the word but Beatrice makes it clear that she has helped to foster Eddie?s
feelings for her, from her girlish affection. Beatrice uses the fact again and
again that she is independent, grown up and the fact that Eddie has no control
over her actions.? We see Catherine?s
response to Eddie?s thoughts as self-doubt, becoming reluctant to hurt his
feelings.? As Catherine grew up she saw
Eddie as her father figure and for this has much respect for him. Beatrice
knows there is this sense of jealousy, ?If it was a prince came here for you it
would be no different.? There is definite discomfort now in Catherine as well
as Beatrice although more hidden, and this mirrors how they act towards him and
each other. ????????? IN the next scene Alfieri takes part
as a normal character. He does not abandon his chorus role, however he
introduces Eddie with a brief speech and links the next section with another
soliloquy.? His certainty of disaster
communicates itself to the audience. It is almost as if Eddie?s destiny has
over taken him, and as if he has already committed the crime, he is filled with
guilt and revenge but has so far held this all in.? Alfieri?s tone and context always follow the main idea of law, ?I
don?t understand what I can do for you. Is there a question of law somewhere??
He repeats throughout words such as ?law,? ?legal,? ?proof? and ?nothing to be
done.? This contrasts Eddies words, ?I know,? ?I mean,? ?I see? and ?right.?
They are talking two different types of evidence, natural and legal leaving
Eddie with what he thinks is the only right one. ????????? Alfirei is very observant as a lawyer,
?Eddie. She can?t marry, you can she.? It is becoming obvious to him Eddie is
jealous of Rodolpho as he easily detected this, Eddies thoughts are very
confused, ?What?re you talking about, marry me! I don?t know what the hell your
talking about.? His reaction to the truth being revealed is to block it out of
his mind and deny any knowledge of knowing what Alfieri is talking about.? He continues to act as if it never happened,
?im- (He feels the threat of sobs, and with a helpless wave) I?ll see you
around.? To avoid the awkward situation, he leaves in shame. ????????? Alfieri, even as a powerful figure in
society himself feels he can do nothing. ?I knew where he was going to end I
was so powerless to stop it.? This he reveals in his scene summary. In the next
scene all the household characters are involved. This is an ideal opportunity
to view as the audience how they now react toward each other in the
confinements of the social surroundings. Eddie is still frustrated with
Rodolpho, ?I know lemons are green, for Christ?s sake.? To add criticism also
makes the joke of Italian women not holding their responsibilities, but is also
again able to twist the tension of his remarks to warn Rodolpho about the
strictness in the area, ?it ain?t so free here either.? Rodolpho is able to
pick this up, ?well I always have respect.? His comment also reveals he is
aware of Eddies concern. Marco probably feels he must keep respect for Eddie,
?You come here early now.? Taking the side of Eddie. ????????? Catherine conveys her anger to Eddie
for humiliating her and also indicates she is aware of Eddie?s actions. She
does this by playing the record ?paper doll.? It is the natural law of revenge
and has more significance to him, as it is Rodolpho?s nickname from working on
the dock.? Eddie is becoming frustrated,
?Eddie turns his head away.? His first reaction to this is to act as if he has
not realised her rebellious state. However this soon changes, ?Its wonderful,
he cooks, he sings, he could make dresses.? This also re-emphasizes the
contrast with his brother and the typical Italian image.? Eddie?s
own dialogue now reveals a different side to him, which is perhaps just a cover
up to give a fake image of how he really feels. In it he addresses Beatrice,
telling her how if he had the same ?talents? as Rodolpho, they would be living
a better life somewhere else. Eddie would prefer if Rodolpho was not around,
?That?s why the waterfront is no place for him.?? Eddie thinks Rodolpho would not be able to cope in a fight
situation and teaches him how to box, ?Just put your hands up like this.?? It is important to remember that Eddie is
using the situation to release his own tension, being in the position to hit
Rodolpho but get away with no physical conflict. ?Marco is able to notice Eddie?s jealousy,
?can you lift this chair?? This is a subtle test of Eddie?s strength. It is an
important quote as it is his warning and a threat, and is aware of Eddie?s
actions to his brother. The scene is charged with suppressed violence and connects
with how Italians are loyal to their family, ?Eddie?s grin vanishes as he
absorbs his look,? physical strength is admired yet feared. The audience can
easily see how the position of Marco and Eddie gives the visual impact of
threat and superiority. ????????? We now see how Eddie?s
excuses have worried Catherine and made her feel guilty, ?Suppose I wanted to
live in Italy.? This is her test for Rodolpho?s devotion to their relationship.
