A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller

A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller

“A View from the Bridge” by Arthur Miller

Critical Essay Question and Plan

Task:

Select one decision which is important in the development of a play you have studied. Show to what extent the character(s) concerned in making the decision acted in a way which you expected, or which surprised you.

Think carefully about the task:

  1. The decision that is important in the development of the play is when Eddie decides to report Rodolpho and Marco to the immigration office.
  2. It is important in the development because it reveals the themes of revenge and jealousy (destructiveness), a change in Eddie’s character and causes Eddie’s loss of reputation and death (modern tragedy)
  3. In some ways Eddie’s decision is surprising because at the beginning of the play he seems a decent, hard-working man who has a sense of honour and feels honoured to be helping the immigrants.
  4. In some ways Eddie’s decision is expected because we are made aware of Eddie’s growing jealousy as the play progresses but also see his self-denial.

Introduction

  • Title, author, type of text, words of task.
  • Summary: Eddie – Italian American – his relationship with his neice – his wife’s cousins come from – illegally stay and work in America. Decision – inform immigration office. The themes revealed – the destructive force of jealousy, the consequences of self denial and the need for revenge. Tragedy.
  • Statement of intent: In his play, Miller uses various techniques to illustrate the importance of this decision.

Plan – middle paragraphs

Para 2 – Eddie’s char at beginning – honest/honourable(Italian code of honour)

Para 3 – Nonetheless – Eddie’s changes early in the play– jealousy over

Rodolpho and Catherine’s relationship.

Para 4 – Eddie’s self –denial – believes the reasons he gives Catherine and

Beatrice as to why he dislikes Rodolpho – prevents him from suppressing his hatred of Rodolpho

Para 5 – Stage prop – telephone booth (if in view); Alfieri – like chorus in

traditional Greek tragedy – he points out Eddie’s motivations/

desires and in addresses to audience stresses the inevitability of Eddie’s downfall and his own helplessness.

Para 2 – Eddie as an honest/honourable character

Firstly,this decision is surprising because at the beginning of the play Eddie is seen as an honest character who follows the code of honour that exists among the Italian immigrants in Red Hook
  • Eddie’s view of providing a home for the illegal immigrants/“submarines”(p.8)
  • The story of the fourteen year old boy (p13-14)
  • Alfieri’s comments on Eddie’s character (p15)

Para 3: Eddie’s growing jealousy

Nonetheless, in some ways we are prepared for the decision Eddie makes because of his reactions towards Catherine and Rodolpho’s relationship.
  • Marco begins to only speak to Marco – growing dislike for Rodolpho, as early as first meeting (p.18)
  • Eddie’s reaction to Rodolpho’s singing and Catherine’s admiration of it – Eddie’s “iron control…smile” and comment about Catherine’s heels (symbol of her being a woman – men finding her attractive) (p.21)
  • Alfieri’s comment – p.22
  • Eddie’s conversation with Beatrice about ~Rodolpho (bottom of p.23)
  • Boxing match – Eddie hits Rodolpho p41

Para 4: Eddie’s self denial

T. S = Linkword +TASK + Eddie’s self-denial over his feelings towards Catherine.
  • Beatrice’s mention of it – p.23, p.30
  • Eddie’s denial of it – p.34
  • Eddie’s criticisms of Rodolpho – p.28, p.33

Para5: Stage devices

  • T. S = Linkword +TASK +– the stage devices prepare us for the decision Eddie makes.
  • The telephone booth – p.3
  • Alfieri – his talk of the inevitability of Eddie’s situation and his own helplessness. P.31, p.35, p.48, p.49

Conclusion

  • In conclusion, words of task
  • Sum up main point(s) of each paragraph
  • State your overall praise of the text.

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