Candidate name: Shahd Ahmed

Candidate number: 0112

How does Miller explore the tension between justice and the law in A View
from the Bridge?

In A View from the Bridge, Arthur Miller explores how the idea of justice (the fair
treatment of others) varies for different people, while the law (an enforced system of
rules) is supposed to be truly fair. He considers different cultures’ and communities’
attitudes to justice and the law, such as in Red Hook, and the simple idea that
“Justice is very important here.” immediately conveys the theme’s significance, which
heavily features in Greek tragedy that Miller was inspired by.

In Alfieri’s opening speech, Miller establishes how damaging seeking justice is, and
seems to suggest that this has always been present. He demonstrates this through
Alfieri and his occupation as a lawyer by comparing him to one from “Caesar’s year
… at Syracuse”, who both witness many tragically pursue justice. These historical
references link ancient Rome to the modern United States, and indicate that human
problems and disagreements - like Eddie’s - have always existed, and that they may
be the reason for the law. Additionally, while Alfieri acts as the chorus figure and the
vital “bridge” conveying the tragic events of the play to the audience, he bluntly
describes himself as “powerless”, since he is unable to change the depressing reality
of Eddie’s demise. This may be a reminder that while Eddie’s problem initially
seemed insignificant, his fixation on obtaining justice was what led to his death.
Alternatively, as Alfieri is used to represent the legal system, Miller could be
encouraging the audience to consider how powerful justice is compared to the law.
The speech ominously ends with violent and gory imagery of it being described as a
“bloody course”, which implies that justice and the damage caused when seeking it
are inevitable, as well as foreshadowing Eddie’s death.

Furthermore, Miller discusses the conflict between the Italian communities’ sense of
law and justice, and the written American law. Alfieri, himself an Italian immigrant,
remembers those who were “justly shot by unjust men” in Red Hook, Brooklyn,
where Miller grew up and could provide this authentic insight. The clear contrast here
reflects the complexity of achieving justice, since what seems just in this scenario is
certainly not legal. Through Vinny Bolzano’s story, the audience is shown the extent
of the consequences he faced for betraying his family - he was thrown down the
stairs by them and “his head was bouncing like a coconut”. The use of hyperbole and
simile emphasises how violent this was and may shockingly show that, to his family,
taking justice into their own hands was more important than their own son. Although
he legally did the right thing since his uncle was an illegal immigrant, he broke the
code of silence and betrayed the community. Having his story told to the audience by
the Carbone family ironically foreshadows Eddie doing the same as Vinny, as here
Eddie reacts in disbelief at Vinny’s actions.

Centre number: 14378

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 Candidate name: Shahd Ahmed
Candidate number: 0112

Moreover, Miller explores how Marco does not understand why the written law
forbids him from getting revenge and taking justice into his own hands after Eddie
reports him and Rodolpho to the Immigration Bureau. When Alfieri explains this to
him, he factually states, “In my country, he would be dead now.” The short sentence
length represents how it is simple to him that he should be able to punish Eddie
himself, which is normal in Italian culture. He finds it unusual that neither him nor the
law can punish Eddie, when he strongly feels that he has been wronged by him, and
asks Alfieri why “there is no law for that?”. Miller’s choice to use this questioning and
perplexed tone implies that Marco does not see the use for American law, when it
does not equate to justice in his eyes, and the audience may sympathise with him for
this reason.

Miller ends the play by expressing the idea that following the law is better than
seeking justice or taking it into your own hands, especially as the audience
witnesses Eddies downfall. After Eddie dies, Alfieri emerges from the crowd and the
lights go down, “leaving him in a glow”, which would separate him from the tragic
scene around him. Miller emphatically suggests that people should compromise and
follow the law, rather than impulsively risk everything, through the repetition in his
final comments about how “now we settle for half …it is better to settle for half”,
which was also repeated in his opening speech. During Alfieri’s final words, “the dull
prayers of the people” can be heard, and a mournful and sombre atmosphere is
created by the sound of this.

In conclusion, the events in A View from the Bridge illustrate how the law cannot
satisfy everybody, and that vengefully seeking justice will end in tragedy. Moreover,
Alfieri remains a key character in Miller’s portrayal of justice and the law, as he
“bridges” the Italian and American perspectives on them since he was born in Italy
and migrated to the US, as well as the fact that the play is told from his rational
perspective.

Centre number: 14378

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