A View from the Bridge – Quotation Bank (References from Penguin, Modern Classics edition)
‘Alfieri: […] another lawyer, quite differently dressed, heard the same complaint and set there as powerless as I,
and watched it run its bloody course.’ (Act 1, p2)
CONTEXT: This is taken from Alfieri’s opening speech, after he has spoken about justice and settling for half in the
Italian-American community.
ANALYSIS:
Reference to Eddie’s later actions and the ‘bloody course’ they cause. Foreshadows his downfall, and makes
audience aware of the tragedy. Gives them a sense already of what is the inescapable ending.
Language used by Alfieri makes Eddie’s story seem a legend.
‘Set there as powerless as I,’ shows Alfieri could see Eddie’s disintegration. It is a direct reference to the fact that the
lawyer could do nothing to stop it, instead watching it run its course.
‘Eddie: Now don’t you aggravate me, Katie, you’re walkin’ wavy. I don’t like the looks they’re given’ you in the
candy store. And with them new high heels on the side walk – clack clack clack. The heads are turnin’ like
windmills.’ (Act 1, p4)
CONTEXT: Eddie says this to Catherine very early on the play when he first returns home from work to see Catherine
shouting out to him on the street when he is talking to Louis.
ANALYSIS:
This shows Eddies possessive nature towards Catherine. He doesn’t like the way she’s walking, Catherine is in her
late teens and shouldn’t be told how she should and shouldn’t walk and what she should wear on her feet. Eddie
tells her straight how he doesn’t like the way she is walking and that he thinks she should change because the way
the people are looking at here. This shows a bit of jealousy on Eddies behalf as other people are looking at Catherine
and he doesn’t want other people to look at her.
• Deals with the relationship between both Eddie and Catherine
• First time we see how protective of Catherine Eddie is
• Over possessive of Catherine and tells her how to dress
• Thinks of his reputation of the Community
• Jealous of what boys her age will think of her because of what she was wearing
• He is Concerned of what people in the community might think about her
• Starting to show he is bit controlling
‘Beatrice: You’re an angel! God’ll bless you.’ (Act 1: part b, pg 7)
CONTEXT: This is just after when Beatrice and Catherine had been told that their cousins got in and were to be
arriving soon. Eddie says it is an honour to be giving them a place to stay.
ANALYSIS:
 This contradicts what is going to happen in the future as Eddie goes against his family so he won’t be blessed
by god.
 Suggests that Eddie is a strong male figure in the household and he ruins that through his destructive flaw.
 Beatrice is trying to convince Eddie that it is a good idea that the cousins are coming but this contrasts with
what happens as they are a catalyst for Eddie’s realisation of his sinful love for Catherine.
 It shows that B is grateful for what Eddie has done for her cousins.
 ‘Angel’ contrasts with Eddie’s true personality and his hidden feelings towards Catherine.
 It suggests that Eddie’s character looks out for other but really he is self centred and only does what he
believes at the expense of others so it covers up Eddie’s true character.
‘Eddie: Listen, if everybody keeps his mouth shut, nothin’ can happen. They’ll pay for their board’ (Act 1, p7)
CONTEXT: Eddie is telling everyone that if they keep their mouths shut then everything will be okay and nothing can
happen to the new comers.
ANALYSIS:
 This is ironic as this foreshadows Eddie’s later actions and ultimately betrays his own word.
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Eddie is telling Beatrice and Cathrine not to say anything or something bad could happen to the new
family members
Eddie is making this bold statement, like he plans to stick to it and make sure that nothing can happen
but ultimately leads to Eddie opening is mouth and landing Marco and Rodolpho in trouble with the
immigration officers.
‘Beatrice, with sympathy but insistent force: Well, I don’t understand when it ends. First it was gonna be when she
graduated high school, so she graduated high school. Then it was gonna be when she learned stenographer, so she
learned stenographer. SO what’re we gonna wait for now? I mean it, Eddie, sometimes I don’t understand you;
they picked her out the whole class, it’s an honor for her.’ (Act 1, p10)
CONTEXT: Beatrice says this to Eddie when he is arguing that she shouldn’t get her new job in the office on the
other side of town. Eddie thinks that it’s a really bad idea and is very reluctant to let Catherine take the job as he is
scared of what will happen to her.
