...Explore the ways in which Arthur Miller presents the relationship between Eddie and Catherine in ‘ A View From The Bridge’. How does it create dramatic tension for the audience? ‘A View from the Bridge’ is set in 1950s America in an Italian-American neighbourhood under the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Brooklyn is a very poor area. It is a corrupt society in which laws are not obeyed and many people have a low social status. The vast majority of Brooklyn’s population was Sicilian. Brooklyn is described by Alfieri, the narrator, as the slum that faces the bay on the seaward side of Brooklyn Bridge. To the audience, the bridge not only shows the poor separated from the rich but a symbol of hope for the people living in Brooklyn as the city of New York is a place of dreams because there was work, security and accommodation but most importantly wealth. During the 1950s, much of Europe was completely destroyed due to the Second World War. Italy, with its corrupt ruler, had been one of the worst hit countries during the war, as they suffered huge amounts of damage in Northern towns and villages by the Germans who took revenge after they had become allies with the British. The economy had rapidly gone down and so this left many Sicilian Italians with no choice but to leave and migrate to the dream city of New York. They were called ‘submarines’ by many Americans as they moved from one place to another just to get American citizenship. In this case, the audience see that Eddie will do...
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...The intention of a playwright may not only be to engage an audience. Playwrights often give the audience an insight into the values, attitudes and ideologies of the society explored in the play and thus, exposing the problems and weaknesses of the society on both a personal level and societal level. “A View from the Bridge”, written by Arthur Miller, is a 1950s domestic American tragedy which dramatises the spiritual and psychological destruction of Eddie Carbone, the protagonist, as a consequence of his incestuous taboo desire for his niece, Catherine. Through the effective use of symbolism, dialogue and props, Miller exposes the human and societal flaws of 1950s working class American society in order to bring about change in the values, attitudes and ideologies of 1950s society. In “A View from the Bridge”, the conflict between the New and Old World values is a ‘flaw’ that 1950s working class American class society possesses while the dark illicit desires for Catherine is a human weakness that Eddie possesses. Through these failings, Miller reveals the consequences of these flaws and the darker side of the human psyche. Miller reveals that the clash of values and attitudes between different people within society is a collective defect of 1950s working class American society and that the facades that individuals put on in order to conform to their expected role within society is a human flaw of the 1950s working class American individuals. Thus, the audience obtains a greater...
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...A view from the bridge: Plot summary: Eddie Carbone was a man who worked as longshoreman in Brooklyn, he was married with Beatrice and they had to look after their orphan niece Catherine. Beatrice’s cousins, Marco and Rodolpho, were going to immigrate in the USA from Italy to stay in Carbone’s house illegally. Once they arrived, the balance in the family has been completely destroyed: Catherine and Rodolpho started to get on very well and to feel something each other, but Eddie didn’t agree, as he suspected that he “ain’t right” because he was able to sing well, to cook, to sew but also because he was blonde. Eddie, trying to stop their relationship, asked Alfieri, a lawyer and friends, if it was possible with the law not to let his niece and Rodolpho staying together, but Alfieri said that it wasn’t possible. Important themes: justice, law, love, homosexuality, immigration, maturity Structure: The book I read is a play, specifically a tragedy, and it’s divided in two acts. The beginning of each act it’s focused on the desk where Alfieri, a lawyer, is sitting at. He’s such a narrator and in the first act he talks to the audience to explain the contest where the story took place, furthermore he explains who he is what is his job. In the second act, Alfieri clarifies that the story jumps to the 23th December This prologue is made with the consciousness of Alfieri of what happened there before, that’s why he’s the...
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...a mother and Eddie as a father. She sees herself quiet and nice. She is dutiful and loving to her elders. She is very attractive, energetic and cheerful. Yet she is also naïve, she has a sheltered life; she has never known anything of life outside the Carbone household. Naturally a high achiever, Catherine innocuously embraces opportunities for advancement. In “A view From the Bridge” Catherine takes a journey of self-discovery. In the beginning, according to her speeches, Catherine mainly speaks in a dialect language. During the first part of Act 1 we can see that Catherine is excited and energetic, this can be explained by the stage direction “running her hands over her skirt”, Catherine sees Eddie as a father and she wants to show him her new clothes. Catherine has also affection for Eddie, “She sits on her heels beside him”, this tells us that Catherine loves Eddie and she respects him. Eddie is overprotective of Catherine and sometimes harsh but they have a good close relationship. “(Trying to joke out of his warning) I wish there was one guy you couldn’t tell me things about”, Catherine received a warning from Eddie but she is ignoring it, this shows that she knows Eddie well and she get on well with him, it also shows that Catherine gets frustrated when Eddie criticise every boys she likes, this foreshadows the story, especially the relation between Eddie and Rodolfo. Catherine sees Eddie as a father is 17 years old however she still acts and treated like a child. “Almost...
