A view from the bridge is centred around the lives of a small, Italian-American community. Miller focuses on the importance of honour and love. Both of which play a great part in the daily lives of its’ characters. Positive aspects of society and honour give Eddie, the main character, his strength and power but also lead to his demise. The title of the play is “A View From The Bridge.” To me the meaning of this heading is illustrated though the character of Alfieri. He serves a choric function throughout the play; an interface between Miller’s drama and the audience. Like a bridge over water, Alfieri’s makes connections. Also, his introductory monologue implies that, being an Italian Immigrant himself, he is a link between the old world and the new: Italy and America. Throughout the play Alfieri can see what is going to happen, the inevitable tragedy. Although he plays a part, he is powerless. Here, Miller illustrates how fate can be the most formidable factor of all.

A View From The Bridge is split into two acts, punctuated throughout by short monologues. This structure gives it a strict before-and-after form. In Act one Eddie attempts to put a stop to Catherine and Rudolpho’s relationship. By Act two he has realised that he can’t and becomes bitter and desperate. This attitude causes the ultimate tragedy. The last section of Act One starts with a prologue from Alfieri. Throughout the play, using the character of Alfieri, Miller has been dropping hints as to the ending. Miller was very influenced by Greek Tragedy. This is reflected through his use of the Roman Chorus technique. Using this dramatic device, Alfieri gives the audience insight into what will come.

By now the audience might have guessed the fate of Eddie, at this point it is no longer a question of whether but when. Alfieri describes Eddie as “a dark figure walking down a hall towards a certain door”. The word ‘certain’ implies that his destiny is inescapable. There is no avoiding his own fate, “his trouble”. The fact that he is “walking” gives the idea that it is not a fast process. His demise is slow but sure. This is one of Alfieri’s most important speeches. Miller makes it dramatically successful through the use of metaphor, “walking down a hall”, and sound. Alfieri uses a very ominous, resigned tone, “I could have finished the whole story that afternoon,” to show the impending doom of his client, to remind the audience of the inevitable.

Towards the end of Act one the ongoing battle between Eddie and the brothers becomes more prominent. Eddie becomes angered at the slightest opportunity. “I know lemons are green for Christ’s sake” Eddie is so possessed by this attitude that he ends up arguing over petty things like the colour of lemons. Rudolpho is calmly chatting yet Eddie is said to be “resenting his instruction.” Resentment is usually caused by a wrongdoing or injustice. Here, has Rudolpho really done anything wrong? Or is he simply misunderstood, misjudged? Later they begin arguing about the concept of freedom. Rudolpho implies that America invokes more liberty to its civilians than Italy. Eddie’s defence is unconvincing; “it might be a little more free here but it’s just as strict” He contradicts himself and this line makes no sense; a sign of weakness, of losing the battle. He has no proven evidence of his claims so he is finding it difficult to put together a just argument.

After this prolonged outburst of verbal dispute Catherine decides that it’s her turn to fight. She “puts a record on the phonograph – Paper Doll” The song, Paper Doll, has great significance throughout the play. It is the only song played. It appeared when the cousins did and Catherine uses it as a means to rebel. The song and style are new, fresh. Eddie finds change difficult and this song represent major change in the musical world (the beginning of the swing era) Change is what makes Eddie feel least comfortable. Miller might have included this song not just for its symbolism as it also reinforces the time period in which the play took place. Catherine asks Rudolpho to dance and is said to be “flushed with revolt” The word ‘revolt’ is used to describe the act of breaking away from authority, rebelling against society. Catherine, by dancing with Rudolpho, is most definitely resisting the wishes of her authority, of Eddie. The word ‘flushed’ gives the impression that she is surprised. She seems exhilarated to have this power over her surrogate father. She is devoted to him and he has upset her. Her hurt provokes this act of defiance.

In A View From The Bridge Miller uses a lot of movement and body language to communicate feeling. At the beginning he emphasizes the fact that the family all nod to each other; “she nods”, “all nod”, “the brothers nod”. This is a positive gesture of welcoming, it seems to calm Eddie down. By the last scene the brothers seem to have given up reasoning with Eddie and have decided to fight back. At first they are just chatting but Eddie’s annoyance is so great he begins “unconsciously twisting the newspaper.” The fact that he isn’t aware of this movement gives us psychological insight into his mental state. Although he isn’t speaking his actions are showing what he feels. The fact that it is a newspaper he has unconsciously chosen to ruin may carry some significance. Like the song, the news is also a symbol of change. He is destroying it; the new, the different. This may imply that he himself is unable to change, unable to adapt.

The very last section of Act One is one of the most dramatic scenes in the play. Miller has created a very diverse range of characters and with so many different opinions something is sure to go wrong. Two sides have emerged among the family. There’s Eddie who thinks the worst of Rudolpho “the guy is lookin’ for a break, that’s all he’s lookin’ for.” The rest of the family seem to be content with Catherine and Rudolph’s relationship, therefore excluding Eddie.

At first Eddie confronts Rudolpho in a playful manner, a boxing lesson, although his actions have undertones of real violence. Within this ‘lesson’ Eddie seems to taunt Rudolpho with the line “Put sump’m behind it, you can’t hurt me” This carries a double meaning as he isn’t only talking about the physical fight but the mental one between him and what he believes Rudolpho to be. This fight is a psychological battlefield. It’s not only their health that is in danger when in combat but their honour. Something they see as very, very important. Through this boxing match, Eddie has just insulted Marco and Rudolpho. Again, Miller is using actions not words. They defend their honour in two different ways. Rudolpho takes Catherine and begins to dance to Paper Doll. Like before, this is a definite act of defiance. Marco picks up a chair and challenges Eddie to a battle of might “can you lift this chair?”. Unlike Eddie’s challenge, Marco’s required slow steady strength. This reflects their characters. Eddie is fast paced and doesn’t seem to think a lot before he takes action whereas Marco is quiet and seems contemplative. He has no major actions or words until the very end, not the stereotypical killer in the story. He is quiet, an introvert. He says a total of eight words to defend himself yet his actions are just as dramatically effective as Eddie‘s constant outbursts.

In the end Marco is “holding the chair raised like a weapon – over Eddie’s head”. Miller describes the chair as a ‘weapon.’ In reality, the chair could not do much physical harm, considering Marco is a lot smaller than Eddie. It isn’t the chair that Eddie is afraid of, it’s the intent behind the challenge. The fact that it’s ‘over Eddie’s head’ gives the impression of height. That Marco is above Eddie. This may imply that emotionally he has the ‘upper’ hand; that he is more in control. Eddie’s authority is waning.

The characters in A View From The Bridge all hold up a moral and social code. If one breaks these unwritten rules it can only end in tragedy. This tradition is what gives them their security but what also tears them apart. Eddie commits a wrongdoing. He is trapped by the force of fate. There is no escaping destiny.