Arthur Miller uses Alfieri for Dramatic Essay

In the second part of his speech, Alfieri brings about a notion of tragedy, ‘Another lawyer, quite differently dressed, heard the same complaint and sat there as powerless as I, and watched it run its bloody course. ‘ This gives the audience a hint as to what is going to come ahead. The fact that Alfieri speaks in the third person indicates that the calamity has already happened and he was powerless to stop it. The idea of fate and destiny and destiny is also brought about. When Eddie, the protagonist of the play is introduced the scenario of a typical Greek tragedy is set up. Eddie is a good person but he has a flaw; his obsessive love for his niece, Catherine. If he is then put in an appropriate circumstance where his weakness is tested, he is likely to encounter tragic circumstances. The next time Alfieri addresses the audience the story has already been put into context. The audience are unaware of Eddie’s love for his niece and he could be easily mistaken as an over protective father. Eddie pays for her typing lessons and has ambitions for her to rise to a different class. ‘You ain’t all the girls. ‘ He is proud of her looks, yet concerned she will attract the wrong sort of men. ‘The heads are turning like windmills. ‘ In addition Eddie finds it difficult to admit that Catherine has become an independent woman. ‘I guess I just never figured†¦ that you would grow up. ‘ This Alfieri soliloquy helps the plot to progress. Again he uses the past tense, reminding us that he is recalling something which has taken place. Eddie is described as good and hardworking man, the audience can therefore sympathise and even like him. However Eddie has a fate and destiny which he cannot control. Towards the end of this short appearance, Alfieri notifies us on the arrival of the cousins and the play again unfolds. Subsequently we meet Alfieri who again mentions Eddie’s destiny. ‘Eddie Carbone had never expected to have a destiny. ‘ Yet again we are given the impression that Eddie is a good person and is someone you would expect to have a fairly normal life. ‘A man works, raises his family, goes bowling, eats, gets old, and then he dies. ‘ However we are reminded as Alfieri closes his speech that Eddie does have a flaw and as a result there will be devastating consequences. As a result of which, the audience are left in suspense and uncertainty as to what is to come ahead. ‘There was a trouble that would not go away. ‘ His next appearance is one of the most important in the play. Alfieri begins by saying how he is acquainted with Eddie and his family, which helps to put his relationship with the husky, middle-aged longshoreman into context. He then reveals that Eddie came to visit him in the first instance. ‘I remember him now as he walked through my doorway – his eyes were like tunnels. ‘ Which indicates that Eddie was out of control and looked fierce. Alternatively this could make the audience feel concerned towards his actions and what is to come next. It is the first time in the play that Alfieri transforms from being a narrator to actually a part of the action. As an actor taking part in the action, both his language and behaviour are more formal. In terms of language, Alfieri is more articulate and elevated; his sentences consist of professionalism and throughout this scene he is the voice of reason and sanity as opposed to the prejudiced and hurt Eddie. However Eddie is aggravated by Alfieri’s clear and focused attitude towards the law, as Eddie cannot differentiate between the law and the justice of the vendetta. ‘But the law is very specific†¦ The law does not. ‘