A View from The Bridge: Character summaries: Eddie: Tragic protagonist self interested ruled by personal love and

guilt Loves Catherine too much Eddie doesn't comprehend his own desires until the end of the play living in an imaginary world where he can suppress his desires No outlet for his feelings Too much pride Eddie's tragic flaw is the bubble, the constructed world he exists within, but is unable to escape or recognize. Alfieri: Symbolic bridge Play is told from his view point True to American laws and Italian customs Represents the bridge that binds the small ethnic communities to the cosmopolitan wealth and intellectualism of Manhattan. Un-biased Chorus part in Eddie's tragedy Commentator Powerless The story teller Narrator Frames the play as a modern fairy tale Rodolpho: Multi-talented Greatest threat to Eddie Reveals little about himself His sexuality is left unanswered His love for Catherine is also uncertain, especially his motives Vague Relationship with Catherine is devoid of passion Wants to be an American citizen at all costs Rodolfo is constructed as a foil for Eddie, but like the women of the play, he has little life of his own. Themes: Naming Names: Eddie chooses to turn his back against his Italian community and perhaps

'tribal' laws in his community, all for his selfish lust of Catherine. The Irrational Human Animal: Eddie looses control of his actions in the play Eddie resorts to desperate measures to protect his identity and name in the community Looses the respect of his community The final victor of the play is symbolic of community values - the Italian, Marco. Homosexuality: Eddie identifies Rodolfo as homosexual Rodolpho appears feminine:- bleach blonde hair, can cook, sew and sing Eddie tests Rodolfo's masculinity through boxing and by kissing him Womanhood: Beatrice thinks Catherine needs to grow up and become a woman Catherine is encouraged to decide for herself whether she wants to marry Rodolfo Catherine must become reserved and modest and independently make her own decisions to become a woman Catherine's attempt at womanhood is deciding to marry Rodolpho and follow his rules rather than Eddie's Community: Community dictates very specific norms and rules for the family that controls the actions of the characters The characters are all forced to reconcile between American culture and the Italian community culture The cultural and moral differences between the two provides one of the great conflicts in the play Carbone family constantly being watched by community The neighbours saw all the events happen The community is the watcher; controlling and monitoring the behaviour of every member Even though Eddie turns away from the community, in the end he still wants his name and pride back in his community, which turns out to be one of the most important themes of the play and something which all the characters consider very important Symbols: High Heels: Womanhood Flirtatiousness Sexiness Rite-of-passage

rebelliousness Sexual power Brooklyn Bridge: pathway Link to American and Italian cultures Reminder of American opportunity (American dream/manifest destiny) Alfieri is the one looking from the bridge at both sides Alfieri could be the bridge himself Unite American law and Italian cultural practices As the bridge he is about to process the events and see the greater societal and moral implications it has for the community Italy: The cultural background of most of the people in the community of the play Associated to different things by different characters: Catherine: mystery, romance and beauty Rodolfo: Little opportunity, poverty and somewhere where he would like to escape from Italy unites the community in common social practices and religion