The character Alfieri has a very important role in the play “A view from the bridge.” Alfieri acts both as a narrator and commentator but his main function is to offer ideas to the audience to set them thinking about the message of the play. Alfieri also divides each act into unofficial scenes, and inform the audience on any missed action. Alfieri is a character in the play and yet his advice is objective and sympathetic. Alfieri is the first character to speak in the play; he therefore sets the scene and informs the audience the background to the action. He is a lawyer but in this area of Brooklyn the people distrust the law, he tells us-”A lawyer means the law, and in Sicily, from where their fathers come, the law has not been a friendly idea since the Greeks were beaten.” This speech immediately sets up tension between Alfieri, a representative of written law and the Italian immigrant community, who prefer to follow their own 'law'. Alfieri understood Eddies love for Catherine was impossible to control. Alfieri empathised with Eddies in a way Beatrice could not. “It ain't nice Eddie” This shows Beatrice confronts Eddie more than she actually Comforts him, whereas Alfieri states-”Yes but those things have to end Eddie.” This shows Alfieri understands Eddie psychologically whilst slowly and persuasively trying to steer him out of his unbearable dilemma.
Stage Directions are very important in drama and this is evident in Arthur Millers ''A view from the Bridge''. Stage directions give actors and directors character motivation and this allows actors to create believable characters and explain a characters actions and feelings. They also highlight characters emotions that are indirectly portrayed through stage directions, especially when describing the main focus of the play., Eddie Carbone. In the beginning of act one, Catherine appeared to be an extremely friendly, confident little girl. “I just got it, you like it?” Catherine projects herself in this scene as a young, timid girl who does not have much knowledge of the outside world as she has been over-protected by Eddie all her life. ''[She turns for him]''- Arthur Miller uses a variety of stage directions to develop Catherine as a character. The stage directions in the beginning of act one are secretly intimate and kind of shows a hint of sexual tension between Catherine and Eddie. “[wipes her hand over her skirt]”-Not many nieces do these flirty flexes with their uncles, but for Catherine this seems as it is normal to be twirling and flirting. When Rodolpho arrives, Catherine seems to be getting stronger and braver towards Eddie. She feels as if she is independent and superior. “[She frees her arm, steps back into the bedroom]” Catherine frees her arms from Eddie, Arthur Miler uses stage directions effectively in this section as it is building Catherine's character from a Shy, inferior, tiny girl into a strong-minded, selfish, superior woman. This dramatically changes the audiences impression of Catherine. Catherine has always had an innocent fondness toward Eddie, but Eddie takes it the wrong way which makes their “father and daughter relationship” seem more sexual and possessive. “[As she strives to free herself, he kisses her on the mouth]” Eddie was obviously drunk when this stage direction was performed, but when your drunk your true feelings come out and Eddies passionate love for Catherine had finally been .sexually released. This had a massive impact on the audience as Arthur Miller created suspense in this section. Whilst Eddie is sexually obsessed over Catherine, Catherine just wants unconditional, parental love from Eddie and Romantic sexual love from Rodolpho. Catherine later bursts out ''I'll Kill you''- If Catherine was secretly in love with Eddie like Eddie was with Catherine, she would have not threaten to kill him. When Catherine and Rodolpho are home alone, there is tension building up. Catherine starts curiously questioning Rodolpho, “Suppose I wanted to live in Italy.” She is testing his love for her, as Eddie had informed Catherine that Rodolpho is most l;likely using her just to be an American Citizen. Catherine refused to believe this but Eddie might of got the better side of her. Catherine later exploded with-''You don't know, nobody knows!''- This is showing Catherine's neglect and isolation from Rodolpho and Eddie. She Presumes that no one understands her, but the audience thinks she's only confused as she does not know who to trust.
Many Events which include Dramatic Irony had encountered throughout the play, such as the tow immigrant police officers bursting in. We all know they are going to eagerly burst through the door and find Marco and Rodolpho. Beatrice and Catherine did not know this. The most effective piece of dramatic irony in the play is when Eddie comes home Drunk whilst Catherine and Rodolpho are making love in the bedroom. This cause tension between the audience and cast as we do not know how Eddie is going to react as he expresses a lot of hatred towards Rodolpho. The moment of Climax starts when Eddie physically notices that Rodolpho was with Catherine all along. “His arm Jerks slightly in shock”- Eddie has just experienced an involuntary response. As an audience we can feel the hatred and agony he is going through. The audience sympathises with Eddie, as he only wants Catherine to be safe and protected but Catherine is just rebelling against Eddie and his rules and prefers herself be accompanied by Rodolpho. In this section there is also a large character development for Eddie and Catherine. Eddie has gone from a; Loyal, caring, overprotective father. To a drunken, jealous, lecherous deviant character. ''Get outta here! Alone. You hear me? Alone.'' This makes the audience think Rodolpho just blew his last chance with Eddie. This especially effects Catherine as it makes it extremely hard for her to choose which man she wants out of her life. Arthur Miller has also developed Catherine's character to an extent. He has made Catherine into a powerful, determined woman.''Eddie, I'm not a baby any more!''-This shows Catherine wants to be her own person and make her own personal decisions. She feels she needs to stop Eddie from doing everything for her. As she is planning on getting married, she thinks she has bigger responsibility's to sort out instead of thinking about Eddie.
