A VIEW FROM THE

BRIDGE
Created by Team A
Contents of the presentation

 Introduction
 Subject
 TAP
 Writer’s ideas and perspectives
 Summary
 Characters
 Themes
 Literary Devices
 Structure
Introduction

 This is a play or a drama written

by Arthur Miller. The drama is the
novel is to show cruel and more
things are there. This drama also
tells the story of Eddie Carbone, a
Brooklyn longshoreman, whose
incestuous love for his niece drives
him into his own destruction.
 Miller identified the difficulties of
writing a drama that combined the
concept of ultimate law with Arthur Miller
modern living and knowledge.
Subject

 Arthur Miller's 'A View from the Bridge' describes the social
problems encountered by both established and recent
immigrants coming to America to seek work. Written in
1955, the play portrays issues relevant to today's culture.
 This drama shows the way how illegal immigrants goes
other countries without the permission from Immigration
facility to complete their goals, in this case, supporting
their families in Italy.
TAP

Type Audience Purpose

The intended The purpose of the drama
audience are is to demonstrate the
Drama targeted at social problems
general readers, encountered by both
youth, and adults established and recent
immigrants coming to
America to seek work.
Writer’s ideas and perspectives

 The play is concerned with how justice and the law are applied.
It contrasts the justice dealt out in Italy in ancient times with
the justice system of modern America. This can be considered
as natural law versus the written law. To be given respect was
extremely important to Italian men of earlier generations.
 He wrote this play based on different aspects in his life as he
lived in Brooklyn as a child and worked in the Brooklyn shipyards
like Eddie and befriended the Italians he worked with. Miller
heard a story of some men coming over to work illegally and
being betrayed which inspired him to write A View from a
Bridge.
Summary
 Alfieri, an Italian-American lawyer in his fifties, enters the stage and sits in
his office. Talking from his desk to the audience, he introduces the story of
Eddie Carbone. Alfieri compares himself to a lawyer in Caesar's time,
powerless to watch as the events of history run their bloody course.
 Eddie Carbone walks down the street to his house. As Eddie enters the
home two fellow Longshoremen, Mike and Louis greet him. Eddie's niece,
Catherine, reaches out the window and waves to Eddie and Louis. When
Eddie enters the house he gently scolds Catherine for flirting with the boys
so blatantly. Eddie thinks she should be more reserved and not "walk so
wavy." Beatrice, Eddie's wife, is also home. While Beatrice and Catherine
set the table for dinner, they convince Eddie to let Catherine take a job as
a stenographer down by the docks. Eddie informs Beatrice that her cousins,
Marco and Rodolpho, will be arriving early from Italy and will probably be
at the house that night. Beatrice and Eddie plan to hide Marco and
Rodolpho while they work in the country illegally to send money home.
 Marco and Rodolpho arrive at the house and have a brief reunion. They are both
very gracious for the hospitality. Marco tells the Carbone's that he has three
children and a wife back home that he will be sending money to. Rodolpho, the
young blonde brother, has no family and intends to stay in the country as long
as possible. Rodolpho entertains everyone with his version of the jazz tune,
"Paper Doll."
 In the coming weeks, Rodolpho and Catherine spend a great deal of time
together, which worries Eddie. Eddie thinks that Rodolpho is untrustworthy and
Eddie becomes jealous of the time he spends with Catherine. Eddie tells
Catherine that Rodolpho just wants to marry her to become a citizen, but she
does not listen. Rodolpho develops a reputation at the docks for being quite a
joker, which further embarrasses Eddie. Beatrice, more aware than ever of the
attention Eddie is giving Catherine, talks to Catherine about being a woman and
tells her she must grown up and make her own decisions. Beatrice encourages
Catherine to get married to Rodolpho if that is what she wants to do. Catherine
agrees to try. Eddie, still frustrated with Rodolpho and Catherine, even visits
Alfieri and asks if there is any way he can get rid of Rodolpho by law, but Alfieri
assures him there is not. Alfieri tells Eddie that he needs to let Catherine go.
 The situation escalates and Eddie becomes increasingly jealous of
Rodolpho. Eddie resents the fact that Rodolpho thinks Catherine is looser
than Italian girls. Eddie threatens Rodolpho in a pretend boxing match
held in the living room of the house, stopped by Catherine and Beatrice.
 As Act II begins, Alfieri narrates and it is evident that time has passed.
Rodolpho and Catherine are left alone in the house and have sex in the
bedroom. As they are leaving the bedroom, Eddie comes home drunk.
Eddie violently kisses Catherine, pins Rodolpho to the floor and kisses him
also. Eddie visits Alfieri once again, who repeatedly tells him to let
Catherine go. Immediately after leaving Alfieri's office, Eddie calls the
Immigration Bureau and reports Marco and Rodolpho.
 Immigration comes and arrests Marco and Rodolpho. As he is being taken
away, Marco spits in Eddie's face. Alfieri pays bail for the two men and
arranges the marriage of Catherine and Rodolpho. On the wedding day,
Marco returns to the house for revenge. Eddie lunges into Marco with a
knife. Marco turns Eddie's arm and kills Eddie with Eddie's own knife. Eddie
dies in Beatrice's arms.
Characters

