How effectively did the Liberal government meet the needs of the British people

The Liberal government implemented a number of reforms some of which were helpful to the public and some of which were not. The Liberal welfare reform legislation was grouped into five main categories. The first of these was the Young people, this included the Education (Provision of Meals) Act 1906, the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act 1907, and the Children Act 1908. The second group was the Old people there was only one reform in this group, however it was a very significant one, the Old Age Pensions Act 1908. The third group was the countries Sick people, again this only included one reform, the National Insurance Act Part 1 1911. The fourth category was the nations' workers, this included the Workmen†s Compensation Act 1906, the Coal Mines Act 1908, the Trade Boards Act 1909, and the Shops Act 1911. The fifth and final category was the counties vast Unemployed faction, this included the Labour Exchanges Act 1909 and the National Insurance Act Part 11 1911. The reforms were not accomplished over night, they introduced the reforms over a relatively long period of time. The Liberals introduced several reforms for children†s health, they initiated school meals (one per day), medical inspections, and the children†s charter. Since education became compulsory the teachers began to notice that lots of children were coming to school hungry, dirty or ill. Therefore in 1906 the government introduced legislation that compelled local government to provide free or subsidised school meals for all â€Å"poor† children. Most of the credit for this new law is accredited to two reports which were published in the wake of the Boer War: The Royal Commission on Physical Training in Scotland (1903) and the Report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Physical Deterioration. The introduction of these meals was not the be-all and end-all, by 1912 over half the local authorities had still not set up a school meals service. This reform was important for two main reasons. Firstly because it was the first step away from schooling and into the concept that welfare benefits could be granted to the poor without them having the debt or disabilities associated with the poor law. Secondly it was a step towards recognition that parents were not wholly responsible for their children†s undernourishment. Also that, with public support, needy children could be well cared for at home and did not need to be put into public or voluntary care. The second Liberal reform for Young people was the introduction of school medical inspections under the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act of 1907. The Government did not want this Act to be implemented because they felt they could not afford to treat the chronic health problems which would inevitably be discovered. However, administrative pressure from Robert L. Morant, the permanent secretary of the Education Board, who was in turn influenced by Margaret Macmillan forced the government to take action. This reform was particularly helpful because the Board of Education set up a medical department, and the gloomy reports from doctors led to the introduction of school clinics from 1912. These clinics were very good at identifying defects and illnesses. On the other hand the cost of treatment was often too great for some families and their children rarely received treatment. The final reform introduced by the Liberal Party for Young people was the Children†s Act of 1908, which later became known as the ‘children†s charter. † This legislation made it illegal for parents to neglect their children. There were several extensions of this which dealt with specific circumstances such as-Children under 16 were forbidden to smoke or drink and stiff penalties were brought in for shops which supplied them with alcohol of tobacco. This Act had no real significance as most of its finer points were contained in the parents morality or the two previous Acts, it only really served as a follow up to the main Acts. The next main reform introduced by the Liberal party moved away from Young people and to the opposite end of the scale with the Old Age Pensions Act of 1908. Basically the Liberals introduced a state pension for all people over seventy who had worked all their lives and could no longer work and they complied with the conditions- which were not too strict. This Act was the culmination of over 20 years of discussion of the topic of poverty among the elderly and it came about for two main of reasons. The first and in many peoples opinion the most important was the example of the monumental German state insurance and pension scheme. The second was that leading figures such as Joseph Chamberlain and Charles Booth had taken up the cause. The government miscalculated how many people would claim the pension. They had estimated 500,000 when actually 650,000 people applied and by 1914 this had increased to nearly a million. This fact show that the pensions were badly needed and wanted by Britain†s elderly community. Just how grateful people were for this pension is displayed by this quote â€Å"When the Old Age Pensions began, life was transformed for such aged cottagers. They were relieved of anxiety, and when they first went to the post office to draw it tears of gratitude would flow down their faces. Therefore we can see that people really did want state help but were â€Å"too proud to wear the badge of Pauperism. † The next reform dealt with the countries sick people, this was the National Insurance Act Part 1. After Lloyd George had completed his inspection of the German social insurance scheme, he was left in no doubt that Britain needed a much more comprehensive system. He was presented with immense pressure from the opposition such as friendly societies and doctors, however he was determined to build the scheme and not be bullied into submission. As a result of the opposition he had to modify his original scheme accordingly. It was basically an extension of the pension scheme and the concept was that the richer elements for the country should pay more so the poorer elements could contend with difficulties when old or sick. This budget was passed in 1910. This had the same effect as the pension scheme though on a smaller and less consistent scale. The next category for the Liberal reforms was the Countries workers, the Liberal government passed four Laws which are stated in introduction, they sought to improve working conditions, these included minimum wage, fewer hours, etc. These measures constituted a significant improvement for millions of workers, many of whom had no one to speak up for them. The fifth and final category was the unemployed. Up until the turn of the century unemployment was still seen partly as a moral problem of individual idleness and partly as a seasonal problem for certain industries such as shipbuilding and construction. Few people were willing to accept that it may be out of the individual workers control as a result of the lack of wide ranged evidence. The Labour Exchanges Bill was passed in September 1909 as a result of two reports and a book advocating their establishment. The basic idea was that a Labour exchange would allow employer and employee to register their requirements at one central location and could therefore have them met. They also had detailed information of job vacancies. By 1914 there were 430 exchanges throughout Britain and 3000 people were provide work through them every day so they were pretty important in relieving Britain†s unemployment problem. The second of the reforms for the unemployed was Unemployment Insurance. This scheme was worked out be Llewellyn Smith, the permanent secretary for the Board of Trade, and it was essentially Part 11 of the National Insurance Act 1911. By 1915 2. 3 million workers were insured. Admittedly this was a small proportion of the total working population, however it was accepted as the beginning of a much more comprehensive system. Between 1906 and 1911 the Liberal Government introduced all of the above reforms, this impressive list of social reform measures adds up to a significant shift away from minimum government and Laissez Faire. Many Historians argue that the current welfare state finds its origins in the Liberal reforms. This view is justified when one considers that old age pensions, safeguards against unemployment and illness are the basis of the modern welfare state. Consequently many historians believe that the Liberal reforms were extremely limited in scope and failed to deal adequately with the considerable welfare problems of housing and they did not attempt to set up a national health service. Moreover the reforms which were introduced were very limited: Pensions too low; health insurance did not cover employee†s family; and unemployment insurance only applied to seven trades. Obviously the effectiveness of the Liberal welfare reforms is debatable. By the standards of the time they were accepted as fundamental actions for social reform-some more so than others. On the other hand, looking back with our frame of reference (modern welfare Britain), the Liberal reforms appear to be severely inadequate. However, it is important to remember that both Lloyd George and Winston Churchill saw their reforms as only the first step.

