1. A View from the Bridge
The arrival of the cousins
The cousins, Marco and Rodolpho, arrive. Marco is the older, married one; Rodolpho
is younger, more lively and, to Catherine’s surprise, blonde.
Eddie and Bea make them welcome. They talk to the cousins about opportunities for
work in the US, and about life in Italy. Eddie quickly notices Catherine’s interest in
Rodolpho’s stories. (Remember, Catherine has not had a boyfriend nor has she
enjoyed much freedom; she only knows her immediate community and the
neighbourhood of Brooklyn.)
The audience notices, too. What clues are there for us that Catherine is interested in Rodolpho?
The audience also notices slight changes in the way Catherine reacts to Eddie,
compared to her behaviour earlier on.
Examples of this are:
Eddie shows his awareness, and disapproval, of Catherine’s interest in Rodolpho in a
number of ways.
For example,
In his stage directions, Miller makes it clear that Catherine has mixed feelings about
being told to change her shoes.
1. How does she feel and why?
2. What does she actually do?
3. What does this show us about her?
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