Stage Drama's can confirm or challenge our values by presenting characters in conflict with these values. Show how this is done in "A View from the Bridge".
In a stage drama there are many values that are shown throughout the performance. Some of these values can either be confirmed and follow the dominant ideology of the audience, whereas others can be challenged where the audience's ideology disagrees with the values the play is showing. "A View from the Bridge" by Arthur Mills shows the values of law, honour and family love. Two characters that appear to be in conflict with these values are Eddie and Alfieri.
In "A View from the Bridge" Eddie is the typical hero of the story however like most other heroes Eddie has his heroic flaw. Although Eddie generally seems to place himself in top priority and consider himself more than others he still has a lot of love for Catherine. Although Eddie wants the best for Catherine the decisions he makes, that he thinks are for her own good, are rather stupid, and he only makes them because he loves her so much that he wants her for himself.
Eddie challenges the value of family honor because there are a few scenes in the play that seem to state Eddies love for Catherine goes too far, and that it is not merely the love a father figure shows to his niece. This is inferred through his huge attention payed to Catherine and his over protectiveness of her. This is shown many times throughout the play by Eddie having a lot of attention for Catherine and his marriage doesn't seem to be running all that smoothly, full of problems and arguments. Eddie is very possessive of Catherine which he seems to think is because of his family position, because Eddie is the man of the house. However this isn't fully comprehended until the end of the play when Eddie is talking to Rodolpho demanding his name from Marco (p82-83).
"BEATRICE: that's not what you want.
