A View from the Bridge, by Arthur Miller, is a study in manipulation. Throughout the text, the main characters of Eddie, Catherine, Beatrice, Rodolpho and Marco both struggle to dominate others and accept being dominated. The lines of power are drawn quite clearly to begin with; Eddie is evidently the dominant power-holder. However throughout the narrative there is a shift in power, and those who once held little sway over others become the deciding forces. This transfer in power becomes apparent to the reader through a variety of techniques, such as dialogue, stage directions (for example, the chair-lifting incident), and non-verbal interaction between the characters. A View from the Bridge is a text which appeals to the reader's understanding of the characters by forcing audiences to understand their hierarchy, and thus contributes to the evaluation of the transfer of power between individuals and the manipulation of others.…
