Beatrice, as a wife, has failed to demonstrate the intimacy between a married couple. She is set up as a contrast to Catherine, who is young, attractive, and most important of all, Catherine seems able to capture Eddie’s whole and undivided attention. Eddie’s excessive care for her niece is contrasted by the impotence in his marriage with Beatrice. There are several moments in the play where the audience is given clues on the unnatural relationship between Eddie and Catherine, however, Beatrice is the first to express the possibility of Eddie’s love towards his niece in her conversation with Catherine. This is evident in the line ‘…Was there any fella that he (Eddie) liked for you? There wasn’t, was there?’ and with Beatrice telling Catherine to act more maturely while Eddie is present, this should have told the audience the special attachment between the uncle and niece, whether or not the audience has understood this from the clues in the earlier sections of the play. In her conversation with Eddie Beatrice none the less conveyed to the audience that she thinks Eddie is in love with Catherine. This can be seen from the line ‘when are you gonna leave her alone?’ which implies that Beatrice is being concerned about the excessive love and care shown by Eddie towards Catherine.
To certain extent Beatrice also prepares the audience for what is going to happen. In the scene when Eddie accused Rodolpho of coming home late with Catherine, Beatrice contradicted Eddie in front of Catherine and the illegal immigrants. Added to Eddie’s jealousy aroused from the intimacy between Catherine and Rodolpho, Eddie is raged and this is evident from the stage direction ‘Eddie, holding back a voice full of anger.’ This prepares the audience for everyone turning against Eddie by the end of the play. Towards the end of Act 2 Beatrice even openly expresses Eddie’s love for Catherine in front of both of them-‘ You want somethin’ else, Eddie, and you can never have her!’ This may as well prepare the audience for the hysterical actions of Eddie at the end of the play, as Eddie is forced by Beatrice to realize his immoral love for his niece.
Despite it all, Beatrice is truly needed by Eddie just before his death. This is evident form the concluding line of Eddie ‘My B.!’ As Eddie lies in Beatrice’s arms, dying, this signifies the realization of Beatrice’s importance by Eddie. Eddie was unable to control his emotions towards Catherine and his unreasonable anger and jealousy towards Rodolpho raged Catherine. The downscale of their relationship means the only woman he can rely on at the end, is Beatrice. The scene may cause the audience to feel sorry for Eddie, as he is finally returning to Beatrice, seeking for her forgiveness.
To conclude, Beatrice is used by the author to communicate with the audience when the plot is not clearly conveyed, or when the need of explanation arises. She is also used to create tension and thus add dramatic interest. The development of Beatrice’s role in the London version of A View from the Bridge is therefore vital.
