How does Arthur Miller dramatise conflict in the play "a View from the Bridge?"

Q: How does Arthur Miller dramatise conflict in the play “a View from the Bridge?”

“Another lawyer, quite differently dressed heard the same complaint

And sat there as powerless as I, and watched it run its bloody course.”

There are many conflicts which involves Eddie, a tragic hero with a tragic flaw, in the play “a View from the Bridge” by Arthur Miller. The conflicts are dramatised by Miller by the use of specific stage directions, dialogue and symbolism which is often used to foreshadow coming events or the mental state in which the character is in. However, all of these conflicts seem to have some feeling of inevitability where Eddie seems almost destined to die which, in turn, is used to evoke sympathy from the audience.

At the beginning of the play Miller builds Eddie’s character as a man, protective of his niece to a point of paranoid; “I wish there was one guy you couldn’t tell me things about.” This foreshadows the conflict between Eddie and Rodolpho as Eddie tries to undermine Rodolpho in attempt to split the couple up. This also outlines one of Eddie’s major flaws; his excessive love for Catherine which later builds into near-incest; a quality which proves to be the biggest reason in hating Rodolpho. Also, on the illegal immigrant’s arrival, though Eddies is not present, the family is laughing because of Rodolpho. “They laugh as EDDIE enters.” This stage direction portrays the exclusion that Eddie feels, especially of his thoughts of Rodolpho. This is supported by the fact when Catherine comments on Rodolpho’s hair, immediately after arrival, Eddie almost semi-consciously orders her out; “How’s the coffee doin’?” Though not obvious at first Miller slowly builds character and atmosphere, and also tension which leads to direct conflict which is built around Eddie’s flaws.

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Miller makes aware of Eddie’s inner-conflict where he struggles between reason, loyalty and his love for Catherine. In his discussion of the between Mike and Louis he seems unsure what to say; “(uncomfortably, grinning) Yeah, well … he’s got a sense of humour.” Also, Eddie seems desperate to find out whether the Italian community has the same thoughts; “Why? What’d he do?” But both Louis and Mike describe Rodolpho as “just humorous.” Eddie’s state of mind is most revealed in his conversation with Alfieri. Miller uses this scene which has an almost a soliloquy-like effect where Eddie talks to the audience of his thoughts, which are extremely one-sided and as revealed at the beginning of the play paranoiac of Catherine where he interprets “just humorous” as they are laughing at him but they dare not say “because they know he’s [his] relative.” The way he interprets events far differently as our own allows the audience to feel his reason suppressed by his selfish excessive love of Catherine only holding on by his sense of loyalty within the community.

Direct conflict breaks out where Eddie seems unable to hold back his true feeling and rather crudely plans to hurt Rodolpho. Eddie is first provoked as Catherine talks of Rodolpho’s alleged ability to make money; a man’s role. Though he had until now been unhappy with Rodolpho’s feminism, “this ain’t no tenor,” at the prospect of Rodolpho talking a masculine role, “the head chefs in all the big hotels are men,” upsets Eddie further. This results in him repeated making excuses; “I can’t cook, I can’t sing, I can’t make dresses, so I’m on the water front.” However, in a way, to recover his place as the masculine role in the family he offers to teach Rodolpho to box. Miller creates tension as the stage directions are for the characters to act mostly “uneasy” or “nervously happy.” The suspense is further increased by Eddie’s actions, stage directions which reveals Eddie’s intentions in his offer; “weirdly elated, rubbing his fist into his palms.” As they “lightly box” Catherine enters, and when she talks, immediately, lightly veiled by his “watch out” and his friendly “Danish,” mildly staggers Rodolpho. However, unlike what Eddie had hoped to show his idea of masculinity, Marco challenges Eddie to a lift a chair, a show of strength, similarly how Eddie had challenged Rodolpho however without deception.

However before judging Eddie’s character, it is evident Miller evokes pity and sympathy in the audience; Eddie beyond the conflicts of his family and the immigrants is Eddie’s struggle with fate, his almost destiny to betray and die. Alfieri’s prologue talks of fate, and how “powerless” he had been as it as he “watched it run its bloody course.” This is reflected where as Eddie goes to see Alfieri for the first time he describes Eddie as having “eyes… like tunnels.” “Tunnels” paints a picture of a dark path; inescapable and leading to a very possible demise. The thought that it isn’t Eddie’s fault or rather that “he was a good a man as he had to be” however fate had forced him to be like this, evokes pity and sympathy. The fact that he is helpless; “(with a helpless but ironic gesture) What can I do?” His very nature is against Rodolpho however the only method, “only one legal question,” being the fact they are illegal immigrants forces Eddie into “ratting” to the Immigration Bureau, provides compassion and understanding from the audience to Eddie.

The fact that Eddie’s conflicts with the immigrants had been more of a conflict between him and fate makes them seem more acceptable; the fact Catherine cannot fall for Eddie but falls for Rodolpho and, the betrayal had been Eddie only choice. When Eddie is drunk, unable to maintain self-control he kisses Catherine, though he had always denied that he had no other interest for her; “What’re you talkin’ about, marry me!” Though he doesn’t want to feel sexual attractions to Catherine he does which Miller uses to portray a sense of helplessness in Eddie. Also after he kisses Rodolpho he “stands there with tears rolling down his face.” Though the kiss evoke disgust in the audience it also shows reveals Eddie’s character and his mind where he is willing to do anything to uphold his belief; though absurd it may seem to the audience it is evident that Eddie believes it completely.

The “eyes were like tunnels” is repeated twice in the play both alluding to a particular scene in the play. As Eddie finishes his second talk with Alfieri he heads towards the telephone booth; “follows into the darkness” which again alludes to the idea of no-escape and fate. After his betrayal he finds that there are two more immigrants. He tries his best to get them out; “Will you stop arguing with me and get them out?” however tragically this fails. Through the conflict between Eddie and Fate Miller portrays one of his main themes. “We settle for half and I like it better.” It seems inevitably from the beginning that things would not go perfectly. The immigrants could not have all lived happily in America and Rodolpho could not have married Catherine without any problems. “Only God makes justice.” The fact that it was of man and justice could not have been performed. That fate did not allow it and Eddie, though he did his best to resist, had to be sacrificed to “settle for half.” This buys sympathy for him as a tragic hero with an inevitable fate.

In summary, Miller has dramatised the conflicts in “a View from the Bridge” by stage directions, dialogue, and symbolism. Eddie, being a tragic hero, stuck on a path decided by him by fate is almost forced into conflicts with his family, which is used to evoke sympathy and finally to illustrate his theme of law and justice.

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