A View From The Bridge

A View From The Bridge

1. conflict between American law and Italian justice

   • Inadequacy of the law
     • No law to stop an immigrant marrying an American, even if just for citizenship
       • "You mean to tell me that there's no law that a guy which he ain't right can go to work and marry a girl and -?"
     • No law to punish a man who snitched on his own family, killing children
       • "There is no law for that? Where is the law for that?
   • Importance of revenge
     • Justice must be carried out, even if it is against the law
       • "In my country he would be dead by now"
   • Settling for half
     • Alfieri wants people to settle, even if they do not feel satisfied by the justice law can bring
       • "If he obeys the law, he lives. That's all."
   • Alfieri's opening speech
     • Establishes how Italians don't like the law
       • "in Sicily, from where their fathers came, the law has not been a friendly idea since the Greeks were beaten"
     • Establishes how the law is not perfect but should be followed
       • "Now we settle for half, and I like it better"