Defining Modernity in America

When I think of modernity I think of change. Modernity is the act of how and why things progress, move forth and new ideas emerge throughout history. It is also the effect of these changes. Such changes can be seen from about 1400 to now. It is these changes that have occurred that allow us to live in a post modern society. Modernity is the act of change throughout history. Religion is constantly changing. This force unifies and separates people. Changes in religion occur for many reasons. Some may see any particular aspect of their religion overlooked and set out to tell people why we should reexamine our beliefs and change the method in which we worship. Martin Luther was on person who had seen how his method of worship should change. Ultimately he established a new form of Christian religion called Lutheranism. This movement and movements similar to his has changed the way some will worship for centuries. Of all the things that bring about new ideas and change discovery has to be perhaps the most influential to change. There are two ways in which discovery is accomplished one is to search for something new and the other is to make findings purely be accident. Both methods of discovery often happen through observation. The finding of Charles Darwin and his observation of finches is one of the most influential and controversial discoveries of our time. If not for his observations science and religion would be very different than they are today. If discovery leads to change then education must as well. Once education was only for the rich and powerful. But as education spread man has changed. Education has helped lead man to towards more knowledge changing how society and the individual thinks, acts, and socializes. This knowledge has allowed man to recreate him/her-self, it has given man the ability to logically act on choice and decide what is write or wrong. Many have said that education is the key. Believe this because imagine how many doors would still be locked without it. Becoming a global civilization is also an important part of our society. This has often been a goal of main stream culture throughout most of history. Through trade we have succeeded. International trade has allowed the world to communicate with each other. It also gives all countries around the world an standard idea of many cultures, who they are, how to interact with these cultures, the value of many resources and product. It also allows us to share ideas, learn, and make friends and unfortunately make enemies with other cultures. Technology has also changed our way and standards of living. It has changed how we live in the world that it has made. First from an agricultural society to an industrial society. What had come from industry is specialization and the standard work day. No longer were farmers the majority of the workers Many didn't work from morning to night, instead getting paid for what they produced people got paid for how long they worked. With this new technology there were such creations as the television, weapons of mass destruction, and eventually the computer. Now we have come from a society that produces things to a society that produces thoughts. Through technology of life styles have changed and will continue to change. Modernity is the process of change through out history. It how and why we as a society change. It is also how and why things progress, discovery effects us, and new ideas are born throughout history. Modernity is why we are effected by these changes. It is also these changes through out history that allow us to live in a post modern society. Modernity is the process and act of change through out history.

