Who is responsible for the death of Eddie Carbone Essay Example

Who is responsible for the death of Eddie Carbone? Essay Arthur Miller has become one of Americas most important and influential playwrights. His plays often explore the position of the individual in relation to their responsibilities and position in society. However, Millers plays reveal a deep and sympathetic understanding of how people think, behave and react to the world around them, especially when they find themselves in situations which threaten to defeat them. The play A View from the Bridge has its origins in the late 1940s when Arthur Miller became interested in the work and lives of dockworkers and longshoremen of New Yorks Brooklyn harbour and where he himself had previously worked. He became interested in the poorly paid people exploited by their bosses and who were in many cases only recent immigrants to the United States. They had come to America, as Millers parents had done in hope of the work, wealth and security that their home countries could not guarantee. At this time a young lawyer friend of Millers mentioned a story he had heard of a longshoreman who had told the immigration bureau on two brothers, his own relatives, who were living illegally in his home, in order to break an engagement between one of them and his niece. Miller only started the writing of his play during his first visit to Italy where he got the background information for the tragic and sympathetic A View from the Bridge. We will write a custom essay sample on Who is responsible for the death of Eddie Carbone? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Who is responsible for the death of Eddie Carbone? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Who is responsible for the death of Eddie Carbone? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Arthur Miller took this modern true-life story and presented it to an audience using features of classical drama. Arthur Miller begins his play with a device from ancient Greek drama; the chorus. He does this through the figure of Alfieri the lawyer. Alfieri comments on the action throughout the play leading the audiences reaction. The play starts off with Alfieris speech to the audience. He explains what its like in Brooklyn Red Hook and what the people are like. He talks of the petty troubles of the poor and draws the audience in and suggests the events of A View from a Bridge in a mysterious way. He leads the audience to believe that whatever happens will end in blood and the events will be unstoppable. He tells us any lawyer would be, as powerless as I, and watch(ed) it run its bloody course. Alfieri finally mentions Eddie Carbone which leads the audience to believe the blood and violence is to do with this husky, slightly overweight longshoreman