Analysis of the Social Conflicts in Arthur Millerâs A View From The Bridge.
ABSTRACT
Dalam tugas akhir ini saya menganalisis konflik sosial yang terdapat pada
drama A View from the Bridge karya Arthur Miller. Drama ini menceritakan
tentang Eddie, seorang imigran Italia yang tinggal di Amerika bersama istri dan
kemenakannya, Catherine atau Katie. Akan tetapi, Eddie jatuh cinta pada
kemenakannya sendiri. Inilah yang memicu rasa cemburu yang berlebihan ketika
ada laki-laki yang mendekati Katie, sehingga timbullah berbagai konflik antara
Eddie dan orang–orang di sekitarnya, terlebih lagi pada saat Rodolpho, yang
merupakan keponakan istrinya, datang dari Italia dan tinggal bersama mereka.
Melalui
kedelapan
konflik
sosial
yang
saya
analisis,
Miller
menggambarkan kejatuhan dari sang tokoh utama karena kecemburuan yang
membabi buta. Kecemburuan inilah yang membuat tokoh utama mengambil
keputusan yang gegabah yang menyeretnya kepada kehancurannya sendiri.
iii
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................ i
TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................... ii
ABSTRACT...........................................................................................................iii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study............................................................................. 1
Statement of the Problem............................................................................. 3
Purpose of the Study................................................................................... 3
Method of Research................................................................................... 3
Organization of the Thesis............................................................................4
CHAPTER TWO: ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL CONFLICTS IN ARTHUR
MILLER’S A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE ........................................ 5
CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSION............................................................................
17
BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................................................................................20
APPENDICES:
Summary of A View from the Bridge............................................................................
22
Biography of Arthur Miller............................................................................
23
ii
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Arthur Miller is one of the most distinguished American playwrights
“whose bitting criticism of societal problems defined his genius” (“Arthur Miller
Biography”). Most of his major works are famous for their theme of individual
responsibility towards the society, as can be seen in his All My Sons. His works
also reflect that the major character has to fulfill the demands from his family and
society which can be seen in his play, A View from the Bridge. Writing a lot of
good works, Miller undoubtly deserves his place in the list of the great
playwrights. Even David Thacker, one of the British theatre directors states, that
“if you put Shakespeare to one side, Arthur Miller stands comparison with any
playwright writing in the English language for his contribution” (Walsh).
We can also see the play faintly resonates classical Greek drama with a
twist between Miller and the ancient Greek tragedian, Sophocles. Both Miller and
Sophocles have a tragic protagonist in their works; beside, they also use tragic
flaw.
Tragic
flaw
is
“a
secret
weakness
1
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of character that brings about a tragic hero’s downfall” (“Tragic Flaw”). The
tragic heroes in Miller’s and Sophocles’s have fatal weaknesses which later drag
them to their downfall. In Sophocles’ famous play, Oedipus the King, the main
character loses everything at the end of the story. His pride causes him to be
unwilling to accept his fate. Oedipus fights his own fate stubbornly that later
causes his own downfall. The same happens to Eddie, the main character in A
View from the Bridge. His ego causes him to make a fatal decision. He loses his
family, his name, and even his life. At the beginning of the story, both of them
were good people. However, they make bad decisions which later bring them to
their own destruction.
There is also another similarity; both Oedipus and Eddie fall in love with
their close relatives. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus marries his own mother. In A
View from the Bridge, Eddie falls in love with his own niece who seems to be
more like his daughter for him. Yet, there are also differences. At the end of the
story, Oedipus realizes his mistakes and show his remorse by pulling out his own
eyes. But not with Eddie, Eddie still denies his mistakes until the very end of the
story, he even gets mad and does not accept the situation which has happened to
him. Another differences also can be seen in the relation between the character’s
fate and gods. In Oedipus and other Greek drama, fate and gods have a big portion
in determining the whole story. Another different things happen in Miller’s play,
gods do not be exposed here. Everything that happens in the story is an effect
from the character’s decision.