Visual Description & Personal Analysis Essays Essay

Visual Description & Personal Analysis Essays - Essay Example the body of the image, the overall work of the artist is quite fine as the amount of color power used was moderate for the viewer to understand what contents it ties to the real world. Due to its sound power of color for the image interpreted, from an atmospheric point of view, the image could have been taken from a close range or point of view. The aspect of chiaroscuro is, therefore, not presented at all as the image is very clear to both the reader and the viewer. In this image, the experience is very dim and thereby portraying that the atmospheric perspective point where the photograph was captured could have been at aver far distance or from an aerial point of view. There can articulation from this image that that the art of calligraphy was of low image as it its hue is much dim. The capturing of the photo is in an area that had very bright light hence interfering with the color strength of the experience of the product. From the look of the image, there is a depiction of the temperature of the image to be of that cool scenario due to the dimness of the image. The artist, therefore, could have used any of the complimentary colors that is either red and yellow or yellow and blue or yellow and violate to give the image the strongest contrast it could have. There is use of pointillism when viewed from a very close range since there are some small dots that could be seen at the background of the image. The small dots that the artist used during his painting work could also create an impression on the image as of rough texture surface. Rough texture may mean that the artist may not have been qualified nor intended to create a notable style or theme in the image to the respective viewer as every artist may have his or her own theme that he or she is trying to present to the viewer while designing his or her image. The proportionality of the image is also clearly brought as it tries to depict the entire environment as that of cool surrounding with the use of dim

Rhetorical Analysis of The Wire Season 4, Episode 1, 2, 3 Essay

Rhetorical Analysis of The Wire Season 4, Episode 1, 2, 3 - Essay Example The aim of creating this atmosphere will be examined further in this essay. The authors to a greater extent manage to convince the audience on the authenticity of their story which they to a greater extent manage to convey in a gripping and very realistic looking film. The way they employ their styles and stick to the same repeated way of telling the story lends an air of reality to the plot. The story is delivered in a documentary like fashion and this really goes a long way in giving it the ‘real’ feel. The audience will as a consequence tend to feel more at home with the film as it seems to speak to their inner self and seams to take place in the audiences familiar settings. In The wire season four episode number two, we find that both the language and the visuals work simultaneously to help bring out the intended messages very effectively. For instance we find the language used by the characters tend to authenticate their specific roles in the scene; in the scene whe re snoop buys a nail gun, the dialogue between snoop and the hardware attendant brings out the stark difference in the worlds that the two move and live in; for snoop the street slang drawn out talk she employs, brings out the street authenticity the author intended and the correct clipped language of the attendant helps in bringing out the contrast and difference between the two characters. In this episode, the authors are trying to convey several messages and they go about this by using filmic techniques that are meant to enhance the audiences’ easier understanding of the messages both inert and overt. The episode starts off with starts off with political power play with Mayor Royce being caught in a compromising situation by Herc a member of his security detail and as such both are considering what action to take to benefit their respective careers. The main message that comes out from this scene is the politics of contemporary Baltimore and the way the filmic techniques a re intertwined with the characters portrayal gives a wonderful end product where the audience feels that they are being let into the practices and lives of the high and mighty in Baltimore politics. In this scene, especially in the conversation scenes, the camera does not switch to the character speaking until that character has already commenced talking. This creates a feeling as though the cameraman didn’t know beforehand who is going to speak and when they will speak. The camera often seams to "sneaks up" on a scene as it is taking place. This creates the impression that we are eavesdropping on what is actually happening. This happens in the scene where the Mayor is caught having oral sex from his secretary and it enhances the viewers feeling that the two were caught unawares. The authors intended message from this was to portray through the techniques applied (especially the â€Å"sneaking up† on the mayor and his secretary) and the dialogue; the unalienable heady combination of power politics and sex with a degree of the powerlessness of some characters like the officer Herc. In the episode, the 4:3 aspect ratio chosen creates a feeling that the scenes are less inherently cinematic, which creates a more "real" scenario. It is very effective as it creates the impression that the scene is not actually a movie set bit rather it feels real. In the real like scenario

