Unhealthy Relationships in Act 1 of A View From The Bridge by Arthur Miller

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Unhealthy Relationships in Act 1 of A View From The Bridge by Arthur Miller

There are several meanings of the term unhealthy when considering it

in context with relationship. But in this essay I will discuss

unhealthy as morally unhealthy. I will discuss the relationship

between Eddie and Catherine and the effect of Rodolfo, the relation

ship of Catherine and Rodolfo and the relationship of Catherine and

Beatrice.

Catherine and Rodolfo have a seemingly normal relationship but their

underlying motives could be viewed as unhealthy. They start out by

dating which in itself seems to be perfectly strait forward, but

certain doubts about Rodolfo are shown to Catherine by Eddie. It is

suggested to her that he is only going out with her because "he is

only bowin' to his passport" and that he goes out and "a new snappy

jacket he buys, records, a pointy new pair of shoes and his brother's

kids are stavin' over there with tuberculosis?" These accusations turn

their relationship from perfectly healthy to unhealthy as doubts are

placed on Catherine about his motives. This means that she no longer

trusts him as she did before and a sexual relationship without trust

means that it is no longer a healthy relationship.

The relationship between Eddie and Catherine is an interesting one as

Eddie's motivation towards his actions with her seems to change and

develop as the play progresses. His first problem with her is that he

doesn't want her to grow up and as she develops into a woman he wants

to try and stop her from "walkin' wavy" and cant bare the thought of

all "those flirty flirty guys With their flirty flirty eyes". This as

a concern seems totally natural as he is only trying to protect her.

Catherine doesn't help the situation by still acting like a kid.

Beatrice tells her that "You still walk around in front of him in you

slip…or like you sit on the edge of the bathtub talkin' to him when he

is shaving". These two features of their relationship seem perfectly

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