ANALYSIS:
 Eddie doesn’t want Catherine to get the job because she will be growing up and he will lose a little bit of
control over her
 Once Catherine gets a job she will not rely on Eddie as much as the sole provider for the house and Eddie
doesn’t like that
 She has done what he has asked but everything is still not enough as he is making it as hard as possible
to keep her his little girl
 Beatrice is showing signs that she does know something is wrong/weird with the relationship so she is
trying to break it down by letting her go to work
 Eddie is only thinking about himself really because he knows nothing will happen to her, he just doesn’t
want her to grow up
 He doesn’t see that it will be good for Catherine he just thinks he is going to lose her
‘Eddie: Him? You’ll never see him no more, a guy do a thing like that? How’s he gonna show his face?’ (Act 1, p13)
CONTEXT: Eddie says this to Catherine and Beatrice in their house when Beatrice asks what happened to Vinny
Bolzano.
ANALYSIS:
The quote is important because Eddie is criticising the actions of Vinny when he ends up doing the exactly the same
thing which is foreshadowing. It also highlights the respect aspect in the Italian culture and how once you have lost
it, it’s extremely difficult, if not impossible to gain back.
‘Eddie: […] Just remember, kid, you can quicker get back a million dollars that was stole than a word that you gave
away.’ (Act 1, p13)
CONTEXT: Eddie says this to Catherine after they have been talking about Vinny Bolzano. This section relates to the
themes of family/community loyalty and American law.
ANALYSIS:
• Reveals/exposes irony and madness of Eddie’s character
• Lectures Catherine about how they must not tell anyone of cousins & warns of consequences
• Story and comment foreshadows Eddie’s fate
• Spends rest of play ‘giving away words’ – contrasts with Marco’s silence
• Tragedy fore-grounded – Eddie is aware of consequences/own fate but cannot control his own self-interest –
cannot escape fate
• Remains powerless (like Alfieri) or too mad to stop it
• Miller sets up Eddie so vehemently against betrayal that his transition to betrayer seems illogical
• Set-up requires him to undergo a drastic change/complete breakdown
• Force of transition reinforces his self-destructive madness & deepness of unspoken love of niece
• The significance of it is that Eddie say’s this at the start as a way to try and keep Catherine and Beatrice’s
mouths shut about the cousins, but in the end Eddie is the one who opens his mouth about them staying
there illegally and he can’t take the words back. Eddie is the one that goes back on these words and others
that he said by phoning the immigration bureau.
•
•
Eddie’s saying that if someone steals something from you it’s easy enough to get it back some way or
another, but if it’s your own words that you give away, it’s your word against theirs as to whether you said it
or not.
It gives a sense of Eddie not trusting the girls as much, in the way that, it might not be them he doesn’t trust,
but the people that they may tell and think they can trust.
‘Marco: […] I want to tell you now Eddie - when you say go, we will go’ (Act 1, p16)
This indicates that Marco and Rodolpho are willing to do as Eddie wants or says and portrays the way they feel about
Eddie and they know he is in charge. This is significant as in the rest of the Eddie is fixated on preventing the
relationship between Rodolpho and Catherine and goes to great, desperate lengths to do so despite the fact that he
invited them into the home and they are willing to leave as soon as he says. His family loyalty and honour is too
great to kick them out – but in the end he betrays them, causing everyone to suffer in the process, including Marco
and his children who are wholly innocent. It also highlights the respectful nature of Marco which he maintains
throughout but his loyalty to his brother becomes clear as the play continues.
‘Eddie: Do me a favour, will you? Go ahead.’ (Act 1, p22)
This is directly after Eddie discovers that Catherine is wearing heels. He immediately asks her to take them off which
greatly conveys the power and control he has over her. It also becomes obvious that he does not want her dressing
provocatively around the two cousins – again reflecting his protective nature but also highlighting his jealousy.
Catherine is now angry at Eddie – not upset like when he referred to her as walking wavy. This indicates the first
significant step of the relationship changing as Catherine no longer desperately seeks Eddie’s approval for everything
she does and, as a result, Eddie sees his power decreasing. Catherine is now interested in the two cousins –
particularly Rodolpho – and Eddie does not like this at all.
‘Beatrice: The girl is gonna be eighteen years old, it’s time already.’ (Act 1, p25)
CONTEXT: Beatrice is telling Eddie that he needs to let Catherine go, because he is too protective over her.
ANALYSIS:
• Beatrice knows that Eddie’s relationship with Catherine is not normal.
• Beatrice is pleading with Eddie to treat Catherine like a adult and not a child.