The Effect of Shoe Heel Height And Floor Incline Research Paper

The Effect of Shoe Heel Height And Floor Incline - Research Paper Example Discovered on Egyptian wall paintings dating back to 3500 B.C., high heels were owned by the privileged people and were made by fastening together leather parts, which were set to characterize the emblem for life. The prehistoric citizens of Renaissance, Rome and Greece would put on (kothorni) or buskins shoes with wood or cork soles. These shoes inferred social prominence and significance on the stage of a theater and on the streets of a civilization. Roman women were straightforwardly acknowledged as prostitutes by their high heels. The Middle Ages saw the entrance of designs, or wooden soles, which kept both sexes’ costly shoes from being stained by street rubbish. In the 1400s, chopines were massively prevalent among European women. Venetian women, in particular, made these seven or even thirty inch high heels conspicuous on the perilous Italian streets. For the reason that promenading requisite canes or servants for sustenance, escape from the harem was unmanageable. Chop ines were sooner or later banned for being too hazardous. Fashion dominated functions upon the official invention of high heels by the diminutive imminent Queen of France, Catherine de Medici. So as to appear more astounding and bewitching than her fiancà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s concubine, Diana de Poitiers, Catherine dressed on a pair of 2 inch high heels for her wedding to the Duke of Orleans. She thrived with monarch after monarch ensuing her high heel tendency. High heels turned out to be so well-liked that the word well-heeled acknowledged a person of power or wealth. After Catherine de Medici put on her heels, high heels instigated their strenuous journey through history.  

International Law Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Law - Dissertation Example But two aspects are fundamental to all political systems. One is that power--the ability to influence behavior--is the main means by which the political system directs behavior and allocates resources. The other is that law is always one form in which political decisions are formed and perpetuated. Law translates political decisions into binding instructions to the society's members about how to behave. This dependent relationship of law to politics has important consequences. Another thing that will be discussed in the paper will be Law and Politics. A brief introduction of how this portion will be discussed in the paper is as follows: One consequence is that the inadequacy of the contemporary political system to maintain social order reliably is necessarily reflected in the law. The insistence of states to be sovereign, i.e., to be their own ultimate authority in determining their behavior, disables the law to perform its ordering function most efficaciously. The immediate cause of this weakness is the diffused, horizontal distribution of power among states. The institutions that maintain an efficient legal system in national political systems are lacking. There is no central government, no formal legislature, no executive, and no fully developed judiciary, because sovereign states aim at performing all these functions for themselves and, if possible, for the entire society. Another consequence is that international laws, like all laws, mostly represent a prevailing power constellation in the society.

