Again after Marco and Beatrice talk about Marco’s wife in Italy, Eddie makes a snide remark about Marco’s wife having a few extra kids while Marco is away. Marco then says it isn’t so free in their town. Then Eddie replies saying that ‘it ain’t that free here either’ then directly comparing it to Catherine’s and Rodolfo’s night out. Even though Rodolfo says he always has respect, Eddie says that they would never drag a girl off without permission in their town, and says to Marco, expecting support, though Marco answers cautiously with a yes. In the scene
This first part of Eddie’s ‘rant’ shows how easily Eddie turns on Rodolfo and how he needs permission to take Catherine out. this is like peripeteia where in a greek tragedy which means, ‘the moment of change’. When he is looking for support of Marco, it is as if when Marco answers something ticks in his head that Eddie didn’t approve of a very normal thing.
Then as Eddie says that Catherine has never been out that late, Beatrice does all she can and answers back to Eddie, who hides his infuriating anger and takes a personal note saying that Rodolfo could be to blame if he goes out all the time and they get found open. This also has a personal affect and I think that Marco catches onto, as he says ‘I beg your pardon, Eddie’ this shows that he is shocked to hear what he has just said.
The ‘rant’ dies down as Catherine asks Rodolfo to dance, then after a little talk between Marco and Beatrice about the boats, Marco says that Rodolfo is a very good cook. Eddie quickly picks up on this and says sarcastically that it’s wonderful that he can sing, cook and that he could make dresses, this implies that Eddie gives perception that Rodolfo has a camp side to him. After having another rant, trying to hint but not directly saying that Rodolfo is homosexual, by taking about singing, cooking and making dresses for a living, which in them days was classed as a feminine thing.
Then all of a sudden he asks Marco if he wants to go to see a boxing match, and if he’s ever seen a real fight, this makes Marco very uneasy, Eddie then asks if he’s ever fought before then asks Rodolfo if he has, who also says no. Unexpectedly he asks is Rodolfo wants a spar, this causes a lot of tension as the group don’t want it to escalate to something big, they spar and after a few laughs and when Catherine walks in Eddie asks if he can hit him, this is after Rodolfo has had a few shots at Eddie. Then Eddie lands a right after a feint which makes Rodolfo mildly stagger. This makes Marco rise in caution, this is when I think Marco catches on to the fact Eddie meant to hurt him, and that Eddie has a problem with his brother. Eddie rubs his fist which is a sign that he is happy with what he did to Rodolfo, so it seems he chose boxing as a way to get a cheap shot and maybe a warning towards Rodolfo. This is not the same with Rodolfo who after saying he is fine, looks at Eddie with a gleam and a smile which shows that he is oblivious to Eddie’s hatred.
Then after Rodolfo got back up and started dancing also at the end of the section. This shows a high contrast to the boxing spar that happened moments ago which changes from hatred to love and affection. Marco places a chair in front of Eddie, then as Eddie cannot lift it in one hand, Marco does standing face to face with Eddie with it above his head, like a weapon over Eddie’s head, this shows that Macro is suggesting that if you mess with my brother you mess with me, therefore the tension quickly changes from Eddie at Rodolfo, to Marco at Eddie. The stage direction shows this very clearly, ‘ Marco is face to face with Eddie, a strained tension gripping his eyes and jaw, his neck stiff, the chair raised like a weapon over Eddie’s head – and he transforms what might appear like a glare of warning into of triumph and Eddie’s grin vanishes as he absorbs his look’.
The second section takes place after a heated argument between Eddie, Catherine and Rodolfo. Eddie comes in drunkand as he see’s Catherine exit the bedroom gives the deception that the had sexual intercourse, or maybe that Catherine wanted Eddie to think that to make him angry or see how he reacted. He reacts horribly to the pair saying that Rodolfo is selfish and tries to make out he is wrong for ‘using’ Catherine just to become legal even though he actually cares for her. Then he has another heated conversation with Alfieri trying to convince him about Rodolfo, which shows even he is uncertain or desperate, and when he shows that he might consider ringing the bureau, Alfieri tells him the consequences. The tension in the house is already at a high but with what Eddie is about to do rips the family apart.
The scene starts with Eddie in a telephone box which is alone in the dark with nothing around it, this shows that maybe this will be like Eddie’s future. He rings the immigration bureau and gives all the information except his name. After when he gets home he finds out Beatrice has moved Marco and Rodolfo upstairs, this is probably due to the argument between Rodolfo, Catherine and Eddie. Tensions rise when this happens as Eddie wants his respect even after they’ve been moved out. Then as you go through you find out that he can’t get an erection and that is what he means by pride, though Eddie might also feel that he isn’t important anymore as Catherine has found someone else to care for her. The tension grows as Eddie and Beatrice have a heated argument with Beatrice finally saying that Catherine is going to get married to Rodolfo that Saturday, this makes Eddie infuriated at the fact that she has not listened to him and he does all he can to try and persuade her even by saying she can go out, but that doesn’t work. Eddie then soon realises they are staying with other ‘boarders’ and then worries as he may get the taken in as well, so he says what if they are monitored and get Marco and Rodolfo taken away as well, this shows that Eddie is willing to lie to save himself if something goes wrong.
The tension rises as Eddie tries to get Catherine to move them because of this but it is too late as there is a knock on the door. The pinnacle of tension occurs, with Catherine in horror as she realises what Eddie has done, she then shrieks and runs to get Marco and Eddie. With the immigration officers, searching round and Eddie trying to act innocent, but Beatrice is distraught at what he’s done. The offices eventually find them with Beatrice and Catherine trying to get the offices to let them go, but it doesn’t work. Then as they get to the doorway Marco breaks free and face to face with Eddie, spits in his face. The tension grows to an all time high; Eddie is furious with what Marco is done and tries to act all innocent. Though as they get to the car in the street Marco frees himself again and shouts Pointing at Eddie ‘that one! I accuse that one!’ Then as he is taken off he shouts and points at Eddie again, ‘That one! He killed my children! That one stole the food from my children!’ Marco is gone.
The tension increases as Eddie is left with the whole crown turned to him. All his friends are disgusted with him, and Eddie is left to say that he’ll kill Marco if he doesn’t take what he said back, again in denial that he was wrong to do what he did. This part of the play seems to happen very quickly and gives the atmosphere of panic towards it.
Overall Arthur Miller creates an atmosphere based on the stage actions and what is said, mainly by Eddie, and how certain people react to it. Also the way people talk in the play makes the dramatic suspense greater as it gives you a feel of a real life reaction.
Adam Brown
10F
