2 A View from the Bridge past extract questions - Foundation

10. A View From The Bridge
Answer both parts of (a) and either part (b) or part (c).
You are advised to spend about 20 minutes on part (a), and about 40 minutes on part (b) or part (c).
(a) Read the extract on the opposite page. Then answer the following questions:
(i) What do you think of the way Alfieri speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what
you say. [5]
(ii) What do you think of the way Eddie speaks and behaves here? Give reasons for what
you say. [5]

ALFIERI On December twenty-seventh I saw him next. I normally go home well before six,
but that day I sat around looking out my window at the bay, and when I saw him
walking through my doorway, I knew why I had waited. And if I seem to tell this like
a dream, it was that way. Several moments arrived in the course of the two talks we
had when it occurred to me how – almost transfixed I had come to feel. I had lost my
strength somewhere. (EDDIE enters, removing his cap, sits in the chair, looks
thoughtfully out.) I looked in his eyes more than I listened – in fact, I can hardly
remember the conversation. But I will never forget how dark the room became when
he looked at me; his eyes were like tunnels. I kept wanting to call the police, but
nothing had happened. Nothing at all had really happened. (He breaks off and looks
down at the desk. Then he turns to EDDIE.) So in other words, he won’t leave?
EDDIE My wife is talkin’ about renting a room upstairs for them. An old lady on the top
floor is got an empty room.
ALFIERI What does Marco say?
EDDIE He just sits there. Marco don’t say much.
ALFIERI I guess they didn’t tell him, heh? What happened?
EDDIE I don’t know; Marco don’t say much.
ALFIERI What does your wife say?
EDDIE (unwilling to pursue this) Nobody’s talkin’ much in the house. So what about that?
ALFIERI But you didn’t prove anything about him. It sounds like he just wasn’t strong enough
to break your grip.
EDDIE I’m tellin’ you I know – he ain’t right. Somebody that don’t want it can break it. Even
a mouse, if you catch a teeny mouse and you hold it in your hand, that mouse can
give you the right kind of fight. He didn’t give me the right kind of fight, I know it,
Mr Alfieri, the guy ain’t right.
ALFIERI What did you do that for, Eddie?
EDDIE To show her what he is! So she would see, once and for all! Her mother’ll turn over
in the grave! (He gathers himself almost peremptorily.) So what do I gotta do now?
Tell me what to do.
ALFIERI She actually said she’s marrying him?
EDDIE She told me, yeah. So what do I do?
Slight pause.
ALFIERI This is my last word, Eddie, take it or not, that’s your business. Morally and legally
you have no rights, you cannot stop it; she is a free agent.
EDDIE (angering) Didn’t you hear what I told you?
ALFIERI (with a tougher tone) I heard what you told me, and I’m telling you what the answer
is. I’m not only telling you now, I’m warning you – the law is nature. The law is only
a word for what has a right to happen. When the law is wrong it’s because it’s
unnatural, but in this case it is natural and a river will drown you if you buck it now.
Let her go. And bless her. (A phone booth begins to glow on the opposite side of the
stage; a faint, lonely blue. EDDIE stands up, jaws clenched.) Somebody had to come
for her, Eddie, sooner or later. (EDDIE starts turning to go and ALFIERI rises with new
anxiety.) You won’t have a friend in the world, Eddie! Even those who understand
will turn against you, even the ones who feel the same will despise you! (EDDIE
moves off.) Put it out of your mind! Eddie! (He follows into the darkness, calling
desperately.)