Sukhjeevan Bains
How did Miller present Conflict in A view from The Bridge?
A View from the Bridge is a modern American tragedy play focused on an American – Italian community in
the 1950s. Within this story, the playwriter, Arthur Miller presents conflict in a variety of ways, most
significantly in internal conflicts within the major characters. However, Miller also introduces conflict among
other characters as well as the differences between the “old world” and the “new world”, specifically the
different views on masculinity. Miller portrays these conflicts through dialogue and stage directions
throughout the play to illustrate a variety of conflicts between and within characters.
Miller presents conflict from the start of the play when we first meet Eddie and Catherine. Miller portraits
Eddie as an overprotective father figure to Catherine, trying to shield her from what he views as danger,
such as boys. However, Catherine does not hold the same views as Eddie which allows conflict to begin to
form. He is aware she will not appreciate it when he says, ‘I do not like the look they are givin’ you…’’you’re
walkin’ wavey.’ From this the audience is able to see that Eddie’s hamartia, which is Eddie’S fatal flaw that
leads to his downfall, is how he does not know how to respond to his love for Catherine and therefore by
trying to keep Catherine away from the opposite gender. He says this because he is unable to clear about the
notion of ‘walkin’ wavey,’ this would also show that Eddie is struggling to put into words his emotions. The
alliteration of the letter W could also be seen as comedic. Furthermore, later in the play, Eddie still does not
allow Catherine to make her own decisions despite her already finding a job. However, Eddie is unwilling to
accept this because he was never involved in the decision ruining Eddies pride or Hubris, and Eddie still sees
her as a ‘child.’ ‘child’ not only presents that Eddie thinks Catherine is a ‘child’, it also shows he refuses to
except the fact she is growing up as he refuses to accept the fact that Catherine has got a job. The repetition
of short sentences where Eddie says ‘where is the job? What company?’ implied that the questions he is
asking represents he is not used to losing control because he is forced to find thing out for himself that
would normally be handed to him. Eddie clearly does not want Catherine to take her job offer as he goes on
to say, ‘I don’t like that neighbourhood.’ Eddie using “I don’t” implies that Eddie is looking for what benefits
only him, so other reasons for his disapproval, could be how he would prefer if Catherine could stay with
1
, Sukhjeevan Bains
him, as it could be argued that his hamartia is the way he responds to his hubris. Miller presents Eddie in this
way to highlight his masculine views as Miller may want the audience to see Eddie as trying to oversee
everything in the house.
Not only does Miller present conflict explicitly between characters, but he also demonstrates the difference
between the opposite societies in Italy and New York. Marco and Rodolpho come from Sicily, Italy, where
Rodolpho’s version of masculinity is not traditionally accepted. An example of their untraditional masculinity
is when Rodolfo sings ‘paper doll,’ and according to their family singing is seen as feminine and not manly
enough anyone male to be able to ‘care for their family’. However, in the US he is accepted into the
community, despite Eddie disapproving Marco and Rodolfo’s ability to sing and cook, this is made clear when
Mike says that ‘you take one look at him – everyone’s happy’’ This shows that society approves of him as in
this society a Longshoreman are known as a ‘slave,’ which implies that they have a lower-class lifestyle,
below others. However, when Mike says that ‘everyone’s happy,’ this highlights that he wants Rodolpho to
stay because he, and his colleagues, are not used to having someone as positive as Rodolpho around.
Although most of Eddie’s community are willing to welcome Rodolpho into their community, Eddie does not
accept him. Eddie has a more out – dated view on masculinity and how all men should be an ‘alpha – male,’
and how their only job is to provide for their family. Eddie displays his views to the audience when he says,
‘A snappy new jacket he buys … his brother’s kids are starvin’ over there’ The adjective ‘snappy’ implies that
he thinks his purchases are unnecessary and unmasculine because ‘snappy’ clothes could be associated with
bold clothing, which is not a common masculine trait. Eddie also sees the jacket as unnecessary because the
family are Longshoremen and smart clothes are not required. Eddie’s way of thinking is presented as him
living in the “old world” in the 1950s where versions of masculinity that Eddie does not agree with are
generally not accepted. This is demonstrated when Mike is praising Rodolpho, but all Eddie can muster is
“Yeah. He is funny,” this illustrates that he is stuck in the “old world” because “funny” has a dual meaning
and can be used in a superficial way. For example, Eddie does not approve of Rodolpho’s singing, dancing
and the way Rodolpho chooses to dress. Eddie starts to see Rodolpho as less masculine after he says, “He’s a
cook too,” this implies that he thinks Rodolpho is more feminine because throughout the play Eddie is seen
2
How did Miller present Conflict in A view from The Bridge?