What have been the most frequently cited Bible passages used by Research Paper

What have been the most frequently cited Bible passages used by perpetrators of family violence to justify their actions and what are the common contours of those arguments - Research Paper Example This essay makes a literature review of frequently cited Bible passages perpetrators of family violence quote to justify their actions while also assessing the common contours that the arguments take. Fortune, Abugideiri and Dratch (2010) explores how misinterpretation of religious texts can have a detrimental result for members of the family when handling disagreements. The authors note that many confrontations within the family are as a result of facing a crisis in determining meaning in one’s life. The authors note that religion is the most preferred basis for individuals to try and identify meaning and direct their lives. However, since many individuals have a narrow grasp of the religious concept, they end up relying on inadequate religious resources to come up with solutions for complex human experiences such as domestic violence. Fortune, Abugideiri and Dratch (2010) cite Ephesians 5:22 and Colossians 3:18 as the misinterpreted parts of the Bible that perpetrators of violence in the family use to justify their violent actions to counsellors, members of the clergy, and to the victims of the abuse. The As a consequence of misinterpretation of religious doctrines indiv iduals end up suffering in the family due to the pain inflicted on them by spouses or other members. Cummings (2010) notes â€Å"My sheep hear my voice and another he will not follow† in John 10:27 as being among the verses that men cite to justify physical violence against their wives. As a Christian counsellor who specializes in women who are victims of domestic violence, the author creates a parallel between the sufferings of Jesus and what these women are going through. Cummings (2010) asserts that putting oneself in the position that Jesus was during his persecution will be an important step in determining the best step to be taken when one is hurt by the spouse. The author singles out the church as propagating domestic violence in situations where they

Thomas Payne's 'Common Sense vs. James Chalmer's Plain Truth Essay

Thomas Payne's 'Common Sense vs. James Chalmer's Plain Truth - Essay Example In Europe the concept of democracy was especially held in scorn. Underlying this attitude was the belief that the common man was incapable of ruling himself, being naturally lacking in intelligence, virtue and nobility. Thus monarchs appointed by God did the work of keeping the nations from dissolving into anarchy and barbarism. Great Britain in the 1700s was an example of a constitutional monarchy. It had a king, to be sure, but over the years he had gone from being an absolute dictator to one of many arms of government, with his power checked to a degree by charters, Parliament and the English public. To loyal English subjects this system seemed quite fair. It avoided the excesses of despotic rule while also ensuring that the ignoble peasants were kept in line. Even more, an ambitious commoner might even rise to a position of wealth and moderate prominence – though he would also be less than a nobleman. Examples of British subjects who attained these levels are George Washin gton, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, who would later be the chief architects of the American Revolution. For many in the American colonies, however, good old British rule was a silly anachronism that had to be swept away, so that the rightful rulers of society, the people themselves, could truly self govern. One of the most vocal and articulate of these libertines was Thomas Paine. Paine’s Common Sense was more than a political tract. it was in itself a revolutionary way of seeking political change. As mentioned before, the idea that the common person was qualified to judge matters of state was generally considered ludicrous. The established view was that people of superior breeding, with titles and possessing all the benefits of classical education, were the only ones who were competent to judge matters pertaining to a nation as a whole. Paine spoke directly against this view, calling the British monarchy a corrupt institution that governed poorly, oppressed the pop ulace and lived parasitically off of the fruit of other’s labors while producing little of value. In one section he says this most plainly: In England a king hath little more to do than to make war and give away places; which in plain terms, is to impoverish the nation and set it together by the ears. A pretty business indeed for a man to be allowed eight hundred thousand sterling a year for, and worshipped into the bargain! Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived. Paine advocated nothing less than the dissolution of the monarchy, to be replaced with a congress of representatives that would be directly elected by the people and directly accountable to them for their governing decisions. The congress would have a president that it would elect, and any legislation that became law would require a 60% majority of votes. The truly radical thing about Common Sense was not only the ideas it proposed but the wa y it which it did so. Prior to its publication political treatises were written by men of letters, and made copious references to medieval and Renaissance academics, renowned philosophers and scholars known only to the highly educated. Paine took a different approach. He used no Latin and no lengthy ivory tower arguments. Instead he wrote in direct, simple language easily understood by farmers, merchants and skilled trades people. (Smith 69)Even the

Daily plate Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Daily plate - Essay Example My diet consists mostly of beef, iced tea and fast food. Sometimes I would have chicken and fruit but these days were not very common. I also tend to skip meals due to a busy schedule. As a result, these occurrences are empty in the excel file. I know I can improve on the kinds of food I eat in order to have a more nutritious diet. I can plan accordingly so that the amount of food I eat corresponds to the food pyramid. (Food Pyramid, n.d.) I should try and eat more vegetables, dairy products and fish. I can also avoid skipping meals because this only makes me hungrier. Consequently, I end up eating more than what I should. I know a little fat is good for my body. Nevertheless, with the data I have gathered I believe I have been eating more than the proper amount of fatty foods. From now on, I believe I should be more aware of what I eat and the nutrients it can give me. This way I can monitor the amount of carbohydrates, fat and protein I take in. Reference: Food Pyramid. (n.d.) Retr ieved on April 20, 2011 from http://www.charantia.com/30-day-challenge/learn-a-healthy-lifestyle/food-pyramid/

