Importance of Social Codes: A View From the Bridge by Arthur Miller
The social codes are the rules and laws followed by a particular community. Some of them might be against federal law. Social codes are equally important as federal law in society and community. Both of them have a significant impact on people's life. The Red Hook is an Italian-American community in Brooklyn, additionally, they have their specific Social codes. A View From the Bridge by Arthur Miller explores the idea of accepting and protecting illegal immigrants through the social codes that exist within the Red Hook community which heavily impact the behaviour of the characters through Eddie's behaviour and Marco's spiteful behaviour towards Eddie.
Eddie thinks federal law is useless and follows his social code at the beginning of the play, but his behaviour has changed with the violation of the social codes. The idea of accepting and protecting illegal immigrants through the social codes that exist within the Red Hook, Italian-American community heavily impacts on changing Eddie's behaviour. When Eddie asks Alfieri about how to stop Catherine from marrying Rodolpho, Alfieri says the only way is to report he is an illegal immigrant. Then Eddie says 'Oh Jesus, I wouldn't do anything about that, I mean'. Eddie refuses right after that, which shows he does not want to break the red hook social code, also shows how the red hook social code has an impact on his behaviour because even though he does not like Rodolpho, he does not want to break the social code to solve his problem at first. Show his anxiety and patience at the beginning, because if there are no social codes to constrain him, he probably ends up calling the police already. Which are states that social codes make his patient at least at the begging of the play. But after he has no idea what to do to stop them, he chooses to break the social codes. At the end of the play, Eddie raises a knife and he says that ‘You lied about me, Marco. Now say it. Come on now, say it’. When Marco exposes his breaks of the social code, he is quarantined by his neighbours and he lost his redemption. He became so rushed and easily provoked. This shows his careless and impatient behaviour towards Marco and others and shows the contrast with the beginning of the play. Because of breaking the social codes, costing Eddie behaviour changed, Eddie shows good behaviour at the beginning but ends up with bad, careless, and impatient behaviour. Because of the existence and break of social codes.
Marco thinks some social codes should be followed by his community. And, the idea of accepting and protecting illegal immigrants through the social codes that exist within the Red Hook, the Italian-American community of the play has a heavy impact on Marco's spiteful behaviour towards Eddie. When Marco takes advantage of the First Officer's being occupied with Catherine suddenly frees himself and points back at Eddie. Marco says ‘That one! I accuse that one’. One of the reasons Marco accuses Eddie is that Eddie breaks the social code of protecting and accepting immigrants in the Red Hook. Which Marco thinks everyone in the community should follow. At this point, Marco's behaviour towards Eddie starts getting rude and spiteful. Also, when his conversation with Alfieri about bailing them out, he says that ‘In my country, he would be dead now. He would not live this long’. Marco mentions his country which is also connected to red hook's social codes. Which he thinks Eddie's break of social codes is unforgivable. Both quotes from Marco show his behaviour towards Eddie as Aggressive, Argumentative, and Spiteful. Marco also spits in Eddie's face showing his behaviour towards Eddie who does not follow their social codes. He feels angry, hateful and betrayed towards Eddie. If there are no social codes, Marco's reaction probably would not be that spiteful. And his behaviour probably will not change that much. Because he would be the one against federal law and there are no other rules and laws to support his behaviour.
Through Eddie's change of behaviour and Marco's Spiteful behaviour toward Eddie, A View From the Bridge by Arthur Miller explores the idea that allowing and keeping illegal immigrants through the social laws and rules that exist within the Red Hook Sicilian neighbourhood of the play has a significant influence on people's way of treating others, by Marco's accusation of Eddie, The Way Eddie is against marriage and his careless and impatience at the end. Tell people that sometimes the social codes are as important as federal laws. And breaking the social codes might end up with worse situations than against the federal Law and also, change of behaviour. As a human, it is hard to stay away from society and community. The actual problem that led to the social codes led to the downfall is not the society and community, but the real reason is themselves, the violation of the social codes with loss of redemption and respect. When people do not care about how others think of them, breaking social codes is not a problem anymore. People should try to follow both social laws and federal laws at the same time. But always remember that federal law is above social law. If people break the social law, they could change the environment and stay away from them. Do not let the social rules ruin people's entire life.