 Eddie Carbone
The tragic protagonist of the
play, Eddie is a hard-working
man who supports his wife
Beatrice and his niece
Catherine, whom he has raised
like a daughter. He begins the
play as a well-liked member of
his neighborhood community,
and has a strong sense of honor.
 Beatrice Carbone
The wife of Eddie Carbone and
aunt of Catherine. Beatrice has
raised Catherine from the time
she was very young and acts
Catherine's mother. Beatrice is
a warm and caring woman,
more reasonable than Eddie.
 Catherine
Catherine is Beatrice's niece.
She is the daughter of Beatrice's
sister, Nancy, who died when
Catherine was a baby. Catherine
considers the couple as her
parents, although it is intriguing
that she calls them by their
names and not mother and
father. She is 17 years old,
attractive and lively.
 Rodolpho
Rodolpho, the platinum blonde
is a cooking, sewing, and
dancing full-blooded Italian,
and the greatest threat to Eddie
Carbone. ... Unlike his Italian
brother Marco, Rodolpho does
not seek revenge on Eddie for
calling Immigration or abusing
his fiancé in front of him.
 Macro
Marco is one of the main
characters in the play “A View
from The Bridge.” The character
is an illegal immigrant recently
arrived in the United States
from Italy. He is Rodolfo's older
brother and Beatrice's cousin.
We also know that he has a wife
and three children in his
country.
 Alfieri
Alfieri makes six appearances on
stage throughout the play. He is
a portly, good-humored, and
thoughtful lawyer who was born
in Italy. He also acts as the play's
narrator, in imitation of ancient
Greek tragedies where a group
of actors commented on
proceedings and were known as
the 'chorus’.
Themes

 The Law
 Desire
 Money
 Community
 Self-denial
 Gender roles
 Home
Literary Devices

 Use of narrative styles

 Point of view
 Tone
 Mood
 Climax
 Foreshadowing
Structure

 A View from the Bridge is a well-structured play with an uncomplicated shape.

The play is in two Acts but within these Acts there are a number of easily
defined divisions which are controlled by the lawyer, Alfieri. Alfieri is essential
to the structure of the play. He opens and closes the play and at other times
we see him as Arthur Miller’s mouthpiece moving the action quickly onwards.
 All the action revolves around Eddie Carbone. His character controls the
drama. When he is calm and friendly, the atmosphere reflects this. When he is
tense and hostile the atmosphere is uncomfortable. There are a number of
flashpoints in the two Acts which echo one another. The controlled hostility at
the end of Act One (when Eddie shows Rodolfo how to box and Marco indirectly
challenges Eddie) is developed into unpleasant hostility at the beginning of Act
Two when Eddie kisses Catherine and Rodolfo. The final explosive violence at
the end of the drama is justified when we consider what has gone before.