Examine Eddie's conflict with Rodolpho, and discuss how this changes his relationship with Catherine, Beatrice and Marco. How much sympathy do you feel for Eddie?

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Laura Bird

Examine Eddie’s conflict with Rodolpho, and discuss how this changes his relationship with Catherine, Beatrice and Marco. How much sympathy do you feel for Eddie?

        

‘A view from the bridge’ by Arthur Miller is a tragic play about Eddie Carbone, an Italian longshoreman working on the New York docks. Beatrice, Eddie’s wife, and Eddie agree to shelter her two cousins, Marco and Rodolpho who are seeking refuge as illegal immigrants from Sicily. The story includes jealousy, love, tragedy and betrayal as its main themes, as well as dealing with issues such as illegal immigration, law, justice and life in Italy. Catherine, Beatrice’s niece who lives with Eddie and Beatrice becomes attracted to Rodolpho, which creates jealousy and tension throughout the household and leads to Eddie committing an unforgivable crime against the family.

        When we first meet Eddie in the play we see him as a hard working, loving father figure who is very protective and caring of Catherine. We know that they are really close from the way they interact and that Eddie is controlling of her by the way he complains about her new skirt. Eddie says, “I think it’s too short, ain’t it?” and also comments on the way she is “walkin’ wavy” down the street, receiving a lot of male interest. This shows he is uncomfortable with her expression of femininity and is worried about the changes in Catherine. He doesn’t like the fact she is changing and is unnerved by her sexuality. She is growing up and receiving male attention, which he does not like, as he is afraid of losing her. Eddie also disapproves of her new job because he is saddened by the thought of her growing up but is persuaded to support her by Beatrice and because Catherine is so upset from not having Eddie’s approval.

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        When the cousins arrive in Act One we see a change in Eddie’s character and also in Catherine’s. At first they are all happy to see the two cousins and greet them with hugs and kisses, but Eddie’s attitude soon changes. He reacts badly to Rodolpho and shows his opinion of him by mainly speaking to his brother Marco. He disapproves of Rodolpho’s singing and is quite rude to him because he is jealous that Catherine and Rodolpho get on well. Eddie complains to Beatrice about his singing by saying “Right on the deck, all of a sudden, a whole ...

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