Eddie, being sexually unsure of wear he stands is confused and troubled with himself and the fact if by chance he was homosexual he couldn’t accept himself because he is such a traditionalist. Some comparisons can be made between Eddie and John Proctor (from The Crucible), that being Eddie’s troubles are more domestic rather than predominately public, as was Procter’s. Procter’s infatuation with Abigail is over before the play begins, whereas Eddie’s problems are very much alive throughout the play. Proctor’s infidelity is presented as morally wrong-sinful in the context of the play; Eddie’s difficulties are more confused-and to him more confusing-because that are largely unconscious and unconsummated. Yet there a section of the play where a highly-charged atmosphere of suppressed sexuality erupts; at the end of Act 1 where Eddie is promoted by the sexual implications of the dance between Catherine and Rodolpho that has preceded it. The use of ‘Paper Doll’ as a theme song in this act established ironically the sexual inaccessibility of Catherine to her uncle and the apparent sexual ambiguity of Rodolpho that, in Act II, leads Eddie to kiss him. In 1955, of course, so explicit an act on the stage had an impact far more sensational than it would ever have again. Yet Eddie is disturbed by aspects of his own sexuality that the events of the play disclose to him, especially when Marco kills him at the end, he does so with a cry, not of ‘Traitor!’ as one might expect, but of ‘Anima-a-l!’.
Rodolpho is the character who like Eddie has ambiguus sexuality, he proves to society that men don’t have to be full of testosterone and dominance, but men do have inner qualities and even feelings. Through much of the play we can see the accepted way in which things are done; such as the manner of which one loads a ship or the knowledge men just aren’t meant to posses. Namely singing and dress-making skills are the forefront of the protagonist that Rodolpho’s character is and because of this he allows society to see a different type of man. A man that posses compassion and humour, “Ya know that guy, Rodolpho, has a great sense of ‘umour…I don’t know what it is, but it’s like the way he looks and says things” It is almost like he creates some type of atmosphere that surrounds to everyone (except Eddie) around him. And it is because Rodolpho does this, Eddie (the old generation) sees this act as an attempt to steal his power in his household and ultimately his love of his life, Catherine. But in this world of the survival of the fittest, the young take on the roles of the old and Eddie dies because he cannot accept change. Like when Catherine tries to convince Eddie that she can work, Eddie comes out with the excuse that she should finish school, wait til 18 and he don’t like that neighbourhood. Since Eddie has put so much of himself and his wife, Beatrice, into this child (Catherine) he can’t accept the idea that he is to become childless, for now he has no purpose to live, hence the symbolism with Catherine marrying Rodolpho and Eddie dieing, because he couldn’t live with the situation as it would be.
Not only does Catherine prove to society and Eddie that women can break out of the housewife stereotype, women, like men can make their own choices and aren’t weighed down with family expectations. The perfect example of this is how Catherine marries Rodolpho against Eddie’s wishes, because Catherine knew that the choice was hers and hers alone, and no one could decide for her. Millar makes this point very clear in his message to the audience, for if we don’t bite the bullet and make our own decisions who are we anyway? Aren’t we meant to be different? Well Millar shows us that to be ourselves we need to make our own decisions. Also Rodolpho and Marco make their own decisions to immigrate to America, illegally, so they had the chance to live and Marco to provide for his family. And say if this didn’t happen (immigration form Europe to America) the country of the United States as we and the rest of the world know it would be entirely different. Same as in Australia, if we didn’t have immigration from the rest of the world Australia wouldn’t have multiculturalism and would be boring. However, it is because of characters such as; Marco and Rodolpho, who took a chance for a new life we can now understand why they did it and enjoy the culture they have created in doing so.
Arthur Millar’s A View from the Bridge is a play that captures the imagination of the audience by challenging ideals of society. Rodolpho and Catherine prove to the world that stereotypes don’t exist; but more importantly Millar makes a very important point, to accept yourself as you are. If we can do this the world would be a better place for everyone, we are individuals and to be individuals we need to make our own decisions and accept ourselves, not let society decide whether too or not.
Ben King