A View from the Bridge is based on a true story which Miller has heard
from his colleague who worked as a lawyer in the piers area. A View from the
2
Maranatha Christian University
Bridge takes place in Brooklyn after the Second World War. This play comes
from a story about a longshoreman who calls the Immigration to snitch on illegal
immigrant in American-Italian society. He heard it while he was doing a research
for his collaboration with Elia Kazan, whom Miller worked with in his plays, All
My Sons and The Death of the Salesman.
Some critics believe that A View from the Bridge is one of the most
interesting plays that Miller has written. Clive Barnes, an English writer and
critic, states in New York Post that Miller’s plays have their own intense power
which entertains the audience in a great way. His plays entertain people at that
time because immigration problem is very current topic and a great issue in the
developing America as a state. The major element of this play lays on its conflicts.
“Conflict is a literary element that involves a struggle between two opposing
forces, usually a protagonist and an antagonist” (“Conflict - Examples and
Definition of Conflict”). There are several conflicts between Eddie and people
around him. Conflicts can be divided into inner, social and natural conflict (”Eight
Basic Literary Devices”). Eddie’s conflicts here are social conflicts because
Eddie, as the protagonist, has opposing ideas with his family and society.
According to Harry Shaw, social conflict is “a struggle between man and man”
(91).
The conflicts also lead us to another issue of rivalry among Italian
immigrants there. Although the conflicts do not lead us directly to the situation,
they give us a brief idea that there is also an issue of immigration. However, the
main cause of all of these conflicts are Eddie’s jealousy over Rodolpho which
causes Eddie’s failure in making decisions. It is obvious that conflicts are the most
3
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important element which leads us to see a clearer path to the main issue;
uncontrolled jealousy may lead someone to make bad decisions and face his own
destruction.
Statement of the Problem
The problems am I going to discuss are :
1. What kind of conflict happens in the drama?
2. What is the cause of the conflict?
3. What is the resolution to the conflict?
Purpose of the Study
Based on the above problems, the purpose of that study are :
1. To show the social conflicts in the drama.
2. To show the cause of each conflict.
3. To show the resolution of the conflict
Method of Research
I use library research in writing my thesis. I read the primary text, A View
from the Bridge and then I search for some printed and online sources to support
my discussion. In the end, I draw a conclusion from the whole discussion.
4
Maranatha Christian University
Organization of the Thesis
This thesis consists of three chapters. Chapter One is the Introduction,
which consists of the Background of the Study, the Statement of the Problem, the
Purpose of the Study, the Method of Research, and the Organization of the Thesis.
Chapter Two consists of the Analysis of Social Conflicts in A View from the
Bridge by Arthur Miller. Chapter Three is the Conclusion. It is followed by the
Bibliography and the Appendices, which consist of the Synopsis of the Drama and
the Biography of the Author.
5
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CHAPTER THREE
CONCLUSION
After analysing the social conflict in Arthur Miller’s A View from the
Bridge, I would like to present the conclusion. In my opinion, the eight social
conflicts here show Eddie’s tragic flaw. Most of the conflicts are caused by
Eddie’s uncontrolled jealousy. Being blinded by his jealousy, Eddie makes
terrible decisions which drag him to his own down fall.
In the first three social conflicts, it is shown that Eddie starts to show his
dislike for Rodolpho. In the first conflict, he argues with Beatrice, his wife. He
states that Rodolpho is not a good man. In the second conflict, he argues with
Katie about his thought that Rodolpho does not love Katie and wants to use Katie
to get his paper. In the third conflict, he also argues with Alfieri about his
suspicion that Rodolpho has a bad intention to Katie. He still believes that
Rodolpho only uses Katie. The three conflicts here are left unsolved. Beatrice,
Katie and Alfieri do not agree with Eddie; they believe that Eddie is too
suspicious. Actually, Rodolpho is a good young man who just acts differently
from Eddie.
