In the stage directions at the end of Act one, Marco is “face to face with Eddie.” This shows some sort of conflict between the two. Arthur Miller changes Marco’s image completely when he states “a strained tension gripping his eyes and jaw.” The word “gripping” suggests that Marco isn’t really such a violent character, and so, the ‘violent aspect,’ the “strained tension” is external. ‘Gripping’ implies an outside force – the force of the environment around him.
Arthur Miller’s new image of Marco becomes more and more challenging and aggressive as he has “his neck stiff, the chair raised like a weapon over Eddies head.” This suggests that Marco is trying to warn Eddie “and he transforms what might appear like a glare of warning into a smile of triumph.” By making Marco do this, the author wants the audience to think that Marco is trying to show he is strong; and that he is using the “chair” as a threat towards him.
In this scene it looks as if Arthur Miller wants a twist in the story line to make it unpredictable. He has converted Marco’s character from “He was a good man” into a more violent and demanding one.
Marco- a man who breaks promises and the law.......
In Act two Alfieri is convinced that Marco is “an honourable man.” Therefore he tells Marco “I will believe your promise.” This “promise” is to stay away from Eddie, in order to have five or six weeks of freedom (out of imprisonment) until the date of his hearing. Marco cannot agree as “such a promise is dishonourable.” The stage directions state Marco’s “anger rising.” This indicates again that there is a change in the atmosphere. “He degraded my brother. My blood. He robbed my children, he mocks my work.” Arthur Miller has used these lines to suggest that Marco is not agreeing with this promise for a very good reason - his family. These lines also imply that Eddie has done wrong-not in the books of the law, but in the eyes of Marco and his family. “In my country he would be dead now. He would not live this long.” Miller has used this line to destroy any innocence in Marco’s character. Never the less, Marco agrees to the promise by saying “all right.” By settling the agreement Arthur Miller has created a doubt as to whether or not Marco is able to keep his promise. He has also put Marco in a no-win situation and wants the audience/reader to be uncertain of whether Marco is guilty or not.
Marco-an arrogant man who thinks he can take the law into his own hands.............
Marco appears outside Eddie’s apartment and calls out “Eddie Carbone!” The exclamation mark suggests that Marco is demanding angrily. As Eddie makes his way down to Marco, Arthur Miller creates tension in the scene. This is done by the actions of the other characters. Rodolpho cries “No, Marco, please! Eddie, please he has children!” When Rodolpho tells Eddie that he “will kill a family,” Arthur Miller is building up suspense as to what will happen next in the story.
Tension is also built up when Beatrice tells Eddie to “go in the house!” Once again the dramatist is suggesting that something horrific is going to happen.
As Eddie tells Marco that he is “wipin’ the neighbourhood with my name like a dirty rag” Arthur Miller creates uncertainty in what Marco’s reaction will be.
To make Marco seem innocent, firstly “Eddie lunges for Marco.” Being the dominant of the two, “Marco strikes Eddie beside the neck.” The writer shows the anger in Marco’s mood as he says “Animal! You go down on your knees to me!” The word “down” suggests the outcome of the story, where Eddie actually dies.
In the stage directions Arthur Miller describes that “Eddie goes down with the blow.” This consolidates Marco’s strength and power.
To alarm the audience, “Eddie springs a knife into his hand.” Using the term “springs” suggests a clever and crafty man – A man who is capable of ‘springing’ surprises. After all, he has already ‘sprung the surprise of phoning the immigration bureau. He is dangerously unpredictable. This shows that both times Marco did not start the violence. Arthur Miller has made the build up of such action unexpected, as earlier Eddie was asking Marco to give him his name “and we go together to the wedding.”
As “Eddie lunges with the knife Marco grabs his arm, turning the blade inward and pressing it” into Eddies chest.
Arthur Miller describes it in such a way that Marco seems guilty. His actions appear intentional and “Eddie, the knife still in his hand; falls to his knees.”
Not only has Marco broken his promise and taken the law into his own hands, he has killed Eddie Carbone who put a “roof over their head and my food in their mouth.”
I believe that Arthur Miller wants us as the audience to be unsure about whether or not the character Marco is guilty of committing the murder of Eddie Carbone, “ Eddie Carbone never expected to have a destiny.” The writer does this by changing Marco’s character and making him two-sided. Miller has also put him in an impossible situation where he must keep a “dishonourable” promise. However, the suspense and tension the playwright has added in the last scene suggests that Marco is a more innocent and blameless character, “Marco never hurt anybody.”