• Beatrice is a bit jealous of Catherine’s relationship with Eddie.
• Eddie is in denial and doesn’t listen to anything Beatrice says.
• Beatrice is trying to solve the problems and mediate between Catherine and Eddie.
‘Eddie: I don’t see you no more, I come home you’re running around someplace’ (Act 1, p28)
This is said by Eddie to Catherine after he tells Rodolpho to go inside when he and Catherine come back from
paramount. This quote portrays the fact that he likes to keep Catherine to himself he wants her home where he can
keep an eye on her. Also he is complaining about not seeing her which highlights his feelings towards her in that he
likes to spend time with her and this is not normal for an uncle-niece relationship
‘Alfieri: […] His eyes were like tunnels; my first thought was that he had committed a crime, but soon I saw it was
only a passion that had moved into his body, like a stranger.’ (Act 1, p33)
CONTEXT: Alfieri describes his first impressions of Eddie on his first visit to the lawyer. Eddie seeks to have Catherine
and Rodolpho’s relationship stopped by American law on the grounds that Rodolpho is ‘not right’ and that he wishes
only to marry her for a passport.
ANALYSIS:
• Alfieri seems to fear Eddie as a paranormal beast (remnant of Greek/Roman tragedy
• Eddie seems almost possessed, emphasising Alfieri’s feelings of powerlessness to control him
• Passion = passion for niece
• Unreleased & suppressed in his subconscious – stranger to Eddie’s conscious self
• Actively denies thoughts of incest (why he is unable to take responsibility for actions later
• Self-interest and self-denial is his tragic flaw
•
•
Style of Alfieri as chorus – dramatic & literary descriptions (repeated in later descriptions) – tale of Eddie
becomes almost legendary
Creates significance for audience – learn lessons from story/tragedy
‘Alfieri: […] There’s too much, and it goes where it mustn't. A man works hard, he brings up a child, sometimes it's
a niece, sometimes even a daughter, and he never realizes it, but through the years- there is too much love for
the daughter, there is too much love for the niece. Do you understand what I'm saying to you?’ (Act 1, p36)
Here Alfieri is suggesting or trying to hint to Eddie that his obsession (too much love for Catherine) isn't healthy. He
is suggesting that Eddie has a problem, the problem being Catherine. Alfieri never actually states the love is
"unhealthy" but he's trying to insinuate so with some sympathy but also a parental relation. This quotation in some
way foreshadows what could happen, with there being "too much love".
‘Catherine, quietly: I’m afraid of Eddie here.’ (Act 2, p48)
CONTEXT: Catherine says this to Rodolpho when he questions her about why she has stopped talking about the
wedding and she tests him by asking if they could move to Italy when they marry.
ANALYSIS:
This shows how she knows what Eddie is capable of doing and has a feeling that he will end up trying to get
Rodolpho in trouble with the law if they remain in America. This highlights the inevitability of Eddie’s actions and
how his tragic flaw is revealed throughout the play before his final action in the end.
‘Eddie- Finally his resolution hardens: What I feel like doin’ in the bed and what I don’t feel like doin’. I don’t want
no-‘ (Act 2, p56)
Eddie brings up the problem of their marriage troubles without any prompts from Beatrice. Within the section, Eddie
is seeking an argument with Beatrice despite her clear signs that she does not want to speak as Eddie always starts
the conversation but gets no response from her. Eddie’s problem in the bedroom has been happening for months
before Marco and Roldolpho moved in so he can’t blame it on that but he does try. The epicentre of this problem is
his unusual feelings towards Catherine in which is the reason behind his lack of love. Eddie here has decided that he
cannot make love to his wife while Catherine is still on his mind and by using the fact Roldolpho is here and on his
mind as an excuse.
‘Eddie: Because I know, I don’t go around makin’ accusations. He give me the heeby-jeebies the first minute I
seen him. And I don’t like you sayin’ I don’t want her marryin’ anybody. I broke my back payin’ her stenography
lessons so she could go out and meet a better class of people. Would I do that if I didn’t want her to get married?
Sometimes you talk like, I was a crazy man or sump’m.’ (Act 2, p57)
CONTEXT: Eddie said this to Beatrice to try and convince her that he wanted the best for Catherine
ANALYSIS:
• He says he didn’t go out making accusations but that is exactly what he did do; he said things such as he is
just marrying her to be a US citizen and that Rodolpho is gay.
