A view from a Bridge Key Themes

1. A view from a Bridge Key Themes By Jamie salt

2. The Relationship between Eddie and Catherine • Right from the beginning Miller shows us that they have a really close relationship. We see this from the way they act. As soon as Eddie comes home she gives him a joyful greeting and cares what Eddie thinks a lot. While Eddie is delighted that she is beautiful, this Is shown when he says “Beautiful turn around, lemme see in the back” but is also worried what other men will think. This shows that one of the key themes to the play is the incestuous relationship between them. • We begin to see this more once the Italian cousins arrive. Eddie can see that Rodolfo likes her and desperately tries to draw a line between them. • Alfieri and Beatrice can see this and Alfieri tries to warn Eddie off to stop the dangers he could cause.

3. We can see how the relationship falls apart between them. At first they really happy around each other. After the cousins arrive eddie starts to get worried about her falling for Rodolfo, he shows himself getting jealous. “they must’ve seen every in Brooklyn by now. He's supposed to stay in the house when he ain’t working. He ain’t supposed to go advertising himself.” this shows how obsessive he becomes which is getting dangerous. This theme of the relationship breaks down after Catherine says “I think I cant stay here no more” Eddie Is obviously upset. Then she hates him so much she says “he bites people when they sleep … in the garbage he belongs.” This shows there is no chance they can rebuild the relationship they had.

4. The importance of Eddies manhood • Another key theme is his Manliness. • He will never admit it but he thinks that you must know your boundaries which Rodolfo does not and he feels he is invading his manhood. • Throughout the play miller shows he does not treat Eddie like a man because he sings cooks and makes dresses and calls him ‘Paper doll’. • B. brings his masculinity up when she says “when am I goanna be a wife again Eddie?” he is insulted and asks her never to ask things like that again.

5. Justice and the Law • This is also involved a lot in the play as Alfieri is a lawyer. • But Eddie is a man who does not understand reasons for what he does. • Eddie tries to force him to give the justice he wants, he wants Rodolfo to not marry her due to law but does not want to dob him in as family is so important. But in the end he does which drives him slightly mad.

6. Family • Family also plays a significant role in the play. Eddie tells Katie of peter ( the boy who snitched on his own uncle.) • But during the play you see him get more and more hypercritical about what youncan and can’t do to family.