Arthur Miller also uses the phone booth as a tool for tension building. The phone booth is a symbol that represents many emotions Eddie is feeling at the time he is about to call Immigration. 'Symbol of Eddies Desperation' Eddie is really desperate to get Rodolpho and Marco back to wear they came from. Catherine is only on his mind and he really cares about her. He needs to make the call, and everything will be fine, that's what he presumes. The phone booth is also a 'Symbol of Eddies Destiny' Eddie sadly dies at the end as Marco Kills him, it was always was his destiny to die at the End, by doing this it will get Marco aggravated which will cause Marco to kill Eddie. 'Symbol of Betrayal' By phoning immigration Eddie is betraying all his family and also the neighbour hood, he is proving himself to be an Evil, selfish man. The phone booth is also 'Symbol of Eddies Isolation' Eddie feels extremely neglected from Catherine because Rodolpho took his spotlight, Eddie feels as is he calls immigration Catherine will fall back into his arms and she will be safe. He is wrong. As Catherine just wants to be happy and wants to make her own decisions in life as Eddie is not always going to be there for her. 'Symbol of law and order' The phone booth also represents the traditional American law. In America there are no Immigrants aloud. Eddie feels as if he is doing the right thing by calling immigration as he thinks he is sticking by the law and it is not a bad thing. Above all the phone booth is a prop which is used extremely effectively by Arthur Miller to create tension and suspense.
''I'm just around the neighbourhood, that's all.'' Arthur Miller uses this quote with such effect that it the audience does not know what to expect. This is also a turning point for Eddie Carbone's Persona. This part of the play is dramatically effective as it includes Dramatic Irony. It is only Eddie and the audience who definitely know the Immigration will arrive to collect Rodolpho and Marco. This slowly and effectively builds tension between the audience and Eddie. This part of the scene also included suspense, which was created by a gentle scene; Eddie and Alfieri talking. Into a climax; Eddie got so angry that he is calling immigration. The audience would of never expected this and the audience are most likely extremely disappointed in Eddie. Everyone is confused on why Eddie needs to call immigration for him to 're-own' Catherine. Eddie is portrayed in this scene as a Selfish, Greedy, obsessive psycho. Arthur Miller also uses 'Fore-grounding' to express drama throughout the play. In act one Beatrice and Eddie are talking about Vinny Bolzano, a young Italian boy who had informed immigration of his uncle, it resulted in him being killed. This is extremely effective as it is secretly informing the audience on what is going to happen to Eddie. It also relates to Eddie as he is also reporting immigrants. This part of the play is extremely important to the rest of the play because t is slowly showing a turning point for Eddies future. He can easily give up calling or carry on hating Rodolpho. This scene also fits into the bigger picture as this call is a clue to Eddies death which is the most important part of the play. And the audience is technically witnessing Eddie cause his own death. I personally think this scene is the most intense scene of all.
Eddies second visit to Alfieri is more revealing to the audience, because Alfieri gives us more information about Eddies true feelings for Catherine by his judgements-”I will never forget how dark the room became when he looked at me; his eyes were like tunnels”, Alfieri briefly explains how Eddie is feeling, he is informing us that Eddie is unaware of incestuous feelings which has effected his mental,emotional and also physical stability. The audience empathise with Eddie, as Arthur Miller uses stage direction with such effect and suspense, the audience can partially communicate with Eddie.
I Personally think the audience will expect Eddie to forgive and Let go of Catherine at the end of act two, as the play has been an extremely tense, incestuous drama, therefore the audience will think that the ending will end in happiness and forgiveness.
Throughout Arthur Miller's “A view from the bridge” we have learnt many dramatic techniques he used to build up tension. The consist of; Stage directions, Greek tragedy, Foregrounding, Scenery, Actions such as tension and climax and finally Dramatic irony. All these techniques, have included the audience in the life of Eddie Carbone and his family with such effect. At the end of the drama, Eddie Carbone dies by being stabbed by Marco. The dramatic techniques were used to prepare us for the major climax of the fatal ending.
Anita Vitija 10LN, Ms Qasim-Hodder