How effectively is Alfieri used in How effectively is Alfieri used in the play to highlight themes?the play to highlight themes?

Consider Alfieri as:Consider Alfieri as:A commentator & narrator – connecting two cultural A commentator & narrator – connecting two cultural viewsviews Eddie’s guide and advisor in his role as a lawyerEddie’s guide and advisor in his role as a lawyerArthur Miller’s mouthpiece – giving the writer’s Arthur Miller’s mouthpiece – giving the writer’s views on eventsviews on events

Your answer must be justified by reference to the textYour answer must be justified by reference to the text

A View from the BridgeA View from the Bridge

In answering the question you must pay close attention and In answering the question you must pay close attention and show awareness and insight into show awareness and insight into

plot, character, motive, setting and themesplot, character, motive, setting and themes

You must say in your answerYou must say in your answer

HOW EFFECTIVELY Alfieri is used, not just HOW.HOW EFFECTIVELY Alfieri is used, not just HOW.

If you simply write about HOW he is used you will be telling If you simply write about HOW he is used you will be telling the story and will not get more than a D gradethe story and will not get more than a D grade

Throughout this essay you must mention the playwright’s Throughout this essay you must mention the playwright’s intentions. The question asks how effectively Alfieri is used intentions. The question asks how effectively Alfieri is used – remember that it is Miller who uses him.– remember that it is Miller who uses him.

A View From The BridgeA View From The Bridge

Decide which themes you will consider, for Decide which themes you will consider, for example:example:

The law and justiceThe law and justice– ‘‘The law is only a word for what has a right to The law is only a word for what has a right to

happen’ happen’ – ‘‘Most of the time now we settle for half and I like Most of the time now we settle for half and I like

it better’it better’

The relationships between charactersThe relationships between characters

BetrayalBetrayal

Eddie’s downfallEddie’s downfall

Alfieri’s interludesAlfieri’s interludes

TaskTaskGo through the play and summarise what Go through the play and summarise what Alfieri says and does each time he Alfieri says and does each time he appears.These notes will form the basis of appears.These notes will form the basis of your essay. your essay. Then consider what Alfieri says in his Then consider what Alfieri says in his various interludes and assess the various interludes and assess the importance of his comments on the actions importance of his comments on the actions of the play – i.e what he says and his of the play – i.e what he says and his motives or intentions in doing so. You must motives or intentions in doing so. You must write about the effectiveness of Miller using write about the effectiveness of Miller using Alfieri in this way.Alfieri in this way.

Alfieri’s interludesAlfieri’s interludes

P4: introduces idea of Sicilian immigrant community, where P4: introduces idea of Sicilian immigrant community, where justice and the rule of law were very different, where in the justice and the rule of law were very different, where in the early years of immigration: early years of immigration: ‘There were many here who ‘There were many here who were justly shot by unjust men’were justly shot by unjust men’. Now, he says, . Now, he says, ‘we ‘we settle for half and I like it better’settle for half and I like it better’

Alfieri is used here at the beginning of the play to introduce Alfieri is used here at the beginning of the play to introduce the idea of the conflict between the law and justice within the idea of the conflict between the law and justice within this community. This is effective as a means for Millar to set this community. This is effective as a means for Millar to set the scene.the scene.

At the end of this introductory speech he is used by Miller to At the end of this introductory speech he is used by Miller to forecast the tragedy at the end and to emphasise its forecast the tragedy at the end and to emphasise its inevitability: inevitability: ‘another lawyer, quite differently ‘another lawyer, quite differently dressed, heard the same complaint and sat there as dressed, heard the same complaint and sat there as powerless as I, and watched it run its bloody course.’powerless as I, and watched it run its bloody course.’

P31: dual role. Firstly comments on Eddie’s demeanour as P31: dual role. Firstly comments on Eddie’s demeanour as he walked into the lawyer’s office:he walked into the lawyer’s office:

‘‘my first thought was that he had committed a crime… soon I my first thought was that he had committed a crime… soon I saw it was only a passion that had moved into his body like saw it was only a passion that had moved into his body like a stranger’a stranger’

Alfieri’s role is to reinforce the audience’s notion that Eddie’s Alfieri’s role is to reinforce the audience’s notion that Eddie’s actions are out of the ordinary. Effectiveness?actions are out of the ordinary. Effectiveness?

Alfieri then becomes part of the action in his role as lawyer, Alfieri then becomes part of the action in his role as lawyer, emphasising that Eddie has no recourse in the law to solve emphasising that Eddie has no recourse in the law to solve his problems with Rodolfo and Catherine’s relationship and his problems with Rodolfo and Catherine’s relationship and his intense dislike of Rodolfo:his intense dislike of Rodolfo:

‘‘There is nothing you can do, Eddie, believe me.’There is nothing you can do, Eddie, believe me.’

P34: Introduces germ of idea to Eddie that the only recourse P34: Introduces germ of idea to Eddie that the only recourse in law is the fact that the brothers are illegal immigrants:in law is the fact that the brothers are illegal immigrants:

‘‘There’s only one legal question here…the manner in There’s only one legal question here…the manner in which they entered the country.’which they entered the country.’

His question to Eddie:His question to Eddie:

‘‘But I don’t think you want to do anything about that, do But I don’t think you want to do anything about that, do you?’you?’

is intended to be rhetorical. Eddie’s immediate response shows is intended to be rhetorical. Eddie’s immediate response shows that this has registered with him and although he assures that this has registered with him and although he assures Alfieri he doesn’t, there is the clear idea in his mind that this Alfieri he doesn’t, there is the clear idea in his mind that this is a possibility.is a possibility.

