The entire world of A View from the Bridge is male dominated. As such, there's a lot of talk about what a real man is supposed to be like. The main character's ideas seem to be pretty traditional: big, strong, silent, hardworking. Things that he considers distinctly unmanly include: singing, sewing, cooking, and dancing. Don't get us wrong, the play doesn't champion these opinions. It just points out that they're there.
Questions About Men and Masculinity
- Would Rodolpho be considered unmanly today? How have attitudes changed toward gender roles? How are they the same?
- In what ways do the men in the play try to dominate each other?
- How would Eddie's opinion of Rodolpho be different if the boy was more like Marco?
- What actions does Eddie take that could be considered un-masculine?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
It's ironic that Eddie kisses Rodolpho to emasculate the young man.
In order to be a "man" in 1950s America, you had to maintain a certain level of dominance and power.