A View from the Bridge is a modern American tragedy play focused on an American – Italian community in
the 1950s. Within this story, the playwriter, Arthur Miller presents conflict in a variety of ways, most
significantly in internal conflicts within the major characters. However, Miller also introduces conflict among
other characters as well as the differences between the “old world” and the “new world”, specifically the
different views on masculinity. Miller portrays these conflicts through dialogue and stage directions
throughout the play to illustrate a variety of conflicts between and within characters.
Miller presents conflict from the start of the play when we first meet Eddie and Catherine. Miller portraits
Eddie as an overprotective father figure to Catherine, trying to shield her from what he views as danger,
such as boys. However, Catherine does not hold the same views as Eddie which allows conflict to begin to
form. He is aware she will not appreciate it when he says, ‘I do not like the look they are givin’ you…’’you’re
walkin’ wavey.’ From this the audience is able to see that Eddie’s hamartia, which is Eddie’S fatal flaw that
leads to his downfall, is how he does not know how to respond to his love for Catherine and therefore by
trying to keep Catherine away from the opposite gender. He says this because he is unable to clear about the
notion of ‘walkin’ wavey,’ this would also show that Eddie is struggling to put into words his emotions. The
alliteration of the letter W could also be seen as comedic. Furthermore, later in the play, Eddie still does not
allow Catherine to make her own decisions despite her already finding a job. However, Eddie is unwilling to
accept this because he was never involved in the decision ruining Eddies pride or Hubris, and Eddie still sees
her as a ‘child.’ ‘child’ not only presents that Eddie thinks Catherine is a ‘child’, it also shows he refuses to
except the fact she is growing up as he refuses to accept the fact that Catherine has got a job. The repetition
of short sentences where Eddie says ‘where is the job? What company?’ implied that the questions he is
asking represents he is not used to losing control because he is forced to find thing out for himself that
would normally be handed to him. Eddie clearly does not want Catherine to take her job offer as he goes on
to say, ‘I don’t like that neighbourhood.’ Eddie using “I don’t” implies that Eddie is looking for what benefits
only him, so other reasons for his disapproval, could be how he would prefer if Catherine could stay with
1
, Sukhjeevan Bains
him, as it could be argued that his hamartia is the way he responds to his hubris. Miller presents Eddie in this
way to highlight his masculine views as Miller may want the audience to see Eddie as trying to oversee
everything in the house.
Not only does Miller present conflict explicitly between characters, but he also demonstrates the difference
between the opposite societies in Italy and New York. Marco and Rodolpho come from Sicily, Italy, where
Rodolpho’s version of masculinity is not traditionally accepted. An example of their untraditional masculinity
is when Rodolfo sings ‘paper doll,’ and according to their family singing is seen as feminine and not manly
enough anyone male to be able to ‘care for their family’. However, in the US he is accepted into the
community, despite Eddie disapproving Marco and Rodolfo’s ability to sing and cook, this is made clear when
Mike says that ‘you take one look at him – everyone’s happy’’ This shows that society approves of him as in
this society a Longshoreman are known as a ‘slave,’ which implies that they have a lower-class lifestyle,
below others. However, when Mike says that ‘everyone’s happy,’ this highlights that he wants Rodolpho to
stay because he, and his colleagues, are not used to having someone as positive as Rodolpho around.
Although most of Eddie’s community are willing to welcome Rodolpho into their community, Eddie does not
accept him. Eddie has a more out – dated view on masculinity and how all men should be an ‘alpha – male,’
and how their only job is to provide for their family. Eddie displays his views to the audience when he says,
‘A snappy new jacket he buys … his brother’s kids are starvin’ over there’ The adjective ‘snappy’ implies that
he thinks his purchases are unnecessary and unmasculine because ‘snappy’ clothes could be associated with
bold clothing, which is not a common masculine trait. Eddie also sees the jacket as unnecessary because the
family are Longshoremen and smart clothes are not required. Eddie’s way of thinking is presented as him
living in the “old world” in the 1950s where versions of masculinity that Eddie does not agree with are
generally not accepted. This is demonstrated when Mike is praising Rodolpho, but all Eddie can muster is
“Yeah. He is funny,” this illustrates that he is stuck in the “old world” because “funny” has a dual meaning
and can be used in a superficial way. For example, Eddie does not approve of Rodolpho’s singing, dancing
and the way Rodolpho chooses to dress. Eddie starts to see Rodolpho as less masculine after he says, “He’s a
cook too,” this implies that he thinks Rodolpho is more feminine because throughout the play Eddie is seen
2