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...A tragic hero is a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy, who is destined for downfall, suffering, or defeat. In “A View from the Bridge” by Arthur Miller, the tragic hero, Eddie Carbone, has an obsessive love for his niece, Catherine. Eddie becomes jealous when Catherine begins a relationship with his wife’s cousin Rodolpho who is an illegal immigrant whom Eddie has brought into his home. Because of Rodolpho falling in love with Catherine, a series of events occur which leads to Eddie’s death. Eddie’s character, actions and beliefs change from positive to negative as the story leads towards Eddie’s death. The theme of Honor is also an element which leads to Eddie’s death. Eddie Carbone’s character has many positive qualities that are present from the start of the play. One of which is that Eddie is a very hardworking man, “He worked on the piers when there was work, he brought home his pay, and he lived.” This gives the reader the impression that Eddie is a good man who works hard for a living. He is a straightforward person who does things as part of a routine. Another of Eddie’s positive qualities is his caring nature, which is seen when he speaks to Catherine, “Katie, I promised your mother on her deathbed, I’m responsible for you. You’re a baby, you don’t understand these things.” Eddie acts as he was Catherine’s father and has taken the responsibilities of one, by wanting the best for Catherine. Eddie’s character has negative qualities are revealed as the play...
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...Womanhood ‘A view from the Bridge’ did a great job of displaying the unfortunate character of females in Red Hook, Brooklyn in 1950’s. For the major part of the community, women are enforced submission for men living in the society. Getting bounded in wedlock and to have babies is supposed to be as women’s only basic purpose. There has also been a appreciated bit of debate on the entire coming generation viewpoints. That is, how a girl becomes a woman? The tragedy also imparts some thought-provoking obscuring of the dialogues and limits in the role of wife and daughter. The notion of what is who is and what defines better, a woman, is very predominant in the tragedy. Catherine and Beatrice talk explicitly about the relationships in their discussion in Act I. Beatrice (wife to Eddie) considers that Catherine (niece to Eddie) should be independent to stand by her own decisions and choices, to grow up and become a decision making...
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...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." ...
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...part of the play the signs of change become apparent in William Moore. The setting is at a bridge in the city and Moore is with his friend Millen, and Moore is trying to cross that bridge, “I can’t cross it it, Johnny, I can’t. I want to but I’m unable,” he feels rather insecure compared to how he felt in the first part of the play (41). Moreover, Moore explains, “I am tired. I am frightened. I don’t want to go on. I can’t.” Thus, giving a clear reason as to how much control he has over his thoughts. But the reason for his position is of more insight. Moore signifies to Millen “I keep hearing the dead,” to which Millen responds “It’s only the water beneath you. You’ve heard it before” to which more replies “It’s guns”...
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...Discuss the performance of two actors in any live production that you have seen. You should also compare these with the performances of two actors from another live production you have seen. In your answer you should include; • Names of productions, dates viewed, venues • Actors’ interpretations of roles • Acting styles • Vocal characterisation • Physical characterisation • Interaction of characters • Personal reaction • Audience responses • Critical opinions • Comparison with other performances Ivo Van Hove’s interesting adaptation of Arthur Miller’s ‘A View from the Bridge’, which I went to see on 23rd February 2015 at the Wyndham theatre London, made effective use of simplistic set and costume so that the audience focused on the talented acting and fascinating interpretation. This play, set in 1950s Brooklyn, follows Italian immigrants and the ultimate downfall of Eddie Carbone- the protagonist- as he develops inappropriate feelings towards his niece, Katherine. The play was enjoyed by audience members and critics alike describe by David Alan as ‘the production of a lifetime’. Personally, I felt that Phoebe Fox’s interpretation of Catherine was incredibly effective. An integral theme to the play is her character’s innocence and ignorant attitude towards the relationship between her and Eddie, as she is utterly unaware of his developing feelings towards her. A particular moment where she successfully portrayed Catherine’s naivety was on her first entrance. The...
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...Masculinity was important in America in the 1950s when A View from the Bridge is set. Both Franzen and Miller show that masculinity can be expressed by the different characters in his novel in many different ways which highlight the many aspects of masculinity. Both Franzen and Miller present masculinity through the ways in which the male characters interact with each other. There are conflicting views of masculinity in A View from the Bridge; Eddie represents the judgmental views of masculinity. His character is unable to bear Rodolpho’s attitude and appearance as it attacks Eddie’s individual definition of masculinity. “He’s like a weird…with that wacky hair…he’s like a chorus girl” Eddie unloads his feelings and disapproval regarding Rodolpho and his conduct to Catherine and Alfieri who is used as a guidance counsellor for Eddie to discuss his worries, “I see it in his eyes; he’s laughin’ at her and she’s laughin’ at me.” Eddie notices the behaviour of Rodolpho and interprets it in a jealous way to mean he is being made fun of behind his back. Eddie is seen as a strong masculine father figure, whereas Rodolpho is viewed as a blonde feminine acting male figure. Rodolpho sings “Paper Doll” to Catherine which in Eddie’s point of view hints at Rodolpho’s feminine natures. Eddie is threatened by Catherine’s great enjoyment in Rodolpho’s singing, Eddie rises and moves upstage, as an attempt to stop the singing which insults his view of masculinity. Eddie’s bowling buddies are used to...