Looking at the social comments Bennett Essay Example for Free

Looking at the social comments Bennett Essay For I could easily afford to keep my mother and wife too. This conveys that from Phillips point of view, women are the responsibility of men and this also reflects his upbringing as through the environment he has been brought up in, he has gained the arrogance of being able to believe that he is higher than women and that women to him, are something that must be brought in order to look after or keep them. Bennett stereotypes the arrogance of men in society through the assumptions that Phillip makes about his mother. This is shown as when in the text Phillip comes to know that dinner was set for three; he immediately thought that it was something to do with him, that his fianci e Agnes was arriving he did not consider the fact that the guest could be for his mother. By presenting Phillip like this, Bennett is suggesting that Phillip is portraying the arrogance of the male in society; However, Phillip can not be blamed for his attitude towards women in society as he was merely acting of the confines of the social rules within the society that he was brought up in at the time. This is shown as at the end of the story, Phillip realises that the arrogance he was brought up with was wrong as when Phillip realises that his mother is engaged, he states I had never thought of my mother as a woman with a future. By saying this, Phillip admits that his views were not necessarily correct as he never thought his mother had a future or a life of her own but after hearing the news of the engagement from his mother and Mr Nixon, he realises that he was wrong and admits this by simply stating we live and we learn. Through news of the engagement Bennett shares the views of Phillip towards the relationship between him and his mother, leaving the reader to assume that Phillips mother has an unfair status within society and that her views are different to those of her sons views. This is shown as Phillip wouldnt share his personal matters with his mother, he tells the reader this by stating .. you cant write even to your mother.. In cold blood: I think Agnes likes me by saying this, Phillip is implying that his mother and him do not have a close relationship as he cant tell his mother about his engagement, he also shows that his mothers opinion doesnt count or matter as he states she might be a little bit hurt just at first . Here, Bennett insinuates to the reader that Phillip has been brought up to be independent enough to perform personal matters without involving his mother as she isnt very important to him; although he believes that he means everything to his mother as he is the only man in her life. However, nearly to the end of the story, the reader comes to know that Phillips mother feels exactly the way towards Phillip as he does towards her, this is shown as Mr Nixon states .. she couldnt have well written, My dear Phillip, an old friend, Mr Nixon, is falling in love with me and I believe Im falling in love with him. .. . This proves that Phillips mother is also a product of her environment as she also implies that she believes her sons opinion does not count or matter and that he does not need to be involved in her personal matters. This is very ironic as at the start of the story Phillips environment lead him to believe that he couldnt write in a letter to his own mother that he is getting engaged then, in the end, Phillip learned that his mothers environment also lead her to believe that she couldnt write in a letter to her own son that she is getting engaged, this changed Phillips views as he realises the irony and the views that his society and environment brought him to believe he admits his mistake by simply stating we live and we learn. Bennett simply comments on society, inferring simple messages such as we live and we learn, he does not criticise society through his stories, unlike Charles dickens, who sends highly critical messages across about society through his famous stories such as a Christmas carol and Oliver! . Bennetts stories are inferred comments about social and historical issues and how they are or should change, he explores the upbringing and status of the characters in news of an engagement and implies the change in society after the main character realises the irony of the relationship between him and his mother.

