To what extent does Arthur Miller make us agree with Alfieri
At the end of the play, Alfieri says of Eddie that despite "how wrong he was...I think I will love him more than all my sensible clients". To what extent does Arthur Miller make us agree with Alfieri?The opening of the play "A View from the Bridge" sets the tone of a strong Italian- American community in Red Hook on the seaward side of Brooklyn Bridge. The play is set in the 1950's around the Red Hook slum in Brooklyn where there was a strong belief in the catholic culture. Families were living in inferior standard houses with poor heating and bathrooms and employment was low. Despite this some men worked on the docks for a reasonable pay and this is also where Italian immigrants worked when they would illegally migrate to find a better way of life and try to raise money to send home to their families in Italy. The catholic community of red Hook was surrounded by a legal system which they didn't understand or trust and this gave rise to issues of loyalty and justice. Miller explores these issues throughout the play through the character of Eddie, who is a typical male stereotype with strong beliefs in tradition and respect, however as a consequence to his actions he gets stripped of his pride and dignity.
If Beatrice wasn't there for Eddie to ask things of then he would no longer have the higher status. However at the end , the audience has to make a final judgement, Eddie's character appeals to the heart, but Alfiieri's words bring back snese and judgement . Eddie dies in denial, as he believes what he did was morally right, however the fact that Eddie sticks to his beliefs causes the audience to feel a sense of respect for the character. This behaviour partly comes from his jealousy, as he knows Catherine has taken fondly to Rodolpho, and he soon becomes obsessed with keeping them apart. s powerless as I and watched it run its bloody course" (Alfieri)Miller enables us to see Eddie differently throughout the play and it is difficult to decide whether we should feel love or hatred towards this character. Alfieri acts as a suitable substitute to a chorus as he too reacts to situations in the play and the way he interprets the action enables the audience to agree with him. This is where Eddie makes his biggest mistake which probably costs him his life. Marco does not like Eddie taking advantage of Rodolpho and therefore challenges him to a task which involves physical strength. As Alfieri is used to set the scene, when he is used to express opinion , the audience tend to follow his lead. Eddie also sees himself to have manly pride and respect within the community and would not like this to be questioned Miller uses Eddie's position of a man to make the audience sympathise with him. By showing us this cruel side of Eddie, Miller is giving us a taste of what is yet to come from the character and creates a feeling of dislike towards him. When Beatrice's cousins arrive, Eddie immediately takes a disliking towards Rodolpho and this becomes clear from his harsh words and unjustified opinions.
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