A View from the Bridge
Major characters
Marco:
Summary:
Marco is intelligent, polite and perceptive. He observes the
‘play-fight’ between Eddie and Rodolpho and perceives
that Eddie’s deeper intentions to hurt Rodolpho. The
incident where he lifts the chair at the end of Act One is his warning to Eddie
not to cross Rodolpho again. This is a clear example
of quiet and controlled strength which he keeps firmly under control throughout
the play until the final scene where he unleashes his passionate anger against
Eddie. Most importantly, he has a passionate sense of honour and when Eddie
acts dishonourably by betraying his family, Marco seeks
the retribution that he thinks is appropriate: Eddie’s death. Marco does not
share Alfieri’s version of the law, which is simply rule-following. Marco
thinks that it is up to man to avenge injustices whereas Alfieri believes that
only God can dispense retribution and, hence, justice. Miller seems to be
trying to create the impression that, while Alfieri’s version of justice is
calmer, more sensible and safer, Marco’s version is more moving and
captivating, in fact almost intoxicating.
Quotations:
|
Page No |
Quotation |
Explanation |
|
26 |
In the stage instructions Marco is described as ‘a square
built peasant of 32, suspicious, tender, quiet voiced.’ His first words are
‘Thank you.’ |
|
|
27 |
‘[Marco comes with a certain formal stiffness to Eddie.] I
want to tell you now Eddie that when you say go, we will go.’ |
|
|
28 |
His answers to questions are short, with regards to work
he is looking for ‘Whatever there is, anything.’ and
in response to questions about the conditions in |
|
|
29 |
When Rodolpho is over-excited
about the work they can do and the money they can earn, Marco ‘[Raises a hand
to hush him.] |
|
|
30 |
When he hears that they can earn thirty to forty dollars a
week in the |
|
|
31 |
Of Rodolpho’s plans to buy a
motorcycle, Marco says ‘When you have no wife you can have dreams.’ |
|
|
32 |
‘I say [Marco’s singing at the hotel was too loud]. I knew
it as soon as he started to sing. Too loud …They paid for your courage. The
English like courage but once is enough. |
|
|
37 |
Mike describes Marco as ‘That older one, boy, he’s a regular
bull … he woulda load the whole ship by himself.’
Louis adds ‘He’s a regular slave.’ |
|
|
52 |
When Beatrice asks if his wife is pretty, Marco says
‘[blushing] No, but she understands everything.’ |
|
|
53 |
When Eddie is upset about Rodolpho
and Catherine’s dating, Marco says ‘If he does wrong, you must tell him.’ |
|
|
58 |
After the boxing match ‘with strain [he] slowly raises the
chair.’ ‘face to face with Eddie a strained tension grasping his eyes and
jaw, his neck stiff, the chair raised like a weapon … transforms what might
be a glare of warning into a smile of triumph.’ |
|
|
78 |
‘In my country he [Eddie] would be dead now.’ ‘Such a
promise [not to kill] is dishonourable’. It appears to be ‘a new idea’ when
Alfieri says that personal revenge is not the only way to deal with this
situation. Marco however, believes ‘All the law is not in a book.’
and when there is no law for his revenge Marco says ‘I do not understand this
country.’ |
|
|
78 |
Even though he must go back to |
|
|
84 |
‘Animal! You go on your knees to me!’ |
|