Justice and the law: extracts from the text
Eddie initially believes that the written law can help him
How does Miller show this?
Eddie goes to see Alfieri, his lawyer, several times. He hopes that Alfieri can use the law to get rid of Rodolpho. Alfieri is puzzled because he cannot see a legal problem.
Evidence
ALFIERI
… I don’t quite understand what I can do for you. Is there a question of law somewhere?EDDIE
That’s what I want to ask you.Eddie, I’m a lawyer. I can only deal in what’s provable. You understand that, don’t you? Can you prove that?
You have no recourse in the law, Eddie.
Analysis
Eddie believes in the ‘old’ type of justice deep down, but he is trying to use the ‘new’ type – the American law. When he realises that Alfieri cannot do anything for him, he becomes disillusionedDisappointed in someone or something. with the system.
Alfieri knows that Eddie cannot prove that Rodolpho only wants to marry Catherine to gain American citizenship.
Alfieri tells Eddie firmly that no laws have been broken.
Eddie confuses the law with his own wishes
How does Miller show this?
He tells Alfieri that Rodolpho is not what he seems, and implies that Rodolpho is gay and therefore cannot be in love with Catherine.
Evidence
I take the blankets off my bed for him, and he takes and puts his filthy hands on her like a goddam thief!
He’s stealing from me!
Analysis
Eddie is frustrated and keeps trying to insist that Rodolpho ain’t right
. Eddie shows how he thinks of Catherine as his possession.
Marco sees no use for the written law
How does Miller show this?
Example 1
To Marco, it is natural that he should try to seek revenge on Eddie for informing the authorities about him and Rodolpho.
Evidence
In my country he would be dead now. He would not live this long.
The law? All the law is not in a book.
Analysis
Alfieri has to work hard to make Marco see that he must obey the American law. To Marco, it is simple; he has been wronged by Eddie, therefore he thinks it natural that he should go after Eddie to punish him without even involving the legal authorities.
Example 2
Marco lists all the ways that Eddie has harmed him and cannot believe that the written law does not consider them as valid reasons for punishment.
Evidence
He degraded my brother. My blood. He robbed my children, he mocks my work…there is no law for that? Where is the law for that?
Analysis
Marco tells Alfieri that he doesn’t understand America. He finds it strange that Eddie will not be punished by the law. Miller makes it easy for the audience to sympathise with Marco, even though we all know that we must not take the law into our own hands. It is, after all, a natural human reaction to want justice.
Analysing the evidence
Question
How does Miller explore the idea of justice and the law in A View from the Bridge?
Miller uses Alfieri, in both his roles, to explore the idea of justice and the law. He shows how the concept of natural justice is an ancient idea which is the opposite from the American, written law. Natural justice allows people to take revenge for any wrong done to them, whereas the written law forbids people from taking the law into their own hands. Miller shows how Eddie and Marco are stuck with this old–fashioned way of thinking that makes people savageUncivilised, not following any rules. and can only lead to tragedy. Alfieri, by contrast, accepts that one can only be civilised if one is law-abiding.