The theme of betrayal and subsequent shunning by a The theme of betrayal and subsequent shunning by a community is made very stark by Alfieri’s no-nonsense advice community is made very stark by Alfieri’s no-nonsense advice and his role is clearly vital.and his role is clearly vital.

Miller’s use of Alfieri here in a dual role is effective. It enables us Miller’s use of Alfieri here in a dual role is effective. It enables us to see Eddie’s motivation and the reasons he has convinced to see Eddie’s motivation and the reasons he has convinced himself for his feelings (himself for his feelings (‘The guy ain’t right’‘The guy ain’t right’) but also ) but also exposes Eddie’s real reasons, which Alfieri realises exposes Eddie’s real reasons, which Alfieri realises immediately:immediately:

‘‘We all love somebody, the wife, the kids…But sometimes We all love somebody, the wife, the kids…But sometimes there’s too much…and it goes where it mustn’t’there’s too much…and it goes where it mustn’t’

Alfieri’s advice to Eddie to:Alfieri’s advice to Eddie to:

‘‘Let her go..You did your job, now it’s her life’Let her go..You did your job, now it’s her life’

is important as he highlights the crux of the matter – Eddie will is important as he highlights the crux of the matter – Eddie will not let Catherine go.not let Catherine go.

Alfieri’s comments confirm the audience’s suspicions and his Alfieri’s comments confirm the audience’s suspicions and his role is therefore effective in enabling the major themes to be role is therefore effective in enabling the major themes to be laid bare.laid bare.

Act TwoAct TwoP43:Alfieri opens the second act by commenting on the events P43:Alfieri opens the second act by commenting on the events that led to Catherine and Rodolfo being alone in the house that led to Catherine and Rodolfo being alone in the house together and then comments again (p48) on Eddie’s reaction. together and then comments again (p48) on Eddie’s reaction. By using Alfieri as a narrator and commentator, Miller is able to By using Alfieri as a narrator and commentator, Miller is able to cement the action. Alfieri is narrating a story that is in the cement the action. Alfieri is narrating a story that is in the recent past and yet the events are given an immediacy by his recent past and yet the events are given an immediacy by his interludes.interludes.P48: Alfieri comments on the inevitability of Eddie’s fatal action P48: Alfieri comments on the inevitability of Eddie’s fatal action in reporting Marco and Rodolfo to the immigration authorities: in reporting Marco and Rodolfo to the immigration authorities:

‘‘when I saw him walking through my doorway I knew why I when I saw him walking through my doorway I knew why I had waited…I had lost my strength somehow’had waited…I had lost my strength somehow’‘‘I kept wanting to call the police, but nothing had I kept wanting to call the police, but nothing had happened’happened’

Throughout the play Alfieri is used effectively to show the Throughout the play Alfieri is used effectively to show the inevitable outcome of the events and the impotence of anyone inevitable outcome of the events and the impotence of anyone to prevent it.to prevent it.

Alfieri again rehearses the legal position of Eddie after Eddie again Alfieri again rehearses the legal position of Eddie after Eddie again attempts to defend his jealousy and hatred because Rodolfo attempts to defend his jealousy and hatred because Rodolfo ‘ain’t ‘ain’t right’right’‘‘This is my last word, Eddie, take it or not, that’s your This is my last word, Eddie, take it or not, that’s your business. Morally and legally you have no rights, you business. Morally and legally you have no rights, you cannot stop it; she is a free agent.’cannot stop it; she is a free agent.’The theme of law and justice is highlighted by Alfieri most The theme of law and justice is highlighted by Alfieri most effectively: he leaves Eddie, and the audience, in no doubt that effectively: he leaves Eddie, and the audience, in no doubt that letting Catherine be with Rodolfo is her legal right and the only letting Catherine be with Rodolfo is her legal right and the only legal action which would prevent it would be against all the legal action which would prevent it would be against all the community’s ideas of justice:community’s ideas of justice:‘‘When the law is wrong it’s because it’s unnatural, but in When the law is wrong it’s because it’s unnatural, but in this case it is natural and a river will drown you if you buck this case it is natural and a river will drown you if you buck it now’it now’Alfieri is used effectively by Miller to warn Eddie of the Alfieri is used effectively by Miller to warn Eddie of the consequences of his actions should he decide to commit the consequences of his actions should he decide to commit the ultimate act of betrayalultimate act of betrayal

At the end of the play Alfieri reiterates the theme of honour. At the end of the play Alfieri reiterates the theme of honour. He elicits a promise from Marco that he will not kill Eddie if He elicits a promise from Marco that he will not kill Eddie if he is released on bail, but is unable to prevent the violence he is released on bail, but is unable to prevent the violence at the end.at the end.

Alfieri’s is the final word and he again reinforces his primary Alfieri’s is the final word and he again reinforces his primary message – and that of Miller – that it is better to settle for message – and that of Miller – that it is better to settle for half:half:

‘‘Most of the time now we settle for half and I like it Most of the time now we settle for half and I like it better’better’

Alfieri’s obvious sympathy for Eddie when he says he allowed Alfieri’s obvious sympathy for Eddie when he says he allowed himself to be himself to be ’wholly known’’wholly known’ allows the audience to feel allows the audience to feel some sympathy for him as a man ruined by a fatal flaw: a some sympathy for him as a man ruined by a fatal flaw: a tragic hero.tragic hero.