Eddie has returned home early from work, drunk. He finds them together and is angry. He tells Rodolpho to leave Catherine then tells Eddie that they are going to get married.
Eddie is already drunk and so is emotionally unstable and so is not entirely in control of his actions. When Catherine informs Eddie that she will be getting married she “…clasps her hands prayfully.” It seems as if she wants Eddie’s blessing before she leaves. This brings back the strong Christian faith that all Italian Catholics have. Catherine cannot bear to leave before she receives the blessing from a fatherly figure. Eddie sees this and under the influence of alcohol and true feeling for Catherine result in “…he reaches out , suddenly, draws her towards him, and as she struggles to free herself he kisses her on the mouth…” The audience is now absolutely certain of Eddie’s sexual attraction to Catherine. The suddenness of the kiss shows that Eddie has kissed her in frenzy of raw passion; he is already emotionally unstable and is under the influence of alcohol, he then finds that the woman he is attracted to is going to marry Rodolpho, a man who he believes is weak.
Furious Rodolpho lunges at Eddie but as Eddie is a lot stronger the Rodolpho, Eddie “..pins his arms , laughing, and suddenly kisses him.” Eddie has already intimidated Rodolpho and has accused him of being gay because of his sexual feelings towards Catherine. Eddie uses his strength against him and has pinned to the wall. He is laughing at Rodolpho’s weakness. He is in Rodolpho’s face, making eye-contact and laughing at his helplessness. Eddie is no longer in control of the situation, he can’t let go of him because Rodolpho will probably lash out, he doesn’t know what to do so again he kisses him on the lips. This intimidation is similar to the boxing scene. Eddie is trying to prove to Catherine that Rodolpho is not a real man. He is kissing him directly on the mouth, which is all being done in front of Catherine, Eddie’s knows that this is his last attempt in trying to win Catherine back, if he can provoke Rodolpho enough he could do something that will make Catherine love him again, he is trying to show Catherine what Rodolpho really is.
Arthur miller has included this scene as it shows that Eddie is no longer in control of the situation. “Eddie stands there with tears rolling down his cheeks and he laughs mockingly at RODOLPHO.” Eddie is hysterical. All of his emotions are mixed up due to the amount of alcohol he has already drunk. He is still laughing at Rodolpho in an intimidating manner but is crying because he knows he has lost Catherine forever. He is no longer in control of the situation as he would usually say something and Catherine would do it without question. But now he can’t control her and he can’t control his emotions. Through all this he still laughing at Rodolpho scornfully, he is again challenging him; he is trying to provoke him in front of Catherine, if Rodolpho lashes out then he may win Catherine back.
After this Arthur Miller makes Catherine move Rodolpho and Marco to another apartment and Eddie calls the Immigration Office. The scene with the two kisses has been included as it sparked these changes to occur. This is the turning point of the play as the relationship between Eddie and Catherine will never be the same again as she will have lost any respect she would have had for him prior to this and would have been traumatised to realise that the person whom she looked up to as a father was in fact sexually attracted to her. The same could be said for Eddie and Beatrice’s relationship as she would have lost an respect that she would have had for her husband but knows that he will never be able to love her as much as he loves Catherine but she can’t leave him because they were married in the eyes of god and the strong Catholic faith that she posses would have made her want to stay married, she would also have nowhere else to go as Eddie always brought in the income and she looked after the house. Eddie’s relationship with both Marco and Rodolpho will have completely broken as Eddie has betrayed them in the most unforgivable way possible.
“A View from the Bridge” is a successful modern day tragedy as it shows all the key steps that Eddie took that resulted in his own downfall. It has a chorus, who directly addresses the audience and tell the story from an objective viewpoint. All of these are conventions of a modern tragedy and so in this sense the play is successful. The impact on today’s audience tells us to settle for half. Eddie always had his own way anything he wanted was done even against the wishes of the people around him. Beatrice was willing not to go to Catherine’s wedding just to keep Eddie happy. As soon as someone tried to contradict him and was better then him he became angry and this resulted in his own death. We don’t always get our own way the play tells us to compromise.
