1. “A View from the Bridge” by Arthur Miller

2. Characterisation – Eddie Carbone ► tragic protagonist. ► Good man, hard working. ► Self-interested – allows desires/feelings to take over his reason. ► Tells himself he is protecting Catherine from an unhappy marriage and male relationships. ► Reality: wants Catherine for himself – attention to niece/impotence in own marriage. ► Creates fictional fantasy world/ self-delusion. ► Eddie unable to understand his feelings for his niece until end of play but other characters aware. ► Unable to settle for half – gives in to feelings

3. Characterisation - Alfieri ► Like Chorus in Greek tragedy – opening, ending and comments throughout ► Play told from viewpoint of Alfieri - objective ► symbolic bridge between American law and tribal laws, successfully combines American and Italian customs. ► Events of the play and make clear the greater social and moral implications in the work. ► Alfieri- unable to help Eddie Carbone, but must powerlessly watch the tragic events unfold before him. ► Alfieri admires Eddie’s inability to settle for half although brings about Eddie’s tragic end.

4. CHARACTERISATION: RODOLPHO ► Ambiguous Char – reveals little about himself: Does he really love Catherine or is he using her to gain American Citizenship? ► Rodolpho’s sexuality – questioned by Eddie and other longshoremen because he sings, cooks, sews, dances and is blond (Italian) ► Rodolpho - complex character. Seems more a mixture of conflicts/opposites to heighten the action of the play rather than a fully developed character. ► Rodolpho’s purpose – cause Eddie’s feelings for Catherine and his jealousy to come to the forefront.

5. Themes: Destructive Force of Jealousy ► Breaks down his relationship with Catherine. ► Breaks down his relationship with Beatrice. ► Loses his reputation and respect from the community. ► Thwarts Marco’s chances in America. ► Inevitability – brings about his own tragic end.

6. Theme: The Importance Of the code of honour/revenge ► The setting – Italian customs from long ago – if someone betrays or dishonours you, you have the right to seek revenge. ► The story of the fourteen year old boy who reported his uncle to the immigration department. ► Marco’s need for revenge on Eddie/ desire to protect Rodolpho. ► Reaction of the crowd when immigration officers take 4 illegal immigrants away – blame on Eddie ► Eddie’s talk of revenge on Marco – need to recover reputation – Unjustified - Self delusion

7. THEME: THE INABILITY TO SETTLE FOR HALF ► Miller suggests we have basic impulses, which civilisation has seen as harmful to society, and taught us to control. We have self-destructive urges, too, but normally deny these. ► Eddie does not really understand his improper desire- therefore unable to hide it from those around him or from the audience. ► In Eddie, we see the primitive impulse completely exposed: Alfieri's puzzling remark that Eddie "allowed himself to be perfectly known". ► Eddie does not control his emotions – he allows them to take over him. He does not exert his power of reason.