Conflict Between Characters in A View From The Bridge by J.B. Priestley

Conflict Between Characters in A View From The Bridge by J.B. Priestley

The play, "A View From The Bridge", was set in the late 1940s in New

York, Brooklyn. This was a time when New York was populated and worked

by people who were poorly paid, exploited by their bosses and those

who were - in many cases - only recent immigrants to the United

States, having come to America, as Miller's parents had done, in hope

of the work, wealth and security that their home countries could not

guarantee.

The events that have taken place in the scene before the one that I am

about to mention are as follows; Eddie went to the lawyer Alferi and

he tries to ask Alferi if there is any law about a girl falling in

love with an immigrant. When Alferi explains that there is not any

law, then Eddie gets really angry. He starts talking about how Rodolfo

is a blond guy and how he is not any good for Catherine. Also, Eddie

tells Alferi that he knows that Rodolfo is after his papers and just

wants an excuse to marry Catherine. Alferi tries to make Eddie

understand that Catherine has to get married some day and Eddie should

let go of Catherine, now the time has come. Eddie, recognising defeat,

says thank you to Alferi and leaves.

Arthur Miller develops the conflict between the characters in the

final scene of Act One "A View From The Bridge" in several ways.

The scene is important because the verbal aggression develops into

physical aggression. There is a rhythm from alternating peaceful

moments to outbursts and then to physical violence/conflict. The scene

opens with all of them just finishing dinner and Beatrice and

Catherine clearing up the table. Th...

... middle of paper ...

...of warning into a smile of triumph, and Eddie's grin vanishes as

he absorbs his look. These facial expressions tell the audience that a

fight might soon take place between Marco and Eddie. The ending of Act

One links to the ending of the play in numerous ways. Both the endings

have Eddie and Marco involved and both the endings describe Marco

being superior to Eddie as in the ending of the play Marco turns

Eddie's knife around and pushes it home. This moment has an influence

on the audience's feeling towards Eddie because prior to that their

feelings towards Eddie was hatred and now they feel sorry for him. The

play is a tragedy for the fact that the audience can predict the

outcome, the character is unaware of their fate - Marco kills Eddie

but Eddie has the intention to kill Marco, as he is the one that has

the knife.