17
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The fourth, the fifth and the seventh conflicts show us the moment the
characters burst out their feelings. The fourth one shows Eddie’s conflict with
Katie when he does not agree with the relationship and decides to drive Rodolpho
away from the house. Katie ignores his decision and Eddie bursts out his anger by
kissing Katie. This conflict is unsolved; Katie remains to go with Rodolpho. The
fifth conflict happens between Eddie and Rodolpho, whom Eddie is jealous of.
He bursts out his anger to Rodolpho and confronts him directly. He drives
Rodolpho away from his house and then he also argues with Katie. This conflict is
unsolved. Rodolpho goes away with Katie from the house. In the seventh conflict,
Beatrice bursts out her feeling; she tells Eddie that she has known how Eddie truly
feels towards Katie before Eddie does. However, it is unsolved. Eddie denies
Beatrice’s accusation.
The sixth and the eighth conflicts about Eddie’s plans to separate Katie
from Rodolpho. In the fifth conflict, Alfieri shows his disagreement when Eddie
does not want to let Katie go. Alfieri even warns Eddie that no one will support
him anymore if he still decides to separate Katie and Rodolpho. The conflict is
unsolved. Even though he has been warned and has known the consequences,
Eddie insists on snitching on Rodolpho to separate him from Katie. The last
conflict happens between Eddie and Marco. After deciding not to let Katie go,
Eddie chooses the worst decision to separate the couple by snitching on
Rodolpho. His decision also drags Marco to the Immigration Bureau. Marco
becomes angry with Eddie. He even yells in front of the neighbours that Eddie has
killed his family by snitching on him. Marco clearly shows that snitching means
betrayal to the society. However, Eddie denies all the accusation and asks Marco
18
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to apologize to him. This conflict is solved. Marco accidentally kills Eddie when
Eddie is trying to attack him by using a knife.
In the end, I want to say that it is a pleasure to analyse Arthur Miller’s A
View from the Bridge. He nicely depicts the condition after the Second World
War as the story background which causes a great movement of immigration from
poorer to America. However, the author wants to emphasize Eddie’s tragic flaw.
Eddie is described as a good man who makes a wrong fatal decision by snitching
on his relatives. Consumed by his jealousy, he will do anything to fulfill his desire
to ruin the relationship between Rodolpho and Katie. He ignores Alfieri’s warning
against interfering with the couple. In my opinion, Arthur Miller is successful in
presenting his idea about uncontrolled jealousy which brings someone’s downfall
through the social conflicts in this play. Through Eddie, the protagonist, we can
learn that if we cannot control our ego, we may make a fatal decision that may
affect greater things negatively in the future. In this story, Eddie’s uncontrolled
jealousy brings him to his own downfall.
19
Maranatha Christian University
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary Texts:
Miller, Arthur. A View from the Bridge. London: Penguin Book, 1955. Print.
References:
"Arthur Miller Biography."Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 29 Apr.
2015.
"Conflict - Examples and Definition of Conflict." Literary Devices. Literary
Devices, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015
“Eight Basic Literary Devices.” Odessa College. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Galvin, Rachel. “Arthur Miller Biography” National Endowment for Humanities.
Web 26 Apr. 2015.
“Heeby-jeebies.” Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. 5th ed. 1995. Print.
Philips, Michael. “Arthur Miller, 1915-2015.” Chicago Tribune. 13 Feb 2015.
Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Tahir, Maria Raja. What is Literary Theory?. Slideshare. 9 Dec 2012. Web. 24
Apr. 2015.
"Tragic Flaw." Vocabulary.com. Vocabulary.com, 2015. Web. 29 May 2015
Walsh, David. “Arthur Miller, An American Playwright.” World Socialist Web
Site. International Committee of the Fourth International. 21 Feb. 2005.
Web. 22 Apr. 2015.
