The View from the Bridge: A Tragic Tale of Love, Betrayal, and Redemption

Eddie Carbone: A Tragic Protagonist

Eddie Carbone, the protagonist of Arthur Miller's The View from the Bridge, is a complex and tragic figure. A longshoreman living in Red Hook, Brooklyn, Eddie is a man of limited intelligence and self-awareness, whose tragic flaw is his inability to escape the bubble of his own constructed world.

Eddie's Secret Lust for Catherine

Eddie harbors a secret lust for his orphaned niece, Catherine, which ultimately leads to his downfall. This lust is hinted at throughout the play, but it is not until the end that Eddie fully comprehends his feelings. Beatrice, Eddie's wife, is the first to express this possibility, and Alfieri, the play's narrator, also realizes Eddie's feelings during his first conversation with him.

Eddie's Self-Interested Nature

Eddie is a deeply self-interested character, who constantly looks out for himself at the expense of others. He is ruled by personal love and guilt, and his motivations do not change, even as he wavers between communal and state laws and cultures.

Eddie's Tragic Flaw

Eddie's tragic flaw is his inability to recognize and escape the constructed world he exists within. This bubble of self-interest leads him to suppress his urges, which in turn devastates him. Because he has no outlet for his feelings, Eddie transfers his energy to a hatred of Marco and Rodolpho, and causes him to act completely irrationally.

Alfieri: The Bridge Between Cultures

Alfieri, an Italian-American lawyer, is the narrator of The View from the Bridge. He speaks directly to the audience and attempts to make clear the greater social and moral implications of the story.

Alfieri's Dual Identity

Alfieri is a symbolic bridge between American law and tribal laws. He is true to his ethnic identity, but he is also a well-educated man who studies and respects American law. The play is told from Alfieri's viewpoint, giving the audience a unique perspective on the events of the play.

Alfieri's Role as Chorus

Alfieri is cast as the chorus part in Eddie's tragedy. He informs the audience and provides commentary on what is happening in the story. His description of the people within the play and narration at the beginning of every scene change helps to distinguish the short chapters of the tale.

Rodolpho: The Effeminate Italian

Rodolpho, Beatrice's young cousin from Italy, is a cooking, sewing, and dancing full-blooded Italian. He prefers singing jazz to working on the ships, and to Eddie and the other longshoremen, he seems effeminate.

Rodolpho's Ambiguous Character

The play does not fully develop Rodolpho as an individual, and his motivations are left as unknowns. Unlike Beatrice and Catherine, who we hear talking together about their thoughts and feelings, Rodolpho reveals little about himself. There are many questions left unanswered, including his sexuality, his love for Catherine, and whether he actually forgives Eddie at the play's conclusion.

Rodolpho's Desire for America

It is clear that Rodolpho wants to be an American citizen at all costs, and there is a great possibility that he does not love Catherine. Like Eddie fears, Rodolpho may only want to gain citizenship through their marriage.

Catherine: The Object of Eddie's Desire

Catherine, Eddie's niece, is a beautiful, smart, young Italian girl who is very popular among the boys in the community. She seeks approval from her uncle and struggles when Eddie does not approve of Rodolpho, the man she intends to marry.

Beatrice: The Nurturing Aunt

Beatrice, Eddie's wife and Catherine's aunt, is a warm and caring woman, more reasonable than Eddie. Like Catherine, Beatrice is not a very well-developed character in the play.

Marco: The Hardworking Italian

Marco, Beatrice's cousin, is a hard working Italian man who is a powerful, sympathetic leader. He comes to the U.S. to work and make money to send back to his wife and children in Italy.