The Other Side Of The Bridge

This shows the extent the two women in the house go to to wait on their 'master', Eddie, it also shows the much admiration they show towards Eddie, being the only man in the house. This hierarchy system seems to completely collapse when two new men enter the script, Marco and Rodolfo, with them comes a whole new code of conduct, a new modern, American way of life, Beatrice's admiration towards Eddie seems to fail, as she slips into this new modern and American way.

It is not only Beatrice who is shown to creep out of the Italian traditions, but Catherine also,

Catherine - "You like sugar? " Rodolfo - "Sugar? Yes, I like sugar. " This shows how Catherine has moved on from 'serving' Eddie, and now is serving someone else. As soon as Marco and Rodolfo enter the story they bring with them, along with their new era, modern lifestyle, some traits of the Italian way of life. Italian life is depicted to be about respect, life back in Italy is shown to the reader as a state of poverty, this proves to be a reason why many Italians emigrate to America, life is much better, there is work and where there is work there is pay.

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"They eat the sunshine. " This small metaphor seems to be quite a powerful comment to the reader, not only does it make the reader realize the lack of food, but it shows how they cope, as sunshine is a natural source, they could live on it forever, light can also, and often is seen as a metaphor for hope, is this poverty stricken land going to break out of such a mess? The Italian way of life is also depicted to be violent and brutal, "In my country he would be dead by now.

" This just goes to show how the law in Italy is far cruder, as if it turns a blind eye to anything that should not be happening, somewhat of corruptness. Compare this to the American, civilized and modern way of life. One of the main reasons for people from abroad to emigrate to America is their belief in the American dream; of equality, equal rights and most of all the prospect of work. "Maybe a lawyer's office, someplace in New York in one of them nice buildings"

This shows the simplicity of Eddie's needs, the fact that he pays so much interest into the small things, which seem to be so much for him, and that the small aspect of the surroundings ("I one of them nice buildings") should take such an effect on someone. Rodolfo says, "I would start to be something wonderful here. " He thinks America can do so much for someone such as himself; it also shows the simple and basic thoughts of what the American way of life is like, he has very much high hopes, of what could be a disaster.

The character of Eddie, perceived at the beginning of the play as the head of the house, someone who is looked up to and admired, but soon the audience is shown how weaker man he really is, "Eddie Carbone had never expected to have a destiny. " These few lines said by Alfieri just show that Eddie has no real path in which to follow, he has nothing in life he looks onward to, therefore he picks up on and follows the smallest of things. Eddie tries to hide this fact by acting as if he is something he isn't, a bigger man, and in some ways the reader feels that Eddie is false.

Eddie lives by the traditional, Italian way of life, where he controls those he can, the females, and younger, somewhat like a coward, preying on those who can't retaliate. Eddie, like Alfieri came from Italy, and so has contact with 'the other side. ' Eddie's hidden desire fro Catherine becomes clearer as the play unravels, without total conscience of his actions; Eddie is finding ways to get rid of Marco and Rodolfo, the only two problems in his way. Alfieri tells Eddie that, "The law is not interested. "

Eddie disregards this and puts the welfare of Marco and Rodolfo in the hands of the law, he does this by contacting the Immigration Office, an act which in the Italian community would be considered a big mistake. Eddie seems to make himself believe that Rodolfo is homosexual, in the hope this will some how get rid of him, "He aint right" Even the thought of a homosexual in an Italian community would be considered a crime, and a disobeying of the Italian code of conduct, by Eddie repeatedly telling Rodolfo this; he tries to humiliate him in front of others, especially the Italian community.

With no other choice Eddie speaks to his 'contacts' on the 'other side' and by doing this also crosses this metaphorical bridge, and by crossing this bridge he chooses to take the American way, and let the law takes its toll. After seeing the play one can see how different the two cultures are, the Italian traditional, and sometimes brutal way, and the American culture, with equal rites and equal opportunities.

It is as if we are looking into the clash of these two cultures from a viewpoint or in this case a bridge. As I mentioned earlier, Arthur Miller refers to Brooklyn Harbor as the 'Wild West, a dessert beyond the law'. After seeing the play, one can understand why he refers to the harbor in such a way, with two completely different cultures clashing and in the end canceling each other out, with such unlawful activities going on the harbor does seem to turn into 'a desert beyond the law'.