I have chosen to use a scene at the very beginning of Act 1 because I feel it typifies their relationship and sets the context for the rest of the play.
The scene starts with Eddie walking into the house and Catherine welcomes him in with excitement, happy to see him. Immediately she shows her eagerness to please when she says:
“I’ll get you a beer alright?”
Beatrice later tells him that Catherine has a job. Eddie immediately reacts:
“What job? She’s gonna finish school.”
This shows Eddie’s over protectiveness and this sets the tone for the rest of the play. This comment also shows Eddie wanting Catherine to remain as a child. (Beatrice remarks on this later)
Eddie would most definitely have a very clear facial expression in which he would show his shock at hearing Catherine has a job and then quickly changing to a look that expresses his clear intentions not to be persuaded. Catherine just continues to lay the table as though nothing has happened although she might have a slight expression of disappointment across her face whilst doing so. She realises that she needs to convince Eddie that this is the best thing for her.
Beatrice can sense the tension is building and decides to support Catherine on this point concerning her independence when she says:
“ She’s got to work sometime.”
As Catherine leaves the room Beatrice decides to become more pointed in her dialogue:
“ Ya gonna keep her in the house all her life?”
Eddie is taken aback by this remark and it seems to have an effect on him as he gives in and decides to let her go to work. Eddie, although reluctant to give in, seems to enjoy Catherine’s ecstatic response and the joy it brings to her.
The scene I have examined clearly shows the father/daughter relationship between Eddie and Catherine, whereas they are only uncle and niece; this is shown throughout the play, Eddie being reluctant to allow Catherine freedom and space and constantly wishing to dictate her future. In this scene there are signs of tension and friction being shown helps the audience anticipate the coming tragedy of Eddie’s betrayal and murder. When the audience looks back on the play they will realise the seeds of conflict were sown very early on. Catherine finishes the play as an independent young woman now mature enough not to rely on Eddie. She almost in effect announces this when she calls him a rat and that he belongs in the sewers. Catherine has changed and grown up in the play and now does not need Eddie Carbone.
