RELENTLESS SEARCH FOR PERSONAL IDENTITTY OF THE PROTAGONIST IN ARTHUR MILLER?S PLAY A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

Abstract

Abstract

?A View from the Bridge? the second play of the double bill, was originally premiered as one act verse drama in 1955. Later in 1956, it was revised as two act tragedy in prose and produced in London. This two act version was first published in 1957 and in the same year it was included in Miller’s ?Collected Plays? Miller himself in his introductory essay to the original version of the play ?On Social Plays? has categorised it as a ?Social Play?. It is, according to him, a social play not in the sense that it deals with the social conflict in America, as his preceding plays did. The setting of the play is in contemporary Brooklyn. Eddie Carbon, a longshoreman an Italian, living in America, works in a dock from Brooklyn Bridge to the breakwater where the open sea begins. His wife Beatrice has invited her niece Catherine, whom she calls Cathy, to their home to live with them. Alfieri is the lawyer who views the whole play from a distance. Hence the name of the play is ?A View from the Bridge?. Eddie has deliberately taken upon himself the responsibility of looking after Cathy whom he calls Madonna. As Cathy grows up, Eddie develops love for her, and tries to exercise his control over her. Meanwhile, the cousins of Beatrice ? Marco and Rodolpho also arrive in the family at Beatrice’s invitation. Their immigration is illegal. Eddie protects them by giving them shelter and takes risks. As Cathy is getting closer to Rodolpho, Eddie feels jealous and tries to stop Cathy. Beatrice also does not pay much heed to Eddie’s babbling and encourages Cathy to go out with Rodolpho. Eddie argues that Rodolpho is not sincere and that he wants to marry her because he needs a document legalizing his stay in America, and that he does not want to return to Italy after the marriage. Eddie has an argument with Marco, Rodolpho and Beatrice, the outcome of which shatters him, making him realize that he has no right over anyone. In the end he goes to the immigration office and informs the officials about the illegal stay of the two Italians staying at the home. Marco challenges him. In the fight Eddie gets killed and dies in the lap of his wife, Beatrice. Key Words-Social, Contemporary, Leglizing, Eddie.