Plot Summary of "A View from the Bridge" by Arthur Miller

Act One

Arthur Miller's "A View from the Bridge" opens in the 1950s in Red Hook, Brooklyn, a working-class Italian-American neighborhood. The play's narrator, Alfieri, a lawyer, introduces us to the protagonist, Eddie Carbone, a longshoreman living with his wife Beatrice and orphaned niece Catherine.

As the story begins, we learn that Beatrice's cousins, Marco and Rodolpho, are about to arrive illegally from Italy. Eddie, initially hesitant, agrees to house them. Catherine, now 17, is excited about her new job as a stenographer, but Eddie is overprotective and reluctant to let her work.

Eddie: "I don't like the looks they're givin' you in the candy store. And with them new high heels on the sidewalk - clack, clack, clack. The heads are turnin' like windmills."

This quote exemplifies Eddie's possessive attitude towards Catherine, foreshadowing the conflicts to come.

When Marco and Rodolpho arrive, tensions slowly begin to build. Marco, the older brother, is serious and focused on sending money back to his starving family in Italy. Rodolpho, younger and more carefree, quickly charms Catherine with his singing and vibrant personality.

As Catherine and Rodolpho grow closer, Eddie becomes increasingly agitated. He confides in Alfieri, expressing his concerns about Rodolpho's sexuality and intentions. Alfieri advises Eddie to let Catherine go, sensing a deeper, inappropriate attachment.

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

This pivotal scene reveals the true nature of Eddie's feelings for Catherine, setting the stage for the tragedy to unfold.

Act Two