21
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Dalam tugas akhir ini saya menganalisis konflik sosial yang terdapat pada
drama A View from the Bridge karya Arthur Miller. Drama ini menceritakan
tentang Eddie, seorang imigran Italia yang tinggal di Amerika bersama istri dan
kemenakannya, Catherine atau Katie. Akan tetapi, Eddie jatuh cinta pada
kemenakannya sendiri. Inilah yang memicu rasa cemburu yang berlebihan ketika
ada laki-laki yang mendekati Katie, sehingga timbullah berbagai konflik antara
Eddie dan orang–orang di sekitarnya, terlebih lagi pada saat Rodolpho, yang
merupakan keponakan istrinya, datang dari Italia dan tinggal bersama mereka.
Melalui
kedelapan
konflik
sosial
yang
saya
analisis,
Miller
menggambarkan kejatuhan dari sang tokoh utama karena kecemburuan yang
membabi buta. Kecemburuan inilah yang membuat tokoh utama mengambil
keputusan yang gegabah yang menyeretnya kepada kehancurannya sendiri.
iii
Maranatha Christian University
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................ i
TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................... ii
ABSTRACT...........................................................................................................iii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study............................................................................. 1
Statement of the Problem............................................................................. 3
Purpose of the Study................................................................................... 3
Method of Research................................................................................... 3
Organization of the Thesis............................................................................4
CHAPTER TWO: ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL CONFLICTS IN ARTHUR
MILLER’S A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE ........................................ 5
CHAPTER THREE: CONCLUSION............................................................................
17
BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................................................................................20
APPENDICES:
Summary of A View from the Bridge............................................................................
22
Biography of Arthur Miller............................................................................
23
ii
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Arthur Miller is one of the most distinguished American playwrights
“whose bitting criticism of societal problems defined his genius” (“Arthur Miller
Biography”). Most of his major works are famous for their theme of individual
responsibility towards the society, as can be seen in his All My Sons. His works
also reflect that the major character has to fulfill the demands from his family and
society which can be seen in his play, A View from the Bridge. Writing a lot of
good works, Miller undoubtly deserves his place in the list of the great
playwrights. Even David Thacker, one of the British theatre directors states, that
“if you put Shakespeare to one side, Arthur Miller stands comparison with any
playwright writing in the English language for his contribution” (Walsh).
We can also see the play faintly resonates classical Greek drama with a
twist between Miller and the ancient Greek tragedian, Sophocles. Both Miller and
Sophocles have a tragic protagonist in their works; beside, they also use tragic
flaw.
Tragic
flaw
is
“a
secret
weakness
1
Maranatha Christian University
of character that brings about a tragic hero’s downfall” (“Tragic Flaw”). The
tragic heroes in Miller’s and Sophocles’s have fatal weaknesses which later drag
them to their downfall. In Sophocles’ famous play, Oedipus the King, the main
character loses everything at the end of the story. His pride causes him to be
unwilling to accept his fate. Oedipus fights his own fate stubbornly that later
causes his own downfall. The same happens to Eddie, the main character in A
View from the Bridge. His ego causes him to make a fatal decision. He loses his
family, his name, and even his life. At the beginning of the story, both of them
were good people. However, they make bad decisions which later bring them to
their own destruction.
There is also another similarity; both Oedipus and Eddie fall in love with
their close relatives. In Oedipus the King, Oedipus marries his own mother. In A
View from the Bridge, Eddie falls in love with his own niece who seems to be
more like his daughter for him. Yet, there are also differences. At the end of the
story, Oedipus realizes his mistakes and show his remorse by pulling out his own
eyes. But not with Eddie, Eddie still denies his mistakes until the very end of the
story, he even gets mad and does not accept the situation which has happened to
him. Another differences also can be seen in the relation between the character’s
fate and gods. In Oedipus and other Greek drama, fate and gods have a big portion
in determining the whole story. Another different things happen in Miller’s play,
gods do not be exposed here. Everything that happens in the story is an effect
from the character’s decision.
