Act Two

A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE

Unit ObjectivesAt the end of this unit, you will be able to:

Respond to text critically, sensitively and in detail, selecting appropriate ways to convey your response, using textual evidence where appropriate.

Explore how language, structure and forms contribute to the meaning of texts.

Explore relationships and comparisons between texts, selecting and evaluating relevant material.

Relate texts to your social, cultural and historical contexts and literary traditions.

Alfieri’s PrologueOn the twenty-third of that December a case of Scotch whisky slipped from a net

while being unloaded – as a case of Scotch whiskey is

inclined to do on the twenty-third of December of Pier Forty-one. There was no snow, but it was cold, his wife was out

shopping. Marco was still at work. The boy had not been

hired that day; Catherine told me later that this was

the first time they had been alone together in the house.

What does Alfieri’s speech tell us about what has happened since we last saw the family

What information does it give us about what we’re to see next?

Catherine and Rodolfo Talk Why does Catherine

question Rodolfo about going back to Italy? What is her ulterior motive in asking?

What are Rodolfo’s true intentions?

How does Rodolfo view Catherine’s relationship with Eddie? What advice does he give her?

What sort of relationship do Catherine and Rodolfo have?

How is their relationship different from that of Eddie and Beatrice?

Eddie’s Violent ArrivalEddie arrives home, drunk, while

Catherine and Rodolfo are making love. How does he react to stumbling upon this?

What evidence can you find in the stage directions and speech that highlightsEddie’s emotionsCatherine’s emotionsRodolfo’s emotions

How do you suppose Rodolfo feels in this scene?

Eddie Consults Alfieri Again Why does Eddie

return to Alfieri for advice a second time?

How does Alfieri regard this second encounter, in hindsight?

What does this tell us about what will happen next?

Eddie Consults Alfieri Again How does Miller

build the sense of doom in this scene?

What advice does Alfieri give to Eddie?

Has this changed since the last time they spoke?

What is Eddie’s tragic flaw?

Eddie’s Secret Phone CallWhat does Eddie do to

try and remedy his Rodolfo problem?

Do you think it will work?

What does this tell us about his character?

How has Eddie changed, since the arrival of the two Italian men?

His Conversation with BeatriceHow does Eddie react to the news that

Catherine and Rodolfo have moved upstairs?

What state of mind is Beatrice in? How does she feel about how things have turned out?

What does Eddie say about the problem that exists in his own marriage?

Catherine’s Cold Reaction to EddieHow would you direct Catherine to speak

the lines in which she invites Eddie to the wedding?

How has Catherine’s attitude towards Eddie changed?

Do you feel any sympathy for Eddie at this point? Why or why not?

The Jeremy Kyle VersionIn groups of 3 to 5, work out a ‘Jeremy Kyle’

style skit based on the events of the play, thus far. You could include any of the following characters:BeatriceEddieCatherineRodolfoJeremy Kyle (at

least one personmust play host!)

Eddie’s Realization Why is Eddie concerned when he hears

about Lipari’s nephew boarding upstairs? What is running through Eddie’s mind, as

he starts to frantically reason with Beatrice?

How do you think he feels when he hears the knock at the door?

Immigration Arrives Look at the ways Beatrice and Catherine

react to realizing Immigration is at the door. Do you think they suspect what has happened?

How does Marco implicate Eddie? What does this mean for Eddie’s future?

How does the family view Eddie after the officers take the Italians?

How does the community view Eddie after the officers take the Italians?

Coming Full CircleWhy did Miller include the story about

Vinny Bolzano? What was he preparing the audience for?

How does the theme of justice and the community play out?

How do you suspect Eddie will be treated by the community now?

Alfieri Speaks with the BoysWhat does Alfieri want Marco to promise?Why does Marco refuse to make the promise?

What does this say about his character?How is the concept of ‘the law’ different to

Marco?How does the advice Alfieri gives to Marco

echo that given to Eddie?Why does Alfieri repeat that ‘only God’ can

make justice?How has Catherine’s view of Eddie changed?

Marco’s? Rodolfo’s? Alfieri’s?

The Fatal EndingWhat do you think of

Eddie’s reaction to Catherine’s wedding?

Why does Beatrice let him get away with acting childish?

Why does Rodolfo try to make peace with Eddie?

How does Eddie react to Beatrice’s accusation?

How is Eddie’s vehemence towards Marco a sign of dramatic irony?

Eddie

Why is Eddie’s death significant? What does is symbolize?

How does Eddie’s character change in the final stages of the play? Look specifically at his language and the way he talks.Why do you think Miller did this?

Alfieri’s Epilogue

JusticeHow does the theme of justice become

evident in the play?

POINT EVIDENCE

Manliness Make a list of the things commonly

associated with being a ‘macho man’. Next, make a list of the things commonly

associated with being feminine or ‘girly’. Is it right to consider these ideas as

belonging to a particular sex? Do you think Eddie was right to criticize

Rodolfo the way he did?

LoveHow is love portrayed in the play? What

forms of love are explored?

POINT EVIDENCE

HonourHow do the ideas of respect and honour

figure throughout the action of the play?

POINT EVIDENCE