Explore the ways in which Miller makes this a powerful part in the novel
Explore the ways in which Miller makes this a powerful and disturbing moment in the play.
Miller makes this meeting between Alfieri and Eddie powerful and disturbing in many ways, mainly with the many climaxes when we feel Eddie is going to explode with anger and frustration but Alfieri calms him down with his appeasing words. This extract is a very gripping part of the play because it helps us understand both characters in different lights.
The quotation, ‘Eddie, I want you to listen to me,’ said by Alfieri shows that he is a very strong character and is not afraid to speak his mind. The fact that he says this to Eddie, who can be quite an intimidating character shows that he is determined and tenacious.
Alfieri uses indirect language a number of times in his opening speech. A quotation which supports this is, ‘ Every man’s got somebody that he loves, heh? But sometimes…there’s too much. You know?’ Here, he is referring to Eddie but he uses indirect language to make Eddie listen and also because it is a kinder way of putting things. This also shows that despite being a lawyer for many years and knowing that Eddie’s problem is not for the law to get involved in, he is still compassionate and caring. It shows the contrast between the two characters because if Eddie were in Alfieri’s place, he would probably show him the exit immediately. When Eddie says to Alfieri, ‘ He’s stealing from me,’ it could be interpreted by some members of the audience that he treats Catherine as an object because the word ‘stealing’ instantly makes us think of an item. The fact that he says ‘me’ as opposed to my family suggests that Eddie thinks that he is the sole owner of Catherine. The fact that he says this could be seen in a way that suggests that he doesn’t really love her and is just pretending that he cares for her because he detests Rodolpho. However, some members of the audience may think that his furious reaction is a sign that he genuinely loves her.
The many
Miller makes this meeting between Alfieri and Eddie powerful and disturbing in many ways, mainly with the many climaxes when we feel Eddie is going to explode with anger and frustration but Alfieri calms him down with his appeasing words. This extract is a very gripping part of the play because it helps us understand both characters in different lights.
The quotation, ‘Eddie, I want you to listen to me,’ said by Alfieri shows that he is a very strong character and is not afraid to speak his mind. The fact that he says this to Eddie, who can be quite an intimidating character shows that he is determined and tenacious.
Alfieri uses indirect language a number of times in his opening speech. A quotation which supports this is, ‘ Every man’s got somebody that he loves, heh? But sometimes…there’s too much. You know?’ Here, he is referring to Eddie but he uses indirect language to make Eddie listen and also because it is a kinder way of putting things. This also shows that despite being a lawyer for many years and knowing that Eddie’s problem is not for the law to get involved in, he is still compassionate and caring. It shows the contrast between the two characters because if Eddie were in Alfieri’s place, he would probably show him the exit immediately. When Eddie says to Alfieri, ‘ He’s stealing from me,’ it could be interpreted by some members of the audience that he treats Catherine as an object because the word ‘stealing’ instantly makes us think of an item. The fact that he says ‘me’ as opposed to my family suggests that Eddie thinks that he is the sole owner of Catherine. The fact that he says this could be seen in a way that suggests that he doesn’t really love her and is just pretending that he cares for her because he detests Rodolpho. However, some members of the audience may think that his furious reaction is a sign that he genuinely loves her.
The many