The law is only a word for what has a right to happen.(TM) What is the role of the law in the world of the play?

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Jesslyn Leung 11E

‘The law is only a word for what has a right to happen.’ What is the role of the law in the world of the play?

‘The law is only a word for what has a right to happen’. In ‘A View from the Bridge’ the law holds a very important place. Today, I’ll begin by talking about the importance of the law. Later on, I will give you information on how the law affects the characters as well as their actions and the difference between the two types of law explored in the play.

Right at the start, Alfieri’s opening speech signals to us about the importance of the law in the play. We learn that this play will be related to the law when he mentions that ‘in Sicily, from where their fathers came, the law has not been a friendly idea since the Greeks were beaten.’ Soon, we can firmly predict that the law is going to hold a key role as he goes on to foreshadow that that lawyers in ancient times, as well as modern were unable to stop a ‘complaint’ from running a ‘bloody course’. This instantly causes the audience to question: ‘how powerful and influential is the law?’

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Throughout the play, a clear message and answer is brought out. It is that even though justice is important, the law is usually incapable of delivering justice. This becomes more apparent when Alfieri warns Eddie about denouncing Marco and Rodolpho in the middle of act two. Eddie went to see the lawyer the second time and as the ‘phone booth started to glow’, Alfieri suddenly realized what was going through Eddie’s mind. In attempt to stop him from denouncing the brothers, he said “You won’t have a friend in the world…even those who understand you will turn against you, ...

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