A View from the Bridge is based on a true story which Miller has heard
from his colleague who worked as a lawyer in the piers area. A View from the
2
Maranatha Christian University
Bridge takes place in Brooklyn after the Second World War. This play comes
from a story about a longshoreman who calls the Immigration to snitch on illegal
immigrant in American-Italian society. He heard it while he was doing a research
for his collaboration with Elia Kazan, whom Miller worked with in his plays, All
My Sons and The Death of the Salesman.
Some critics believe that A View from the Bridge is one of the most
interesting plays that Miller has written. Clive Barnes, an English writer and
critic, states in New York Post that Miller’s plays have their own intense power
which entertains the audience in a great way. His plays entertain people at that
time because immigration problem is very current topic and a great issue in the
developing America as a state. The major element of this play lays on its conflicts.
“Conflict is a literary element that involves a struggle between two opposing
forces, usually a protagonist and an antagonist” (“Conflict - Examples and
Definition of Conflict”). There are several conflicts between Eddie and people
around him. Conflicts can be divided into inner, social and natural conflict (”Eight
Basic Literary Devices”). Eddie’s conflicts here are social conflicts because
Eddie, as the protagonist, has opposing ideas with his family and society.
According to Harry Shaw, social conflict is “a struggle between man and man”
(91).
The conflicts also lead us to another issue of rivalry among Italian
immigrants there. Although the conflicts do not lead us directly to the situation,
they give us a brief idea that there is also an issue of immigration. However, the
main cause of all of these conflicts are Eddie’s jealousy over Rodolpho which
causes Eddie’s failure in making decisions. It is obvious that conflicts are the most
3
Maranatha Christian University
important element which leads us to see a clearer path to the main issue;
uncontrolled jealousy may lead someone to make bad decisions and face his own
destruction.
Statement of the Problem
The problems am I going to discuss are :
1. What kind of conflict happens in the drama?
2. What is the cause of the conflict?
3. What is the resolution to the conflict?
Purpose of the Study
Based on the above problems, the purpose of that study are :
1. To show the social conflicts in the drama.
2. To show the cause of each conflict.
3. To show the resolution of the conflict
Method of Research
I use library research in writing my thesis. I read the primary text, A View
from the Bridge and then I search for some printed and online sources to support
my discussion. In the end, I draw a conclusion from the whole discussion.
4
Maranatha Christian University
Organization of the Thesis
This thesis consists of three chapters. Chapter One is the Introduction,
which consists of the Background of the Study, the Statement of the Problem, the
Purpose of the Study, the Method of Research, and the Organization of the Thesis.
Chapter Two consists of the Analysis of Social Conflicts in A View from the
Bridge by Arthur Miller. Chapter Three is the Conclusion. It is followed by the
Bibliography and the Appendices, which consist of the Synopsis of the Drama and
the Biography of the Author.
5
Maranatha Christian University
CHAPTER THREE
CONCLUSION
After analysing the social conflict in Arthur Miller’s A View from the
Bridge, I would like to present the conclusion. In my opinion, the eight social
conflicts here show Eddie’s tragic flaw. Most of the conflicts are caused by
Eddie’s uncontrolled jealousy. Being blinded by his jealousy, Eddie makes
terrible decisions which drag him to his own down fall.
In the first three social conflicts, it is shown that Eddie starts to show his
dislike for Rodolpho. In the first conflict, he argues with Beatrice, his wife. He
states that Rodolpho is not a good man. In the second conflict, he argues with
Katie about his thought that Rodolpho does not love Katie and wants to use Katie
to get his paper. In the third conflict, he also argues with Alfieri about his
suspicion that Rodolpho has a bad intention to Katie. He still believes that
Rodolpho only uses Katie. The three conflicts here are left unsolved. Beatrice,
Katie and Alfieri do not agree with Eddie; they believe that Eddie is too
suspicious. Actually, Rodolpho is a good young man who just acts differently
from Eddie.
