Eddie’s obsession toward Catherine is reason for the large scale climax. He is very over protective and would not let Catherine have any contact with any men, even his own friends. It is very early on in the play when Catherine gets annoyed at this and tells Eddie she wishes ‘there was one guy [he] couldn’t tell [her] things about!’ this showed that he would portray most other men as inappropriate in the hope that she will see him as perfect and feel the way he does for her. Once Marco and Rodolfo arrive Eddie becomes uneasy, Catherine is amazed by Rodolfo’s appearance as he is so light compared to Marco, Eddie interrupts the conversation on this as he does not like where it is going. As the play goes on Catherine and Rodolfo start to go out, Eddie feels his territory is being taken from him and so he goes to see Alfieri whom he knew from the time his father had Alfieri represent him in an accident case. Eddie’s desperation drove him to a point where he turned to see what the law could do. He accused Rodolfo of only wanting to marry Catherine ‘to get his papers’ but Alfieri explains that there is no law stopping a girl falling for an immigrant. Eddie can not accept this so he goes on to explain how Rodolfo is effeminate as he makes dresses, sings and cooks he implies that he is a homosexual and this is breaking one of the codes. The only way to rid of Rodolfo is ‘the manner in which he came’ but Eddie will have nothing to do with that, it would be breaking the codes of honour and would be betrayal, a large injustice. The outcome would be the same as Vinny Bolzano mentioned earlier, who ‘snitched to the immigration’ about his uncle that was staying with the family. The result of this was that his family disowned him and he was forced to leave town. This was not the path Eddie wanted to follow. The fact that he can not seek refuge in the law frustrates Eddie; he can not understand why the law does not cater for these situations and as a result he is not getting the justice he wants. Blind to all the injustice he will cause to others he impetuously calls immigration. This is very ironic because of the reaction Eddie had to Vinny Bolzano, he broke the unspoken code which even Alfieri a representative of the law was not willing to break. As the officers arrive Eddie realises what he has done was wrong and tries to get them out but it is too late the damage has already been done. Marco accuses Eddie of killing his children and spits at Eddie as he is dragged out. Eddie shouts ‘I’ll kill you’ after them, this could have been literally because this was a way to gain justice, but it was his own justice.
His friends and neighbours all disown him as he broke the codes which all Italians within that area live by. They feel he is no longer worthy of worthy of their respect or friendship. This is evident from the stage directions “Lapari, the butcher, turns and starts up left with his around his wife”; Eddie calls after Lapari and explains how he gave them “the blankets” off his bed. Lapari does not listen and leaves. Eddie then goes to speak to Louis but he “barely turns, than walks off and exits with mike. People no longer want to know him he disgraced Italians and deserved all the punishment thrown at him.
Eddie ‘killed’ a family and lost his name, nobody had time for him anymore his on friend turned away from him, he had broken the codes. Eddie comes to find that there is a prise to pay for total justice a price that most people, most of the time are unwilling to pay.
Beatrice feels unfairly treated within her marriage Eddie does not treat her as his ‘wife’ anymore she confronts him with this and explains that it has been three months since they made love, which is long before the cousins arrived. Eddie does not want to discuss the matter and so goes back to talking about Rodolfo and Catherine which is when Beatrice makes it known that she thinks Eddie’s interest in Catherine is unnatural. Beatrice is aware of the injustice suffered by her niece; this is the reason why she helps Catherine to persuade Eddie to let her work. Beatrice supports Catherine whilst they are discussing Catherine’s job. She repeats facts which she feels may appeal to Eddie and persuade him to change his mind. She does not say much within this section of the dialogue her points only echo Catherine’s unless, she feels the subject is leading into dangerous waters she distract Eddie with a different point. An example of this is when they begin speaking about the location of the company Catherine will be working for. Beatrice realises Eddie does not like it and so she jumps in with “fifty dollars a week, Eddie” creating a diversion. Beatrice is extremely careful and sustains Eddie’s authority in front of Catherine, but she deliberately sends Catherine to ‘bring in the supper’ so she can really put her point across to Eddie. Throughout the scene she does not waver or change her mind, her views remain the same.
Beatrice speaks her mind to Catherine when she and Catherine are alone. She urges Catherine to assert herself and become more independent. This is portrayed when Beatrice says ‘It means you gotta be your own self more. You still think you’re a little girl…’, Beatrice also explains that Catherine’s behaviour around Eddie does not help with his infatuation, ‘…you can’t act the way you act. You still walk around in front of him in your slip-‘.
Catherine wants justice from Eddie, she is desperate for him too give her freedom. Catherine does not want to be treated as a child and wants to be able to interact with men other than Eddie without him being able to ‘tell [her] things about’ them. When confronting Eddie about her job she lacks confidence and looks to Beatrice to help her. After Rodolfo and Marco arrive Eddie becomes even more protective of Catherine and she gets embarrassed when Eddie says ‘what’s the heels for Garbo?’. She was just trying to make an effort for the arrival of the guests and because Catherine takes a liking to Rodolfo Eddie does not know how to react and so he shows her up.
Catherine gets really angry when Eddie asks her which paramount they went to when she told him already, she is yet again ‘embarrassed before Rodolfo’. Catherine wants justice for Rodolfo in the sense that ‘he blesses’ Eddie but Eddie only ever seems to throw it back in his face. After the incident with Eddie calling immigration, the strength hidden within Catherine’s character becomes apparent and she is vindictive and hurtful with her words. However all these strength melt at the end when she mumbles her profound remorse for her role in the tragic death of Eddie.
Marco, an economic migrant came to the country to earn money and eventually help his family escape the injustice of poverty. He has a strong sense of justice and shows this when Eddie hits Rodolfo, Marco demonstrates that he is the stronger man and will defend his brother if need be. Italians have their own justice brought back from their country and carried on from their ancestors. Throughout Italian and Sicilian history it is known that they bare their own sense of justice which means doing what ever it takes to gain it. Marco suffers a great injustice when Eddie turns the brothers in to immigration. He feels Eddie ‘killed’ his children because they would no longer be able to escape the terrible living circumstances. The need for revenge is in his blood and the advice from Alfieri is not taken into account.
Alfieri represents the US ‘civilised’ justice system. He follows the concept that people would be better of ‘settling for half’ this is because complete justice concludes in unacceptable consequences. Alfieri is quick to pick up on the fact that Eddie is very disturbed by Catherine’s affection toward Rodolfo and that he harbours wrong thoughts about her. Alfieri explains to Eddie that ‘there’s too much love’ ‘and it goes where it mustn’t.’ The only thing Alfieri can do is give advice and hope that it will be used. It is extremely important he does what is right because of his key position. It becomes apparent at the end of the play that Alfieri has some compassion and veneration towards Eddie as he ‘allowed himself to be wholly known’
Alfieri places events within the drama in context and explains conflicts related to the play which occurred in Italian history. He knows the law is incapable of satisfying everybody and that it contains many boundaries. Alfieri is able to reflect on matters and diffuse widespread concepts.
The Immigration Officers are direct and uncompromising the law is the law and this transcends any patriotic feelings. The officers speak Italian, ‘andiamo, andiamo’ which may mean they have Italian connections, but this Italian background does not affect them as they are there to do their job.
