Moments of dramatic tension Essay Example for Free

Moments of salient tension EssayChoose two scenes which you consider to be particularly interesting moments of dramatic tension. Write virtually why they are especially dramatic and why they are important in the playFor this essay I am going to concentrate on the scene at the end of act one in A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller. In the previous scene Eddie, the main character, has yet been to see Alfieri, a lawyer who once represented Eddies father and also the narrator for this play, for legal and moral advice on what to do. Eddie is confused and needs someone to plain him in the right direction. I know this because Alfieri said that his eyes looked handle tunnels. Eddie feels that Rodolfo is gay and is only after his pas entertainment. Another reason Eddie is confused is that he loves Catherine besides much. Alfieri has just told Eddie that there is no occasion that Eddie can do apart from go to the Immigration Bureau or accept the situation and be happy for the two. This leads into this essays scene. It is hardening in the apartment and opens with Catherine talking about Marco and Rodolfos trip to Africa. I guess that the tension begins to grow when Eddie dismisses her excitement. I think this because I rely Eddie is trying to not think about Rodolfo so is saying so what if they have. It is obvious that Eddie actually is interested when he says How long that take you, Marco. Eddie is directing this conversation at Marco and has interpreted Rodolfo out of the conversation. This shows that Eddie does not like Rodolfo and would rather not think of him.The conversation then carries awhile the tension decreases and the entire family is now into the conversation. Eddie then belittles Beatrice in front of everyone. Beatrice never knew that sardines could not be caught with a hook. I think that this the tension increases with this. Eddie and Beatrices relationship has not been smooth lately and this didnt help.To release the tension Eddie comes up with a joke. He says that oranges are green and are painted to give them colour. Rodolfo then belittles Eddie by saying pointing out the obvious and saying that lemons are green. I believe he did this because the one of the themes of the book is family loyalty and I think he said this to captivate r unconstipatedge for Beatrice. This causes the tension to develop more. Eddie does not want to even talk to Rodolfo let alone be disrespected by him. The tension is then released by Beatrice who changes the topic.This conversation too caries on for sometime and Eddie makes another joke. Eddie says they study the kids and theres a couple extra than when they left? Rodolfo then says that it is stricter in Italy than it is in Brooklyn. Eddie lets offended by this because Rodolfo is saying that American girls (e.g. Catherine) are easier. I believe that the dramatic tension at this point is mellower than any part before it. Miller shows the tension by writing stage directions for Eddie t o rise and footstep up and down. There is then a conversation between Eddie and Rodolfo. Eddie is comparing Rodolfo and Catherines relationship to how one would be in their town in Italy. Beatrice takes Rodolfos side in this transmission line as she knows where it is going. Marco takes Eddies side as he doesnt want any trouble. Marco also tells Rodolfo off and it is clear that Marco wants this argument to end. An argument begins between Beatrice and Eddie then. They are arguing whether a person is safer during the day or at night.The tension is still on high alert when Catherine asks Rodolfo to leaping deliberately to annoy Eddie and show him that nothing testament come between the twos relationship. Rodolfo decides not to as he knows that he has already pushed Eddie enough but eventually gives in.Once again Beatrice lowers the tension by ever-changing the topic. The focus goes back to fishing and it is soon revealed that Rodolfo can cook. Once Eddie hears about it he talks and implies Rodolfos homosexuality but Rodolfo takes it as a compliment. Catherine says that he could get a lot of money with these skills and Eddie agrees with her. Eddie says that if he had the skills he would be no where near the waterfront.The tension is rising again as Miller then wrote that Eddie was unconsciously twisting the newspaper. Everyone knows what he is doing so he carries on the speech. While he is talking the newspaper rips in half. I think that this gets everyone nervous and the scene gets more tense. I believe that it signified Eddie getting an idea in his head, like a light bulb above someone on TV when they get an idea.He asks Marco if he wants to go to see a fight next week. He also asks Rodolfo trying to see his reaction. Boxing is a masculine sport and he thought he was asking a woman. Catherine believes that Eddie is being nice now so she goes to get some coffee. At this point of the scene I think that it is not as tense as it just was but I think that everyone is still nervous. Eddie and Rodolfo then begin to spar and I believe that the audience are now at the edge of their seats waiting to see what will happen. Everyone is impressed thinking that Eddie is making the effort to try to like Rodolfo, but then Eddie comes with a trick attack and lands a blow on Rodolfo. It then becomes clear what Eddies intensions were, he wanted an excuse to take his enkindle on Rodolfo out. Rodolfo does not want to make anything worse so he says that it didnt hurl him and only surprised him. The tension once again is high and Rodolfo asks Catherine to dance to annoy Eddie. He is saying that nothing will get between Catherine and his relationship.Marco then comes and sits a chair in front of Eddie. He challenges him to lift to it from the bum with one hand. Eddie thinks that this will be easy but soon finds out that it isnt when he fails. Marco then lifts it above his head to show that he is stronger. Until now Marco had ever so been on his side by apolo gising for his brother, Rodolfo, but Eddie has now lost his only supporter. The tension rises as they stare at each other and Marco smiles. Another thing that adds tension here is the stage directions. They say that Marco held the chair like a weapon. This creates tension as it shows that Marco is threatening Eddie. The scene finished with the tension very high and with Eddie physically threatened.In this scene Arthur Miller has used many ways to show the tension rising. One of these was writing the stage directions. This creates visual images which are really important as they stress the tension it shows the reader what the audience sees and also shows the tension. Another way he showed the tension was by making the sentences longer. This slows down the pace of the play and created tension. Another way he shows tension is by adding pauses. These add silence and make the audience/reader want to know what happens next. It also gives a moment for the tension to rise.