Rodolpho, although rejects her idea still passes the test, showing his care for
Catherine?s well being, but emphasizing the difficulties of work and money
problems that they would find. This restores Catherine?s confidence in his love
and devotion to her, removing any doubts of Eddie?s idea, ?Passport to
freedom.? ????????? Eddie has lost control over the situation. Although
he is drunk and this partly excuses his actions, the effects have obviously
made him reveal his true thoughts in a disastrous way. To add to the unnerving
atmosphere he becomes further enraged by the fact Catherine and Rodolpho have
been disturbed as they rush out of her room. Eddie is unreasonable and
irrational, ?Pack it up. Go ahead. Get your stuff and get outa here.? he orders
Rodolpho to leave even though he is innocent of any wrong doing, Catherine is
confident Eddie is wrong, ?(Trembling with fright) I think I have to get out of
here, Eddie.? She is obviously scared and although confused from the change of
character knows she is in danger. Reinforcing her intentions to leave but still
feels she is letting Eddie down, ?(She sees the tears in his eyes)? Eddie
although feels further than ever from Catherine, tries to stop her leaving
using the shocking action of kissing her.?
As Rodolpho intervenes, he kisses him too. There is symbolism in how
Eddie tries to portray that there is no difference between kissing a woman and
Rodolpho, and this adds to the idea of him being feminine. For the first time
now, Catherine uses physical force to stop Eddie, and this reveals she is
angered to the point feels she must stop him. Catherine and Eddie?s
relationship is now so badly damaged it would be improbable they could repair
it.? Eddie visits Alfieri again and it reveals how
helpless he is and that this is a last desperate attempt to prevent them
getting married. A striking simile here is ?His eyes were like tunnels? this
phrase could resemble a missing fulfilment in Eddie?s life or perhaps a
frightful sense of danger waiting to be released.? Alfieri becomes irritated at Eddies persistence, ?morally and
legally you have no rights.?? This only
makes Eddie more frustrated by the lack of legal rights to intervene. The only
option he can see is to call the immigration office reporting Beatrice?s
cousins. This connects ironically back to the story of Vinny Bolzano and how
shocked he was to hear about it, although now he is playing, without realising
it, the role of Vinny himself.????????? Beatrice is another character who adds
to the guilt he feels, ?(He gets up, moves about uneasily, restlessly.? This
comes from her continual accusing of Eddie. To add to this dramatic irony
Catherine makes him feel more ashamed, her news of marrying earlier for fear of
the immigrants being caught. Eddie has confused feelings and is agitated, ?I
realise I kept you home too much.? This is his first apology for his actions,
however it has taken a lot to get this from him.????????? We
see how Eddie?s character has now changed, ?get them out.?? He constantly worries about the two
immigrants from Lipari?s family, as this will increase knowledge of what he has
done. Up to the entrance of the immigrant officers Eddie becomes understandably
more frantic, Catherine and Beatrice could seem a little naÏve, ?She stands a
moment in realised horror.?? They only
realised what has happened at the point of the officer?s entrance, which astonishes
them. Marco is also shocked, ?he spits into Eddies face.? This shows his
disgust; Eddie does not seem to understand the concept of natural law, though
when it is being used on him, ?Oh, you mothers-!? He is also threatening, ?I?ll
kill you for that.? Although it is just a play it is still shocking to read how
outrageous his response to Marco?s action are, and how from now all Eddies
vengeful feelings are directed to Marco, instead of Rodolpho.Now that the immediate neighbourhood have been alerted,
Marco sees this as the ideal opportunity to take further revenge by exposing
what Eddie has done, ?That one, he killed my children!? although he changes the
truth his accusation is still just as shocking. This obviously has a powerful
effect as everyone now turns their backs physically and mentally leaving Eddie
by himself in shame.????????? The situation has now for the first
time brought Rodolpho and Marco to Alfieri for the first ?law? situation, also
Alfieri?s knowledge as a lawyer can be used for effect. Alfieri understands how
Marco must feel against Eddie, ?You won?t touch him. This is your promise?
