Eddie is portrayed as a stereotypical man. Masculine, dominant and in control of Beatrice and Catherine. He puts on a strong, macho front and acts tough. He always hides his emotions from the other characters, which is unlike Rodolpho, making a contrast apparent. We, however, know of his real insecurities and fears of losing Catherine, who is clearly very special to him. We are aware of his true persona through dramatic irony, although paranoia is apparent to the other characters when Eddie says that he doesn’t want Kate looking ‘sexy’. The audience knows that this is not because he is worried about her and being father like, its actually because he is jealous when other men look at her sexually.
Catherine becomes aware of Eddie’s over-protective streak, and she doesn’t like it. She just wants to free herself of dependence on Eddie, as she moves closer to Rodolpho and is resentful towards Eddie when he prevents her from doing this. She is forced to become bitter towards the man who she previously looked up to and admired, and as Eddie goes to any extent to make sure he doesn’t lose Catherine, he is just pushing her further away from him and into the welcoming arms of Rodolpho.
Eddie soon abuses his, much needed, trust as a wise father figure when implying that Rodolpho is not serious, merely in search of American citizenship. This upsets Kate and makes her angry to think that someone she loves would want to ruin her chances of happiness. When he feels he has not succeeded, he suggests Rodolpho is gay and attempts to force his views on others. Failure of this too, then reduces him to betray Rodolpho and Marco, a bad mistake that causes the loss of the only thing he was so resolute on keeping.
Eddie gives Rodolpho several tests of his masculinity. In one, Eddie kisses Rodolpho on the lips. My views on this significant point in the play, in which Eddie takes his previously subtle ways of ruining Catherine and Rodolpho’s relationship too far, are that Eddie uses the kiss as a way to prove he is secure of his own sexuality and makes sure Rodolpho is dominated and appears embarrassed. Because Eddie initiated the kiss on an unsuspecting Rodolpho, Rodolpho appears uncomfortable and then insecure of his sexuality. From the point of view of the audience, the kiss appears as Eddie’s truly desperate attempts to discredit his rival (although confusing as to why Eddie feels Rodolpho is a rival.) Another thought on the meaning behind the kiss is Eddie’s own suppressed feelings towards Catherine and his inner conflict with his incestuous love for her. His forceful kiss upon Rudolpho is seen as an easy parallel with his kiss with Catherine.
Rodolpho dances with Catherine, symbolically taking her away from Eddie, Eddie’s bitter indignant response is 3 times to repeat the pathetic retort ‘he sings, he cooks, he makes dresses, I cant cook, I cant sing, I cant make dresses, so I’m on the waterfront’. Repetition of this reply is significant because it is repeated 3 times. This suggests Eddie feels very strongly about it and wishes to convince Catherine, and it is also similar to curses, as 3 is a mystic number.
Eddie chooses to say this as if to suggest that being talented and in touch with your feminine side is so unattractive that he does not feel threatened by Rodolpho’s behaviour. It is clear that something isn’t right when Eddie feels the need to make bitter comments to secure his feelings of masculinity and superiority, so as to remain confident to Catherine.
In another of Eddie’s tests, he teaches Rodolpho how to box. This is another example of Eddie expressing confidence in his own superiority. Eddie strikes him hard and tries to make Rodolpho feel scared of his physical strength. It is worrying that he wishes to impress Catherine and appear dominant. Eddie doesn’t realise his faults and can’t see that he’s doing anything wrong or unnatural. He would never admit that he loves Kate.
And finally, one of the tests comes from Marco, who invited Eddie to lift a chair by one of its legs. When he’s unsuccessful, Marco lifts the chair and raises it “like a weapon above Eddie’s head”. This is an obvious threat to Eddie to inform him that he is not superior and to remind him that he wishes to protect his brother and wont let anybody mess him around. I think that this scares Eddie.
In addition to the audiences’ feelings of dislike for Eddie, desperation and neediness causes us to feel sorry for him, as he gradually pushes Catherine further and further away.
By Olivia Witt 10B