There was one part in the play where I thought there was a massive development to Rodolfo and Catherine’s relationship and that was when Eddie offered to teach Rodolfo how to box. I thought this was a warning from Eddie to Rodolfo as if to say “leave Catherine alone” but I think it gave Rodolfo more courage to make his relationship work.
There relationship continues to bother Eddie. There was one incident were Rodolfo and Catherine went to the Paramount and got back late this was because the film finished late, but Eddie was very annoyed and forced Marco to tell Rodolfo not to bring Catherine back late again. In the Sicilian code of honour he would be expected to obey. There was another was another incident when Eddie kisses Catherine to Rodolfo’s total displeasure, so Rodolfo has a go back at Eddie saying “Leave her alone” Eddie was very surprised by this because no one has ever had a go back at Eddie in his own house so Eddie kisses Rodolfo as well. Rodolfo had to tread carefully because it was the Sicilian code of honour that Rodolfo had to ask Eddies permission to court Catherine.
To summarise Catherine and Rodolfo I thought they were made for each other and deserved to be together. I can understand that Eddie had his doubts that Rodolfo might only be marrying Catherine to become an American citizen.
The relationship between Catherine and Eddie changed dramatically over the two acts. At first Eddie was kind to her and also overprotective this is shown when he says
“You walkin wavy, I don’t like the looks they’re giving you in the candy store” this shows his over protectiveness. When Eddie gets back from work one day Catherine tells him she’s got a job but Eddie doesn’t like the fact and says
“I want you to finish secretarial college first’ this was Eddie being a bit mean but after persuasion from Beatrice he lets her take the job. In act two things went from bad to worse. Catherine fell for the charms of Rodolfo, Eddie was not amused. From then onwards I feel Eddie turned nasty to every one. Catherine starts to court Rodolfo and Eddie starts to get very angry, upset and worried. Eddie had other anxieties and worries that no one but himself could solve. He starts to take his anxiety out on his wife Beatrice. This I feel is because he has looked after Catherine for a long time and he cant let go of her. But Catherine has to grow up and go out into the world and experience things for herself but Eddie is too caring to let her go by herself. The evidence for not letting her grow up is when he makes her change her skirt.
To summarise Catherine And Eddie, I would say Eddie cared for Catherine but in the wrong way. He was too over protective of her.
Eddie and Rodolfo didn’t get on from the start for example when Eddie says
“Hey kid-hey, wait a minute … they got people all over the place Marco. I mean”. All this because Rodolfo was singing to Catherine and Eddie didn’t like it. This changes Rodolfo’s attitude towards Eddie drastically this I feel is because of Rodolfo loves Catherine and Eddie doesn’t like that and so Rodolfo doesn’t like Eddie for that. Later on in the play Eddie Kisses Catherine and then Rodolfo and then Rodolfo says to Eddie
“Don’t! Stop that! Have respect for her!” I feel that reply shocked Eddie because no one had ever answered back to Eddie especially in his own house and Rodolfo was living there illegally.
Their next and last encounter was when Eddie informs the immigration police that Rodolfo and Marco are in the country illegally. Rodolfo was very angry and was shouting at Eddie “why have you done this” Catherine was crying because he loved Rodolfo and Rodolfo loved her.
To summarise Eddie and Rodolfo it would be fair to say that they never got on. It would have been brilliant if they could have especially for Catherine and Beatrice’s sake and for Marco because he wanted to stay in America and make money and send it back to his family in Sicily.
Eddie and Beatrice were husband and wife but during the play Eddie never showed any affection towards Beatrice especially when Catherine started to court Rodolfo because that got Eddie even madder. Eddie was very demanding towards Beatrice for example when he says
“B go and make some coffee” he doesn’t say please or thank you. Beatrice is so upset that she even says to Eddie
“When are you going to be a husband to me” this shows how Eddie was to Beatrice, he did nothing for her except moan and groan. Beatrice is always sticking up for Catherine. Especially when there’s an argument about Rodolfo But Eddies always horrible when the argument is about Catherine and Rodolfo because he doesn’t think he’s right for her because he thinks Rodolfo is only marrying Catherine to become an American citizen.
To summarise Eddie and Beatrice these two were happy at the beginning but when Rodolfo and Catherine started courting it caused mayhem. I would have liked to of known what would of happened to these two if Eddie didn’t die.