A View from the Bridge

A View from the Bridge

1. Characters

   • Eddie
   • Catherine
   • Beatrice
   • Marco
   • Rodolpho
   • Alfieri
     • Representation of the bridge
       • Connects people in community together
       • Between Italian community and American law
         • loyal to both routes
         • "Now we are quite civilized, quite American. Now we settle for half, and I like it better"
       • Chorus - Miller's mouth piece
         • Fill in the gaps between scenes
         • only ideas, thoughts, opinions but no physical input
           • "heard the same complaint and sat there as powerless as I am, and watched it run its bloody course"
     • Lawyer
       • Come to him for help
       • Provides legal solutions

2. Theme

   • Respect / Reputation
     • Eddie
     • Marco
   • Law / Justice
     • Alfieri
   • Betrayal / Loyalty
     • Eddie
       • isolated to call Immigration bareau / "the phone"
       • fatherly love for Catherine
     • Rodolpho loving Catherine despite Eddie who provides him protection and accomodation
     • Catherine goes against Eddie's advice/orders/words despite his love and care
   • Anger / Violence
   • Gender Roles / Sexuality
   • Community / Immigration
   • Dreams / Hopes / Plans
     • Catherine
     • Marco
     • Rodolpho

3. Plot

   • Act 1
     • Alfieri compares himself to another lawyer in Caesar's time, foreshadows the incident by introducing Eddie
     • Eddie enters home with Mike and Louis, gently scolds Catherine for not being reserved
     • Beatrice and Catherine set table, convince Eddie to let Catherine get the job offered
     • Eddie informs Beatrice that Marco and Rodolpho will be arriving the next day. When they arrive --> a brief reunion, very gracious for hospitality
     • Marco tells story of his family, Rodolpho, his plan. Rodolpho introduces his jazz version of "Paper doll"
     • Rodolpho & Catherine together. Eddie gets jealous and protecitve, thinks Rodolpho is untrustworthy / just wants to get married to become a citizen
     • Rodolpho develops reputation at the docks - entertainer --> embarass Eddie
     • Beatrice aware of attention of Eddie, tells Catherine to make her own decisions - get married with Rodolpho if she wants, Cahterine agrees to try
     • Eddie, frustrated, consults Alfieri (way to get rid of Rodolpho by law), Alfieri assures that there's not and to let Catherine go
     • Eddie threatens Rodolpho by boxing match though stopped by Beatrice and Catherine
     • Marco - Eddie, The chair incident
   • Act 2
     • Time passed, Rodolpho and Catherine are together in bedroom
     • Eddie comes home drunk, violently kisses Catherine, pins Rodolpho onto the ground and kisses him
     • Visits Alfieri, after confirmed that there is no way to keep Catherine and push Rodolpho away, he calls the immigration bareau
     • Immigration comes and arrests the two illegal immigrants, Marco spits in Eddie's face
     • Alfieri pays bails and arranges marriage
     • Marco comes home, Eddie lunges him with a knife, Marco turns Eddie's arm and kills Eddie, Eddie dies in Beatrice's arms

4. ~ TITLE ~

   • singular "view"
     • untouchable incidents