Moreover, Alfieri is able to manipulate the audience’s view on certain characters as he directs us in our opinions and reactions to characters such as Eddie. Alfieri’s thoughts on Eddie half-way through the play is that, “he committed a crime,” especially as his eyes were like tunnels,” creating the image of a criminal. This could also be seen as a metaphor for Eddie’s despair at the loss of perspective of life and his obsessive desire for Catherine. It could also be interpreted as the tunnel of fate that Eddie is travelling through and although we know that Eddie is wrong in pursuing his incestuous desire for Catherine, Alfieri helps us sympathise with Eddie making us understand that it is Eddie’s fate. He also comments on the fact that, “it was only passion that moved into his body, like a stranger.” The use of words such as ‘passion’ creates the effect of innocence within Eddie, and we almost feel sorry for Eddie as he is helpless over the desire he feels for Catherine. Thus, we can see that as a narrator, Alfieri is good at building up the scene and setting and also allows us to empathise with characters by allowing us to understand the irrational human animal within them. Hence, Alfieri is able to portray Eddie as a tragic hero.
In addition to being a narrator, Alfieri also is the chorus figure of the play and often his role is to comment on the action in the play and make sure the audience is able to follow the play. He divides the scenes with monologues and can sense the terrible events that are about to happen but is powerless to prevent them. From the very beginning Alfieri hints towards the tragedy, “I am inclined to see the ruin in things.” This foreshadows the ending and already informs the reader that Eddie’s story is going to end in disaster. Towards the end of Alfieri’s first speech it is obvious that Alfieri is unable to do anything to avert the play from tragedy, “Another lawyer, quite differently dressed, heard the same complaint as I, and watched it run its bloody course.” His words explains that nobody could do anything to alter the situations and also hints that there is going to be bloodshed already telling the audience that there is going to be a death.
In addition to this, further into the play Alfieri foretells us of anything bad that is going to happen by using words and phrases such as ‘alarm’ and “a mystery…like a dark figure walking down a hall.” These words and phrases add to the dramatic tension that Alfieri has already created. Using ‘dark figure’ is very mysterious in itself as we are not sure of whom the figure is and it seems chilling. Alfieri creates suspense by giving away warnings of what is to come in the play without giving away too much information. Thus, we can see that as a chorus figure Alfieri is able to create suspense and build up tension within the play allowing the audience o what to know more about what is to happen.
In many ways, Alfieri’s vantage point can be seen as the view from the bridge as he is the only person in the play who can straddle the boundaries of tribal and state laws. This shows his allegiance to both communities as he is able to see both their points of views. The bridge is viewed as the connection between the Sicilian culture and American legal system. In the play, the Sicilian code of silence about any criminal activity also known as ‘omerta’ is very important and comes into serious conflict with the American law. The Italian characters have to accept a compromise and begin to understand that they have to sometimes, “settle for half.” Alfieri is the one to bring up this idea and is the only Sicilian who is able to ‘settle for half’ as he is not wholly interested in himself, like Eddie, and can understand how the Sicilian way of life conflicts with that of America. Alfieri can also be seen as the bridge between the actual storyline and the readers as he enables us to recognise what is going on in the play as well as making it easier for us to experience a close relationship with the characters and the writer. As he is an onlooker he can often refer to events with hindsight and therefore give us an unbiased view on the events of the play. Alfieri, being a middle class lawyer is able to connect more with middle-class audience and could convey the tales of the working class more conveniently. Thus Alfieri’s role can also be seen as being the ‘view from the bridge’ in many different ways.
Alfieri is also a significant character as he is one of the people who know a lot of information about Eddie’s family background since, “[He] had represented his father in an accident case some years before and [he] was acquainted with a family in a casual way.” Since Alfieri had a close relationship with Eddie shows that Eddie is able to confide in Alfieri about his thoughts, problems and feelings and rely on his advice for help. Alfieri is a lawyer Eddie always trusts and goes to for advice several times throughout the play about his feelings for Catherine. Alfieri and Beatrice are the first to realise Eddie’s desire for Catherine which has led to the quagmire of delusion that he revolves in. Alfieri conveys to Eddie that, “there is too much love for the niece,” telling Eddie that his protectiveness for Eddie is not normal and is bordering on the line of incestuous desire.
Towards the end, we see Alfieri counselling Eddie that there is more to law than that which is written on the paper. He knows about Italian justice and American law and states to Eddie that he will be breaching communal Sicilian laws by reporting Rodolpho and Marco and consequently will lose “his name” in society. Alfieri conveys to the audience the importance of respect and pride to Sicilians and tries to lead Eddie from losing both, showing Alfieri’s caring and empathising nature. Alfieri also knows that buy reporting the two ‘submarines’ Eddie will be directly opposing Omerta, a strong belief within the Red Hook community and this is worse than breaking the official law. Hence Miller uses Alfieri to give the audience an insight into the Sicilian ethics and culture. Alfieri also possesses the most hailed and desirable idea of masculinity compared to the rest of the characters because of this ability to “settle for half” and compromise his beliefs for what the best as well as having authority and fitting into Eddie’s vie of masculinity. This allows the audience to see what the preferred view of masculinity is.
In conclusion, I think that Alfieri is the most significant role in the play as he portrays many things to the audience. He gives background information on the area and characters, establishes the themes and ideas that are important to the play and gives Eddie essential advice. Alfieri also adds dramatic tension and depth to the play as he foretells coming events and their nature hence fulfilling his role as chorus, narrator and character.
General comments and grade: A* 36+
V detailed and secure knowledge of text. Expression is a little awkward in places and confuses meaning. V good use of textual evidence to support your comments.
You say in your conclusion quite rightly that he establishes themes and ideas. Perhaps it’s worth mentioning earlier on in the essay what these themes and ideas are (other than the difference between Sicilian and American law)