Alfieri still believes Marco will look for revenge.? Catherine has lost all respect for Eddie, emphasising to Rodolpho
how they must move on from here. This contrasts deeply how she felt at the
start of the play.? Marco is looking to
get back Eddie, ?The law, all the law is not in a book.? Marco is emphasizing
that it is natural law for him to get revenge for what he feels is a traitor to
his country.The next scene shows how although their marriage has
been shaken, Beatrice and Eddie are still together. This must come from a solid
feeling of love for him and how Beatrice will always support him. As they talk
it is revealed Eddie is still after his ?respect,? and an apology from
Marco.? As Catherine enters, she
rebellious to Eddie, ?How can you listen to him? This rat.? Repeating the fact
Eddie should never of been able to tell anyone what to do. It has a greater
impact as it reflects on her own personal ordeal. Beatrice is also worried
about Eddie?s reaction, ?Shut up Katie.? She reveals this by trying to quieten
Catherine. This however only has the opposite effect by emphasising Catherine?s
comments. Eddie has lost control and has a sense of almost madness, ?Eddie
seems about to pick up the table and fling it at her.? Eddie is only after
revenge to Marco who humiliated him earlier and seems unstoppable in his quest.
Rodolpho?s a ?peace maker? trying to stop any violence from erupting, ?I wish
to apologise.? His own guilt that Eddie created makes him feel he must do this.
Eddie is persistent for his respect, ?He?s got my name.? At this point Beatrice
is also trying to stop the inevitable, ?You want something else, Eddie, and you
can never have her!? Like Alfieri, she reveals the truth about his feelings for
Catherine, They are both horrified by this, but before any real feelings are
expressed, the entrance of Marco adds further tension. This is an unstoppable
explosive situation as they are both looking for revenge. Eddie shows he is
more enraged first, ?I want my name, Marco.? Trying to show it is more his
fault, before taking the first move against him.?We now see
how that, because Marco is stronger than him, Eddie relied on using a knife to
give him the upper hand. It also shows how he had the intentions to prepare
this for when he met up with him, and that his actions were not encouraged at
the time. There is symbolism that Eddie brought his death on himself.?? As Alfieri started the play he now finishes it leaving
the audience shocked from the twist in the storyline and to think for
themselves about what has just happened. This dramatic device is used with
great effect.To summarise the play we need to understand why the
action took the course it did. We know from the start that Eddie brought up
Catherine in perhaps the wrong way, it is displayed throughout the play and
although she fostered his feelings, he could have changed. To begin with
Catherine had a lot of respect for Eddie adopting her but she realises herself
through Eddies continuous jealous actions, he is wrong.? I personally feel as a play, Arthur Miller
created Catherine to act this way as a sympathy tool for the audience, by
including her, the audience can relate to her and easily distinguish the so
called ?good and bad? characters of the play. ? The
characters actions are only brought around by love and it is this that fuels
the violence.? Catherine?s love for
Rodolpho is real but as Eddie indicated, I feel that she is perhaps just taking
the first man she can, to become more independent. She has love for Eddie as a
father, but this is soon smashed by his jealous actions.? Eddie loves Beatrice as his wife struggled
to have only ?fatherly? love for Catherine. Beatrice always loved Eddie but
this is complicated by his feelings for Catherine. We even see Marco has
genuine love for his family, not just in helping his brother but also by his
intentions to help his family back home.The other main factor that circulates the play is
the family loyalties: Beatrice and her cousins, Marco and his wife, Eddie and
his family and even the Lipari household. The problem is, the hatred and love
go against the family connections.? This
only ends in tragedy as the situations only complicate others further, and if families
are betrayed it can bring whole communities of people against one other.? In this case it was Eddie Carbone, the
seemingly innocent hard worker and ideal family figure.??????????? ? ?