• He says that he doesn’t like Beatrice saying “I don’t want her marryin’ anybody” because it is true, he wants
her for himself but he can’t bear to hear it.
• He only put her through the stenography classes so that he didn’t have top let her go and she could stay with
him at home for longer.
• When he says “you talk like I was a crazy man or sumpin’, he himself feels like he is going crazy and is in
denial, he can feel that something is wrong but is oblivious to his own downfall.
‘Eddie: Catherine? She turns to him. I was just tellin’ Beatrice…if you wanna go out, like… I mean I realize maybe I
kept you home too much. Because he’s the first guy you ever knew, y’know? I mean now that you got a job, you
might meet some fellas, and you could get a different idea, y’know? I mean you could always come back to him,
you’re still only kids, the both of yiz. What’s the hurry? Maybe you’ll get around a bit grow up a little more, maybe
you’ll see different in a couple of months. I mean you be surprised, it don’t have to be him’ (Act 2, p59)
CONTEXT: This quotation is taken from the point where Eddie is trying once again to persuade Catherine not to
marry Rodolpho and in this desperate attempt he admits that he was wrong to restrict her freedom so much. But it
seems that he has not learnt for this mistake as he is trying to control Catherine decisions
ANALYSIS:
 The repetition of the ellipsis is able to show how hesitant Eddie is to admit that he may be responsible for
the way in which things have turned out.
 Eddie asks questions which in a way represent both his hope to dissuade Catherine to make what he feels is
a rash and wrong decision but also his lack of understanding as to why Catherine has chosen Rodolpho. It is
also as if Eddie is pleading with Catherine and is attempting to bargain with her “allow her to go out more”
so that she will stay with him. But both Catherine and reader knows this is a promise that can not be fulfilled
as Eddie behaved in a similar way before Rodolpho arrived.
 Eddie sounds extremely desperate here as he is trying to come to some arrangements with Catherine and
we know that he likes to keep Catherine at home and to have her all to himself, and he is telling her to go
out and live a little. We wouldn't expect Eddie to say this because he is usually too protective over Catherine,
as we know she has never really had a social life, but he clearly wants to prevent her from being with
Rodolpho so much that he would throw that protection away just to stop her from being with him and to go
find another man. Although he tells her to look for someone else the audience know that Eddie doesn't
actually want Catherine to be with anyone else as we discover early on in the play. He acts as though he
owns Catherine and he cannot face the fact that she has fallen in love with Rodolpho.
‘Marco: In my country he would be dead now. He would not live this long.’ (Act 2, p65)
CONTEXT: Marco says this after being arrested and this is his response when Alfieri asks him to promise not to
hurt Eddie so that he can be bailed and work for a little longer in the country.
ANALYSIS:
This quotation shows how angry Marco was; he was the innocent one throughout and was the victim of Eddie’s
self centred motives, which were to get rid of Rodolpho. It also presses upon the reader the importance of
loyalty and trust which was crucial in the Italian culture. This suggests the consequences of breaking the family’s
trust and was seen as betrayal and therefore carried severe consequences which were mentioned earlier on in
the play.
 Marco had everything to loose, he was providing for his family back home and this meant that what
Eddie was doing had severe impact on his family this made Marco really angry and to the extent that he
wanted to kill him.
 Marco is the innocent one in this situation
 Shows the extent Eddie went to get what he wanted (self centred- main downfall)
 The fore shadowing is continuously revealed as the consequences are bound to be the same for Eddie as
what happened to the young boy mentioned earlier.
‘Eddie: I want my respect. Didn't you ever hear of that? From my wife?’ (Act2, p68)
CONTEXT: In this scene, Beatrice is all prepared to go to Catherine's wedding and is arguing that she and Eddie
should all go for the sake of their niece. However Eddie is as stubborn as ever as he attempts to assert his seemingly
lost respect and control over Beatrice and his family by threatening that if she goes, she's not going to come back.
Beatrice then proceeds to question Eddie into why he is being the way he is. The quote above is his response.
ANALYSIS:
It is just another example of the growing resentment and questioning of Eddie from Beatrice as despite Eddie's
controlling manner, cracks are obviously growing.
Also because it is Beatrice questioning him, it makes it more important as you wouldn't expect it from her.
It is a desperate attempt from Eddie to try and claim back his lost respect.
It shows how he thinks he has the perfect justification to do what he's done as the line "Didn’t you ever hear of that"
shows how he thinks Beatrice is in the wrong in the way that she is acting. He thinks her behaviour is abnormal.