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...The Beautiful View During Spring Break of 2016, my family and I traveled to the beautiful city of San Francisco. One of our destinations was to walk across the famed Golden Gate Bridge. This site has always been an attraction for many tourists around the world for years. Its beautiful structure, rich history, and wonderful view give the tourist something to look forward to when entering the city. The Golden Gate Bridge is a destination that people around the world should visit because of its breath-taking ocean, structure, and view of the city. When we entered the famous architecture, the view that was provided took our breath away. As I stepped on to the bridge, the first thing I noticed was the ocean. The ocean, flowing in waves of...
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...like mountain tops, the Grand Canyon, the Empire State Building or the bow of the Titanic (before it sank). Maynard and Stow offer remarkably few opportunities to be in a place where distant vistas are a view. Once upon a time Summer Hill, now tree-covered and trail-crossed, was open pasture. History Society pictures taken as recently as World War II show an expanse with few trees. Decades earlier, state surveyors installed an official stone marker atop Summer Hill, with the expectation that from that point, clear viewing was available in all directions. Marble Hill, at 440 feet, the highest elevation in Stow, is similarly tree-obstructed. Stow does offer a hill with a present-day view. Stories hold that ships’ pilots in Boston harbor used the stand of pine trees atop Pilot Grove Hill as a navigational landmark, suggesting that in the reverse direction a person atop the hill could see Boston’s skyscrapers. Alas, not so. Mayhap from a treetop, but not from ground level. However, Birch Hill Road, elevation 370 feet, does offer a glimpse of Mt. Wachusett, twenty miles to the northwest. Bridges can offer vistas. White Pond Road over the Assabet River, on the Stow/Maynard border, offers good views up and down river – albeit less than a mile’s length combined. The bridge is 120-feet in length with a surface 10-feet above the water. Parking is not permitted, but there are places along the shoulder to pull over and briefly leave the car as long as one does not wander too far away...
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...The BB was the first bridge of its kind ever to be built in the early 19th century. It has braved many elements and has stood the test of time and humanity. It is the first suspension bridge to use galvanized steel as cable wires and trusses. The suspension system was originally designed in iron, but later replaced due to irons dead load weight. The four cables are each nearly 16 inches in diameter and each contains over 5,000 galvanized steel, oil-coated wires. Also the first a dangerous underwater device called Caisson (Inside the caissons, air pressure was used to keep water out of the boxed structure used by workers to excavate the river bottom. Men used shovels, picks, and later blasting to dig out the sand and rocks below and the caissons gradually descended towards the river bottom). After they had been lowered 20 meters, they had to dig/blast their way another 30 meters to find a base strong enough to carry the weight of the bridge. Granite stones were added to form the towers were 276.5ft. At one point they were taller then all skyscrapers of that time to stand as a monument of the two cities. The diagonal cables that run down from the towers which are called “cable stays” purpose was to stiffen the bridge was later fund unnecessary but they were kept for its architectural beauty contribution. "To guard against vertical and horizontal oscillations and to ensure that degree of stiffness in the flooring which is absolutely necessary to meet the effects of violent...
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...elevator bridge in Hamburg, where the main character Bruno Hansen works as a bridge operator. The film portrays the son's death and the ultimate choice the father has to make between saving the lives of train passengers approaching the bridge and that of his own son, as he is playing under the elevator bridge. The cinematographic techniques used to portray this fictional narrative add to the films depiction through its suspenseful close-ups, and switching from differing characters/ objects point of view, as the train approaches the bridge and from the point of view of the father's narration of the event. The aspect ratio of the short film is rectangular filmed in a ratio of 2:3 and is filmed in normal (real time) speed. The onscreen and offscreen space is manipulated from the very beginning of the short film hiding the actual location of the father. The film opens with a close up of the father in a suit and tie, not revealing his location and going through the corse of events that led hid here to this point. It only reveals later through a widening of the shot that he is in a graveyard, recounting the way in which his son was killed. The film makes use of long shots through close ups to give the viewer a feeling of suspense, the scope/ mechanism of the machinery involved and the emotions of the actors portrayed. The long shot is used to portray the immensity of the elevator bridge and the distance of the train to the bridge as it inevitably comes towards the bridge. The use...
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...Bump! The car ride was rough, making me feel slightly nauseous. The music blasted, piercing my ears, and the smell of Doritos filled the car. It was a cold, crisp autumn evening.My parents, my brother Brandon, my cousin Kaylah, and I decided to have dinner, and we had just taken off from San Francisco. Because the car was cramped, Brandon and my Kaylah kept nudging me. “Stop!” I demanded, clearly irritated by them. All of a sudden, the ear-splitting music paused. Still keeping his eyes on the road, he asked us, “Do you kids want to stop to see the Golden Gate Bridge?” “Yeah, we should go. I know a perfect place where the view is stunning!” my mom added, obviously wanting to go. “I don’t know,” Kaylah and Brandon said in unison. I looked to them, but I knew neither of them really wanted to go. I clearly understood their decisions and I agree with them. We all have had a long, exhausting day. Seriously, Kaylah was literally half asleep!...
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