In this essay I will be discussing the playwrights ideas of :: English Literature

In this essay I will be discussing the playwrights ideas ofManliness, Hostility and Aggression in A soak up from the Bridge.A View from the Bridge is a play set in Brooklyn in the 1940s. Theprotagonist is Eddie, an Italian immigrant and longshoreman living inBrooklyn. Eddie lives with his wife and niece, and the play startswith them waiting for the arrival of Beatrices devil cousins, Marco andRodolpho. They are illegal immigrants looking for work in order tofund their families at home in Italy. Rodolpho and Catherine seem tolike each other, which upsets Eddie, as he seems to love Catherine formore than just a daughter or niece. This ultimately leads to thedownfall of Eddie. The ideas of manliness, hostility and aggressioncreate conflict in the play as Eddie and Marco are both battling to bethe man of the house. These ideas excessively create conflict between Eddieand Rodolpho because, in Eddies eyes, Rodolpho does not live up tothe expectations of what a man should be. Eddie is al so jealous ofhim, because of Rodolphos relationship with Catherine.A view from the Bridge deals with the American Dream this is thatimmigrants came from countries, such as Italy, in order to make abetter life for themselves. Arthur Miller was pertain with thisliving through the Depression, which bankrupted his father, and he sawthe effects on the ordinary people. The play can be described as aGreek cataclysm set in America. The play is set in the 1940s and soreflects the attitudes and feelings of the time, this is why it may bea gnomish difficult for a modern daytime audience to relate to. America wasseen as the land of opportunity for many people, to start a new life,escape their past or just for a change .People believed America heldthe key. However, this was not the case, as immigrants often lived inthe most run down parts of town and found themselves out of work andwith little money to live on or send to their families at home.The qualities that Eddie considers to be manly a re the stereotypical,traditional views of manly qualities. One of these qualities is to bestrong. Eddie tries to intimidate Rodolpho by getting him to box withhim. Eddie is a good boxer and has had many years practise, howeverRodolpho has never boxed. He is reluctant to box with Eddie I dontwant to hit you, Eddie. some other quality that Eddie considers to bemanly is for a man to provide for his family.