A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller | Analysis

A View from the Bridge by Arthur Miller | Analysis A View from the Bridge is a play set in Brooklyn in the 1950s and was written by Arthur Miller. He wrote this play based on different aspects in his life as he lived in Brooklyn as a child and worked in the Brooklyn shipyards like Eddie and befriended the Italians he worked with. Miller heard a story of some men coming over to work illegally and being betrayed which inspired him to write A View from a Bridge. It was originally a one act play, but he changed it into a two-act play later on. The play includes ideas from Greek tragedies, which is where the character of Eddie links into. Alfieri, another main character acts as a Greek chorus, a vital role in a Greek tragedy and he watches the action, comments on it and talks to the audience directly, like a narrator. We see him in many different roles throughout the play and each role adding to the dramatic impact of the play. The first role Alfieri takes on is as a narrator, which is at the start of the play. You wouldnt have known it, but something amusing has just happened. You see how uneasily they nod to me? Alfieri uses the word you to include the audience and to make them feel involved. Also, as the narrator he highlights the importance of certain scenes and actions, as after the scene when Marco and Rodolpho arrive, Alfieri starts to talk again saying Eddie Carbone had never expected to have a destiny implying that because Beatrices cousins have come to stay, something will change. Alfieri also mentions that we settle for half and uses repetition as in the first speech and the very last speech after Eddie has died he says that it is better to settle for half, it must be. By using the word we Alfieri is again involving the audience and making them think that they should settle for half as well as Eddie, and is therefore offering moral guidance to the audience. Furthermore by saying it must be better to settle for half, and using an imperative, Alfieri is trying to convince the audience and even himself that appreciating what youve got must be better than dying like Eddie did. When Alfieri is narrating the play, Arthur Miller uses dramatic devices for example using stage lights to focus on Alfieri, so the audience know what he is saying is very important. The title of the play A View from a Bridge has many different meanings, as it could be seen as Alfieris view from the bridge, as he is the one narrating the events and telling his view on the events that unfold. Furthermore the title is literally the play, which is set in Brooklyn Bridge and is about the community around the area and the actions that happen which Alfieri tells as a narrator. Also the bridge could be a metaphor for the differences between Alfieris view on justice and Eddies differing opinions and can also incorporate Alfieris view that we should settle for half as to do this you may need to compromise and meet in the middle, like the middle of the bridge. Another interpretation on the title is that the bridge is like a bridge between Eddies community in Brooklyn and Marco and Rodolphos community in Italy and they both have to understand each others way of life by using this bridge to help them. Another role Alfieri takes on is a character in the play as a lawyer. He gives Eddie advice on how to deal with Rodolpho and Catherine: Let her go. Thats my advice. You did your job, now its her life; wish her luck and let her go. The audience trust Alfieri, because of his character as a lawyer as more often then not they are seen to be trustworthy and reliable. As well as advising Eddie, he also warns him when he feels Eddie is going too far. Because of Alfieris narration running through the play, the audience can see that there is a theme of law and justice running through the play. He explains these themes by giving more information about the different communities telling the audience that the law has not been a friendly idea since the Greeks were beaten, implying that the Americans of Red Hook do not really believe in the law. Alfieri attempts to explain the law to Eddie and Marco, telling them that the law is nature. The law is only a word for what has a right to happen. So when Eddie chooses to find justice by his own means, Alfieri feels that he cannot get involved and he cant do anything to stop Eddie. In the first scene when Alfieri meets with Eddie as a lawyer he describes Eddies eyes like tunnels. This simile gives the impression of a dark journey ahead of Eddie and gives the audience an image that Eddie cannot escape his fate that has been predicted by Alfieri as the audience already know its going to happen. It could also suggest that Eddie was thinking deeply or that he had many dark feelings rushing around his head. In this scene Alfieri is powerless to prevent what is going to happen and this creates tension and suspense because the audience want to know what is going to happen next. I could see every step coming, step after step. Alfieri also acts as a warning sign, by preparing the audience for events that are about to happen. You wont have a friend in the world, Eddie! By using the phrase you wont Alfieri is warning Eddie that something is definitely going to happen and that he should be careful. As the weeks passed, there was a future; there was a trouble that would not go away. By using repetition, Alfieri is emphasizing the point that something is going to happen and is making the audience think through what will happen and why and therefore keeps them hooked. Arthur Miller uses dramatic irony as the audience and Alfieri know something is going to happen, however the characters in the play are oblivious to this. Alfieri