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Theme Of Conflict In A View From The Bridge

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In what ways is the conflict in ‘A View from the Bridge’ caused by masculinity?
In Arthur Miller’s play ‘A View from the Bridge.’ The men are portrayed as alpha males demonstrated by the main character Eddie who is a typical man in the 1950s. Men are the providers of the family and women look after the home. Eddie is an archetypal man who worked in a job displaying his strength and dominance. People behave towards him with their utmost respect and never disobey the male who is perceived as the leader of the family and the owner of the household. The family live in a confined space leading to tension amongst characters. Eddie dies at the end due to his lack of respect for others and lack of self-knowledge driven by his masculinity.
One factor that provokes conflict is Eddie’s control over others; especially women who were weaker in the 1950s. An example is when he tells Catherine not to wear a short dress, leading to Catherine changing her dress and not arguing back. Eddie barks: “Catherine, I don’t want to be a pest, but I’m tellin’ you you’re walkin’ wavy.” The use of ‘I’m tellin’ you’ conveys that he is not asking for Catherine’s opinion, he is giving her an order. He addresses others as if they are not as important as him. He addresses Catherine as, ’Kid’. Miller presents Catherine as a kid which is a diminutive epithet. Eddie still treats Catherine as a baby even though she is a grown up and can make her own choices. This factor link to the 1950s as the Italian man is

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