Manliness, Hostility, and Aggression in A View From the Bridge Essay

Manliness, Hostility, and Aggression in A View From the Bridge Arthur Miller’s ‘A View from the Bridge’ represents the ideas of manliness and how the perception of certain individuals (Eddie) affects the lives of their fellow friends and family. The play is based around the views of the play’s protagonist, Eddie. His analysis of the male personality leads to conflict when other males, in this case Rodolpho, do not conform to his ideas of manliness. Hostility, aggression and masculinity are the main themes which influence the mood of the play and the way they are associated with each other allow an increase in tension in the minds of the reader. Eddie is the play’s main character who has very distinct views on what a man should be like. He feels it is necessary for a man to be aggressive and to use violence in order to state his authority and power. This is evident when he asks Catherine â€Å"What’s the high heels for, Garbo?† Eddie asks this in a very sarcastic manor, however, he is fully aware that he wants things his own way. Eddie also considers bravery and the reputation of the male to be vital in a man’s personality. This is shown by the way he battles Marco nearer the end of the play, not to make friends but to restore his reputation. The language in which Arthur Miller employs when Eddie is speaking tends to be fairly provocative for the person he is addressing, particularly with the way he has primarily been shown to ask or talk to other people in a challenging manner. This is evident when Eddie refers to Rodolpho as â€Å"fruit†; â€Å"aint right† and â€Å"no good†. These quotes show no manners what so ever and portray a very negative approach indicating confrontation to the reader. However the quote â€Å"sees the... ...is carefree personality shows us how life should be lived. Arthur Miller’s views on masculinity are introduced into the character of Alfieri, through this character he reveals how he feels â€Å"it is better to settle for half.† This means settling for what is available to you having worked out a compromise. With his perception on manliness he includes Eddie, Marco and Rodolpho. These three characters portray Miller’s views on masculinity on three different levels, showing that Marco being in between Eddie and Rodolpho is the real man as he enforces violence when need be and also being in touch with his feminine side shown by his family values. Miller has Eddie killed by Marco at the end; this is a metaphor and a sign of the real man winning in his eyes and believes that living the life of Eddie will not allow you to achieve everything you ever want in life.