As the play progresses, we see a violent side of Marco, which he uses to defend his honour in a number of occasions for example. when he challenges Eddie to lift the chair at the end of the first act, we did understand that he did it to save his brother’s reputation and his face when Eddie was boxing with him. He cares about his brother very much and is angry over the fact that Eddie has a problem with Rodolfo. Further more the killing of Eddie by Marco’s own hands at the end of the play is the final display of his character. His character is definitely expressed more by his actions than by his words. He is strong, and is aware of it but doesn’t show it in words or boast about it at all. In fact he uses his strength to prove a point to Eddie.. As a final insult, Marco chooses to spit on Eddie face in front of everyone. This is because in the Italian culture, that act is considered as an extreme punishment. Further more, the action of going to the church before facing Eddie shows us that he is a very religious and cares about his soul.
Marco is a very honourable man and believes in his tradition, and the author shows us that through a number of symbols. For example, spitting on Eddie's face once he realizes that Eddie turned him and his brother to the police is a symbol of disgust and revolt for Eddie's actions. In addition, at the end of the play, we are told that Marco went to church before going to talk to Eddie. This action tells us that Marco is ready to give up his life and commit a mortal sin to defend his honour, because what Eddie has done, the breaking of trust, is something that in his culture must never be left unpunished. In addition, Marco doesn’t talk about his family instead he works as hard as he can to show everyone enough that he care about them
Throughout the first act of the play, Marco is only referred as a flat character and the only time we are really aware his persona and his strength is at the end of the first act, when he lifts a chair over his head and makes it seem like a challenge to Eddie, as a response for mocking Rodolpho. But only in the second act we see his character fully exposed and his image transform into a round character. In this play, Marco is portrayed as the victim, since he hasn't done anything to Eddie but he still gets arrested. In addition, although his brother Rodolpho gets away with it by marrying Catherine, he has no other choice but to go back to his hungry wife and sick children in Italy. These thoughts, and knowing that Eddie has no regrets for what he has done makes him furious, and at the end of the play he seeks revenge.
Marco’s character creates a conflict with the very conception of the drama. His way of seeking revenge for what Eddie has done is very much within Sicilian culture and tradition. He hasn’t touched Eddie physically at all until the end of the play. We see Marco’s character change thoroughly and I believe that the play would not have been the same without him.