17
Maranatha Christian University
The fourth, the fifth and the seventh conflicts show us the moment the
characters burst out their feelings. The fourth one shows Eddie’s conflict with
Katie when he does not agree with the relationship and decides to drive Rodolpho
away from the house. Katie ignores his decision and Eddie bursts out his anger by
kissing Katie. This conflict is unsolved; Katie remains to go with Rodolpho. The
fifth conflict happens between Eddie and Rodolpho, whom Eddie is jealous of.
He bursts out his anger to Rodolpho and confronts him directly. He drives
Rodolpho away from his house and then he also argues with Katie. This conflict is
unsolved. Rodolpho goes away with Katie from the house. In the seventh conflict,
Beatrice bursts out her feeling; she tells Eddie that she has known how Eddie truly
feels towards Katie before Eddie does. However, it is unsolved. Eddie denies
Beatrice’s accusation.
The sixth and the eighth conflicts about Eddie’s plans to separate Katie
from Rodolpho. In the fifth conflict, Alfieri shows his disagreement when Eddie
does not want to let Katie go. Alfieri even warns Eddie that no one will support
him anymore if he still decides to separate Katie and Rodolpho. The conflict is
unsolved. Even though he has been warned and has known the consequences,
Eddie insists on snitching on Rodolpho to separate him from Katie. The last
conflict happens between Eddie and Marco. After deciding not to let Katie go,
Eddie chooses the worst decision to separate the couple by snitching on
Rodolpho. His decision also drags Marco to the Immigration Bureau. Marco
becomes angry with Eddie. He even yells in front of the neighbours that Eddie has
killed his family by snitching on him. Marco clearly shows that snitching means
betrayal to the society. However, Eddie denies all the accusation and asks Marco
18
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to apologize to him. This conflict is solved. Marco accidentally kills Eddie when
Eddie is trying to attack him by using a knife.
In the end, I want to say that it is a pleasure to analyse Arthur Miller’s A
View from the Bridge. He nicely depicts the condition after the Second World
War as the story background which causes a great movement of immigration from
poorer to America. However, the author wants to emphasize Eddie’s tragic flaw.
Eddie is described as a good man who makes a wrong fatal decision by snitching
on his relatives. Consumed by his jealousy, he will do anything to fulfill his desire
to ruin the relationship between Rodolpho and Katie. He ignores Alfieri’s warning
against interfering with the couple. In my opinion, Arthur Miller is successful in
presenting his idea about uncontrolled jealousy which brings someone’s downfall
through the social conflicts in this play. Through Eddie, the protagonist, we can
learn that if we cannot control our ego, we may make a fatal decision that may
affect greater things negatively in the future. In this story, Eddie’s uncontrolled
jealousy brings him to his own downfall.
19
Maranatha Christian University
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Primary Texts:
Miller, Arthur. A View from the Bridge. London: Penguin Book, 1955. Print.
References:
"Arthur Miller Biography."Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2015. Web. 29 Apr.
2015.
"Conflict - Examples and Definition of Conflict." Literary Devices. Literary
Devices, n.d. Web. 24 May 2015
“Eight Basic Literary Devices.” Odessa College. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
Galvin, Rachel. “Arthur Miller Biography” National Endowment for Humanities.
Web 26 Apr. 2015.
“Heeby-jeebies.” Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. 5th ed. 1995. Print.
Philips, Michael. “Arthur Miller, 1915-2015.” Chicago Tribune. 13 Feb 2015.
Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Tahir, Maria Raja. What is Literary Theory?. Slideshare. 9 Dec 2012. Web. 24
Apr. 2015.
"Tragic Flaw." Vocabulary.com. Vocabulary.com, 2015. Web. 29 May 2015
Walsh, David. “Arthur Miller, An American Playwright.” World Socialist Web
Site. International Committee of the Fourth International. 21 Feb. 2005.
Web. 22 Apr. 2015.
21
Maranatha Christian University