Justice and law in a view from the bridge. The Theme of Betrayal in Arthur Miller's Play A View from the Bridge 2023-01-05

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Justice and law are two concepts that are closely intertwined and have a significant impact on society. In Arthur Miller's play "A View from the Bridge," the theme of justice and law is explored through the character of Eddie Carbone, a longshoreman living in Brooklyn in the 1950s.

Eddie is a man who is deeply concerned with justice and the rule of law. He takes pride in his role as a protector of his community and is quick to stand up for what he believes is right. However, as the play progresses, it becomes clear that Eddie's sense of justice is highly subjective and is influenced by his own personal biases and desires.

One example of this is Eddie's treatment of his niece, Catherine. Eddie is fiercely protective of Catherine and wants what is best for her, but his ideas of what is best for her are based on his own views of how a woman should behave. When Catherine falls in love with Marco, one of the illegal immigrant cousins who are living with Eddie and his family, Eddie becomes jealous and suspicious of Marco's intentions. He becomes convinced that Marco is only interested in Catherine for her beauty and youth, and he becomes determined to prevent the two from getting married.

Eddie's obsession with protecting Catherine leads him to break the law and betray Marco and Rodolfo, the other cousin, by turning them in to the immigration authorities. Eddie's actions are motivated by his desire to protect Catherine and to uphold his own sense of justice, but they ultimately result in tragedy and the destruction of his own family.

This play raises important questions about the nature of justice and the role of the law in society. It suggests that while the rule of law is important, it is also necessary to consider the individual circumstances and motivations of those involved in a situation. It also highlights the danger of allowing personal biases and desires to influence our sense of justice and the potential consequences of such actions.

In conclusion, "A View from the Bridge" illustrates the complex and often conflicting relationship between justice and law. It highlights the importance of considering the individual circumstances and motivations of those involved in a situation and the danger of allowing personal biases to influence our sense of justice.

Key themes Justice and the law A View from the Bridge

justice and law in a view from the bridge

Alfieri: There is none. This behavior that McCarthy exerted became the source of the term McCarthyism, used to describe the unfounded witch hunts dominating that time period. At the beginning of the play, Alfieri contrasts the law in Sicily, from where the community is descended, and the law in America. The fact that McCarthyism still exists is a little frightening. Chaos and havoc erupt in this small town during the times of the trials, causing many prominent men and women to be wrongly accused of practicing witchcraft.

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Free Essay: Justice and Law in "A View from the Bridge" by Arthur Miller

justice and law in a view from the bridge

It has once decided to own people as property and deprive them of their liberties and enslaved them based on the color of their skin. He knows what will happen in the play. Both Eddie and Marco, who hold the old values, are driven to brutal behaviour when they think that they have not been respected properly. One of the dominating races within Red Hook is the Sicilian community, and Alfieri conveys the view that family honor and respect as well are of paramount importance to that community, as well as a general lack of faith in the quality of the American justice system. When there are severe anger and the desire to take revenge upon another person, other people take the place of bystanders, and even men of law, cannot stop tragic events from occurring. On the other hand, the law is the law, and American law probably does not reflect cultural understandings of justice held by minority groups.

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The Theme of Betrayal in Arthur Miller's Play A View from the Bridge

justice and law in a view from the bridge

But justice can vary through the minds of different people, coming from different communities, as people are subject to different cultures and traditions, where what is considered 'right' or 'just' may be very different to that in other places. Never is this more evident then in Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, and Edna St. If Eddie chooses the law over justice in turning Marco and Rodolpho in, Marco chooses his own form of justice over the law in killing Eddie. Mr Eddie Carbone plays the role of a 'tragic hero' accustomed to a life of dignity and of mutual respect amongst his peers in the Italian community. Analysing the evidence Question How does Miller explore the idea of justice and the law in A View from the Bridge? Alfieri is also implying that conflict is inevitable once injustice has been committed as the community is often dissatisfied with the "justice" the law brings they take it into their own hands to find this justice.

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Justice and the Law in A View from the Bridge

justice and law in a view from the bridge

In addition to investigating how justice is portrayed and laws navigated in the play itself, it is also important to look into the relevance of the themes to us in our lives today. As the play goes on, the characters, particularly Eddie, feel there are many holes in the US legal system; Eddie expects there to be laws that prevent Rodolpho from marrying his niece, Catherine. She is not being loved by Eddie and so feels that she has done something wrong, which she is blinded about. If it were, the community would disown you. Evidence I take the blankets off my bed for him, and he takes and puts his filthy hands on her like a goddam thief! Today there are many examples of McCarthyism that exist in the world around us. Through the above portion of the dialogue, Miller establishes the severity of the conflict between morality and the law in this situation.

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Justice in A View from the Bridge

justice and law in a view from the bridge

. As an Italian-American, he understands and has respect for both systems. When the American justice system is incapable of bringing the characters the kind of justice they think they deserve, everything goes haywire. They even kicked and beat him. The punishment is itself is flawed, once incarcerated, a person is branded a criminal, job interviews, travel, everything will be more difficult for the criminal. The play ends with a fight to the death.

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A View From The Bridge: Justice and The Law

justice and law in a view from the bridge

Arthur Miller chose to write about a community that accepted and protected unlawful people because of their own beliefs in justice and fairness, which is, in essence, what the law attempts to be based on but ultimately cannot because "All the law is not in a book". Eddie has a relatively personal, controversial, yet plutonic relationship with Catherine at the start of the play. It contrasts the justice dealt out in Italy in ancient times with the justice system of modern America. A View from the Bridge criticizes those during the McCarthy trials ones Arthur Miller was involved who had "ratted" out innocent people. They cannot take an objective stance. All the law is not in a book.


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A View from the Bridge

justice and law in a view from the bridge

Marco spits at him and this means that Eddie is honor-bound to make Marco take back the insult or to fight him to the death. Moral justice —as the words imply, is to do with what is morally right. The characters often mistake their own desires for justice, failing to look for a higher principle of justice separate from their own raw emotions. Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge 'A View from the Bridge' is a story of Eddie Carbone an Italian longshoreman working on the New York docks. In particular, John Procter, a well respected leader in the town of Salem, soon becomes entangled in the Salem witch trials, when his wife Elizabeth and many other women of the town are accused of witchcraft by Abigail Williams, his former mistress.

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Arthur Miller Explores the Idea of Justice in A View...

justice and law in a view from the bridge

When there was no legal resource used for separating Rodolpho and Catherine, Eddie turns on his opponent out of jealousy to the immigration office to ensure that Rodolpho can no longer be an issue. However, African Americans have faced a plethora of legal complexities in attempts to obtain legal reparations for past injustices committed against their ancestors. Alfieri knows that Eddie cannot prove that Rodolpho only wants to marry Catherine to gain American citizenship. NINA: Summary Exploring the problems of society in microism, Miller shows us that most of the time people are not strong enough to execute true justice, whatever it may be. The transition from natural law to constitutional law seems difficult for Marco as he still behaves the way he would In Italy.


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VCE ENGLISH A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE: Justice and law in AVFTB

justice and law in a view from the bridge

Discussion As the analysis suggests, A View from the Bridge can be interpreted as a play that shows that the written word of the law cannot ensure real justice because interpersonal relationships are far too complicated. Analysis Alfieri has to work hard to make Marco see that he must obey the American law. A Defense of Justice Have you ever thought about if the person next to you is a killer or a rapist? Eddie is infuriated by this, and this fury leads him to break the code of his community. Betrayal of your family or your community is the worst Eddie told to Catherine and Beatrice. There is no other law.

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