1. A View from the Bridge
Arthur Miller

2. Elements of Greek tragedy
Sense of inevitability in story
Elements of dramatic irony
Role of the chorus
Presence of tragic flaw
Cathartic finale

3. Conflicts Two interwoven conflicts
Family relationship of Eddie, Beatrice and Catherine dominated by Eddie’s identity as provider and protector
Social responsibility to provide shelter and direction to relations Marco and Rudolpho
Ultimately, these two conflicts become irreconcilable – to protect his vision of family, Eddie betrays his social responsibility

4. Responsibility to Family
Moral obligation deriving from Sicilian heritage
Emotional obligation – sense of being necessary gives Eddie a sense of importance about himself
Social expectation – Eddie’s image of “manliness” is being a provider, protector, decision maker; must be strong, enduring, self-sacrificing and uncomplaining

5. Relationship with Catherine
Accepts her as if she were daughter
She is devoted to him and makes him feel important
Opposes her “growing up” because he is afraid of her leaving
Initially, at least, Beatrice is jealous of Catherine in an emotional sense – Eddie gets more from his relationship with Catherine than he does from his wife

6. Relationship with Catherine
Rudolpho is immediate threat to this relationship
Epitomizes everything that Eddie despises (cooks, sews, sings – feminine in tendencies, at least in Eddie’s culture, irresponsible, lives for moment, doesn’t share value of work)
Eddie seeks opportunities to belittle Rudolpho verbally and finally physically at the end of Act I; all of his efforts fail however

7. Relationship with Catherine
Failure precipitates three fold disaster:
Alienates Catherine who must choose between them
Forces Beatrice to pick a side as well (she stands by Eddie, but from sense of duty, not choice)
Makes an enemy of Marco and the larger community – a huge problem since respect is driving value for Eddie especially from those, like Marco, whom he admires and whose values he share

8. Alfieri as chorus Speaks directly to audience Tries to caution Eddie
Legal advice
Moral advice
Acknowledges inevitability of his downfall
Observer of action but not participant
Title refers to Alfieri – stands aloof from the action, viewing from a distant bridge

9. Confrontation with Marco
Foreshadowed by chair incident in Act I
Built on irony that Marco is mirror image of Eddie, one person whose values he shares completely
Final confrontation based on
Frustration /confusion that while all his actions have been directed from the best of motives (“I only wanted what’s best for you Katie”), he has been humbled, ridiculed and betrayed as a result

10. Confrontation with Marco
Marco embodies all of the forces that have betrayed him and stolen his “name”; seems to believe that if can defeat Marco, he can overwhelm these forces and reclaim his rightful place

11. Tragedy and Common Man
Hero must be willing to sacrifice everything, including his life, to protect what he sees as his rightful place in society
Tragic flaw is unwillingness to passively accept what society tells him he should be
Tragedy results in downfall of hero, but is at least partly optimistic in that
It demonstrates the indomitable will of hero
It results in positive social change

12. Eddie Carbone – modern tragic hero?
Willing to give up everything, including life for what he sees as rightful place?
Flaw is refusal to passively accept what society tells him his place should be?
Tragedy demonstrates the indomitable will of the hero?
Tragedy highlights social flaw that can now be remedied?