The theme of jeaslousy in 'A View from the Bridge'

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Choose a play in which one of the main concerns is love or jealousy or betrayal or reconciliation.

Explain what the concern is, and show how it is explored throughout the play.

A play in which one of the main concerns is jealousy is “A View from the Bridge” by Arthur Miller. I will explain what the concern is, and how it is explored throughout the play.

Eddie Carbone is a longshoreman living in Brooklyn, in a community which is proud of protecting illegal immigrants. He lives with his wife, Beatrice, and his adopted niece, Catherine. One of the main concerns in the play is jealousy. Eddie’s jealousy is explored through his inner conflict and his struggle to control his developing lust for his niece.

The source of Eddie’s inner conflict is his relationship with his niece, Catherine and Miller presents this through his protectiveness of her.  When we are first introduced to Catherine she is waving from the window to Eddie and his friend. She is wearing new clothes and has her hair done in a different style. Eddie lectures her on her short skirt and the increasing male attention that she has been receiving;

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“You are walkin’wavy! I don’t like the looks they’re givin’ you in the candy store. And with them new high heels ... the heads are turnin’ like windmills.”

At first it seems that he is simply concerned for his niece’s wellbeing. Also, feeling jealous could be considered completely normal for him as he has always been the most important man in her life and if she finds a husband, he no longer will be. However, later events make it clear that it is something more sinister – his desire for his niece. He wants to keep her for himself and ...

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