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The Effects of the Sicilian Code of Honour in A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller

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The Effects of the Sicilian Code of Honour in A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller

'A View from the Bridge' is a play set within the New York in the Red Hook area just after the years of the Great Depression in 1941. America was desperately in need of laborers and other countries were desperately in need of work. This lead to many immigrants transporting themselves to America. This brings us to the play which centers on two characters that enter the country illegally in search of money. They have entered into a community that not only bought their willingness for work into the country but a community dominated by the unwritten law of the Sicilian moral code.

Eddie and Marco are both deeply …show more content…

When Rodolfo enters the household and starts to go out with Catherine he begins to dislike Rodolfo. Eddie's dislike for Rodolfo is constantly heightened throughout the play by the many things Rodolfo does. Rodolfo is described as a homosexual figure by others in the community. Eddie starts commenting on Rodolfo's bad side when he and Catherine start seeing each other.

"He ain't right."

Says Eddie to Alfieri when discussing Rodolfo

Eddie acts in a friendly manner when he first meets Rodolfo, but as the play progresses, when for instance Rodolfo comments on Catherine's beauty, he begins to show hostility towards Rodolfo;

"(laughs indicating Catherine) especially when they are so beautiful."

As Eddie picks up on these comments he tries to find any fault in Rodolfo

"He's like a weird."

What perhaps further increases Eddie's dislike for Rodolfo is when Rodolfo breaks the Sicilian Moral Code by not asking Eddie if he could take Catherine out on a date. Not only is Rodolfo breaking the Sicilian moral code, but this perhaps makes Eddie's jealousy flare his unnatural love for Catherine. There is a suspicion within the play by characters such as Alfieri that perhaps Eddie loves Catherine more then just as a daughter.

"She wants to get married, Eddie. She can't marry you, can she?"

Alfieri

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