Despite his obvious betrayal to Beatrice in his love for Catherine, he still expects her to be the perfect wife to a man
despite him being a far from perfect husband as he is being disloyal.
‘Beatrice, barring his way to the stairs: What’s gonna mean somethin’? Eddie, listen to me. Who could give you
your name? Listen to me, I love you, I’m talkin’ to you, I love you; if Marco’ll kiss your hand outside, if he goes on
his knees, what is he got to give you? That’s not what you want.’ (Act 2, p70)
ANALYSIS:
• Beatrice tries to talk sense into Eddie by directly speaking to him and the repetition of her saying ‘Listen to
me’, she tries to take his mind off the fact that Marco is waiting for him and tries to make him see sense and
calm down like any loyal wife.
• She tries to make him see that he always liked Marco and it was Rodolpho he had a problem with. What
Eddie really wants is for Catherine and Rodolpho to not get married but Beatrice tries to make him
understand that he can’t control their relationship.
• Marco has nothing to prove to Eddie as it was Eddie that did him wrong by calling the immigration office,
Beatrice attempts to make him see that Marco has nothing to apologise for and there is no need for them to
fight.
‘Beatrice: You want somethin' else, Eddie, and you can never have her!’ (Act 2, p70)
CONTEXT: Beatrice’s final, most direct reference to Eddie’s feelings for Catherine. It is her final plea out of
desperation before Marco arrives at the house.
ANALYSIS:
• First time Eddie seems to realise his true feelings and recognise his own madness
• Up to this point, only referred to indirectly – no one has dared actually tell Eddie what is wrong with him
• When Eddie realises his demon he is powerless to stop it
• Lunging forward in attempt to kill Marco – feeling of inevitability
• Sicilian revenge – cannot pull back or regain sense of reason – gone too far
• Recognition of sexual taboo & what it drove him to makes more determined to seek revenge or
success/honour in his death
• No power to deny claims but instead follows destructive path
• Once he has recognised his sinful love he seems able to find himself again, come out of madness & reconcile
his relationship with Beatrice
‘Eddie: crying out in agony: That’s what you think of me- that I would have such a thought? His fists clench his
head although it would burst.’ (Act 2, p70)
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He is appalled that Beatrice actually knows his feelings, he is ashamed of these feelings and can’t get his
head around that she has known.
Shows he is still denying it, he knows it is wrong.
Frustration with himself and his sick thoughts
We seeing Eddie beginning to loose the plot and go mad.
Fists clenching his head, he is realising what he has done and caused.
‘Eddie: Then why—Oh, B.!
Beatrice: Yes, yes!
Eddie: My B.!’ (Act 2, p72)
CONTEXT: The final exchange between Eddie and Beatrice before Eddie dies in her arms.
ANALYSIS:
•
In end the couple find some sort of reconciliation & repair in broken relationship
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Beatrice, despite everything, remains loyal to Eddie throughout & is able to forgive him
Throughout, Eddie constantly dominates Beatrice
In this tiny moment, Eddie needs B more than she needs him
B’s increased presence & downscaling of E&C’s relationship, Eddie must die in her arms
Only female who needs him
Drawn to B to seek forgiveness & love
Greater sense of loss & wastage created at end of tragedy
‘Alfieri: Most of the time now we settle for half and I like it better. But the truth is holy, and even as I know how
wrong he was, and his death useless, I tremble, for I confess that something perversely pure calls to me from his
memory—not purely good, but himself purely, for he allowed himself to be wholly known and for that I think I will
love him more than all my sensible clients. And yet, it is better to settle for half, it must be! And so I mourn him—
I admit it—with a certain alarm.’ (Act 2, p72)
CONTEXT: Alfieri’s closing speech in which he talks directly to the audience, reflecting on the story and reinforcing
the main themes of the play.
ANALYSIS:
• Deals with central conflict of play
• The self will versus the will of the community
• The ‘whole man’ that Alfieri describes in Eddie is the self-interested man
• Actions completely motivated by own desires at expense of others
• Thus, humans must act halfway to preserve rules of community & lives of others
• Eddie acted as whole person, unrestrained & uninhabited – at expense of others & himself
• Escaped restraint because he escaped consideration of others & community at large
• Wholeness is whole interest in his own life
• TRAGIC FLAW = self-interest – flaw seems both admirable & alarming to Alfieri