informs the audience that his customers are prepared to settle for half, however in the final paragraph he tells the audience that something else is going to happen by using the phrase and yet. Alfieri uses the quote bloody course to paint an image in the audiences head of blood and violence and the images that are left in the audiences mind leaves them curious about the rest of the play which creates dramatic tension. It also shows Alfieris importance in the rest of the play, as it shows he is predicting the play and Eddies fate. In the last sentence of Alfieris first speech, he links to his past saying every few years there is still a case to tell the audience that this story will definitely be tragic. He then introduces Eddie: This ones name was Eddie Carbone, and the fact that Alfieri immediately mentions Eddie after talking about that culture of Red Hook and also speaks about him in the past tense shows that his fate has already come to an end and gives another indication that Eddie will die at the end of the play so the audience are left wondering not what will happen to him but how it will happen. The way in which this quote is presented shows that Eddie is one of many of Alfieris clients whose tragic story is like many others in Italy that die of unfair causes. The setting of Red Hook is a poor community and Alfieri creates the atmosphere of Red Hooks by describing it as the slum that faces the bay seaward side of Brooklyn Bridge. There is a lot of cultural context linked into the story as Alfieri comes from the same Italian background as Eddie; therefore he understands both American and Italian lifestyles and he helps the audience to understand the 1950s Brooklyn society in which the characters live. Alfieri also explains how the rich and the poor are divided in their community by their jobs and states that Eddie has a hard job as a longshoreman working on the docks. I often think that behind that suspicious little nod of theirs lie three thousand years of distrust. This is a quote that Alfieri says at the beginning of the play which gives the audience an insight into what Red Hook is like and suggests that there is a lot of dishonesty in the area. He mentions the characters Al Capone and Frankie Yale who were former Italians that had a history of crime and violence, In those days, Al Capone the greatest Carthaginian of all was learning his trade on these pavements, and Frankie Yale himself was cut precisely in half by a machine gun, he uses this quote to emphasise the case that he is about to handle which shows that it will be of violent nature and he also uses this quote to show that the play will end tragically. The audience sees Alfieri as a character in the play when Eddie goes to see him for advice. However Alfieri feels that he cannot help Eddie as he knows about the disaster that is going to happen at the end of the play so he feels powerless over Eddie as his friend and his lawyer and cannot prevent the decisions Eddie is choosing to make. Another role Alfieri takes on which is a very important part in the play is as a moral commentator. Alfieri gives his own views and opinions on the characters and their actions and this guides the audience rather than allowing them to make their own minds up. The audience has the same opinion of the narrator because Alfieri talks directly to them affecting their view on the situation and characters and they believe everything he says. Alfieri comments on Eddies moral character saying he was as good a man as he had to be in life that was hard and even, and he explains that Eddie is neither entirely good nor entirely bad. Alfieri only guides the audien ce influencing their opinion, but sometimes gives two differing opinions on Eddie allowing the audience to make up their own minds. In the play there are only two acts, which is unusual for a play; however there is many different things that happen in these two acts. As an audience we see that Alfieri is very important to the structure of A View From A Bridge as he is the character that opens the play and ends the play with his two dramatic speeches therefore adding to Alfieris dramatic impact to the play. Finally Alfieri acts as the Greek chorus in the play, explaining the events on stage to the audience without actually participating in them. He has to know a lot about each of the main characters and actions to be an effective chorus; however he communicates with the audience more thoroughly than with the characters, to inform them of the actions and thoughts of the characters. The idea of the narrator was developed in the Greek tragedies of the 5th century called the chorus who commented on the actions of characters in the play which is like Alfieri. A Greek Tragedy was originally a play that consisted of tragic events with a main character (like Eddie) whos fate would soon come to an end and usually die at the end. A View from a Bridge uses the conventions of a Greek Tragedy, as Arthur Miller used a final climax in the play where Eddie Carbone (one of the main characters) tragically dies, which suggests his play is based on a traditional Greek tragedy. In conclusion Alfieri helps contribute to the dramatic impact of the play in many different ways, because of his different roles but also because as an audience we know that what is going to happen as Alfieri predicted the events to come which adds tension and suspense. Throughout the play Alfieri keeps emphasizing that we should settle for half, which shows that Arthur Millar was trying to give a moral message to the audience and also society saying that they should settle for half, and always bring justice to the world as otherwise we might end up with Eddies fate. Bibliography www.bbcbitesize.co.uk www.sparknotes.co.uk