The second scene I have chosen is the scene where Eddie teaches Rodolfo to box. In the scene, the two of them start to play fight, with Eddie telling Rodolfo to try and hit him, although Rodolfo is unsure about whether he should, and is a bit apprehensive. Eddie cleverly introduces the subject of boxing (a suitably masculine activity for Eddie) and, while pretending to teach Rodolfo how to box, hits him in the mouth. For Eddie, this demonstrates to Catherine what a weak man Rodolfo is and what a strong one he (Eddie) is. It also shows that Eddie thinks women are more attracted to strong, aggressive males.
It all begins when Rodolfo and Catherine are dancing to the record they bought, and Eddie is speaking to Rodolfo. Eddie is saying that if he had all the skills that Rodolfo has, such as cooking, singing and making dresses, then he would do something about it and use his skills. But by listing all his qualities, he is really just questioning his masculinity. As soon as Eddie starts talking about this, Rodolfo and Catherine stop dancing and turn the record off. They know that Eddie is angry about something, as they can see through his actions. Eddie is scrunching a newspaper up and tears it in two. There is dramatic irony at the time of this scene. The newspaper represents Rodolfo, and Rodolfo is intimidated by what Eddie is doing. Eddie is displaying his strength and authority. He then stands up, and pulls his trousers over his belly, which is a sign that he is satisfied with what he has just said and done, and that he’s about to do something else. He then changes the subject by asking Marco whether he has ever seen a boxing match. Obviously, because of Eddie’s mood, Marco is a bit uneasy in answering. Eddie then asks Rodolfo whether he and Marco would like to go to a boxing match the next week. During asking him, Eddie calls Rodolfo ‘Danish’, which he is using as an insult because of his blonde hair. Eddie knows that Rodolfo wont react, because he has been showing his authority and anger whilst speaking a minute ago. The mood is obviously a bit tense and nervous in the house, so Catherine offers to make some tea, trying to sound happy and pleased, but we know that she is obvious slightly worried and concerned.
Eddie then asks Rodolfo if he has ever boxed, or knows how to. He says ‘Betcha you’ve done some, ‘eh?’ Eddie cleverly introduces the subject of boxing, and by saying that he bets Rodolfo knows how to, he is implying that if Rodolfo seems to be able to do everything else, why can’t he do this? He is questioning his masculinity, and by bringing up boxing, he knows he has the chance to treat him like a man and, as we see in the play, has the chance to hit him and get away with it.
Eddie and Rodolfo then square up to each other, and put their arms up, and start to lightly box. Rodolfo is too nervous and scared to hit Eddie, but Eddie insists that he hits him properly, and he will show him how to block it. But as Rodolfo throws a punch at Eddie, Eddie blocks it and strikes him in the face, and Rodolfo is a bit surprised and staggers slightly. There is a slight pause whilst the two look at each other; Eddie looks a bit stunned by his own actions. But doesn’t look sorry or guilty, he looks as if really, he would rather carry on and hit him more. Everyone rushes over concerned, Catherine takes Rodolfo over and shouts at Eddie asking what he was thinking. Eddie acts innocent and asks, ‘What? I didn’t hurt him’. Rodolfo doesn’t want to argue otherwise he knows Eddie will just get angry and maybe even hit him again. So he just replies by saying ‘No, I was only surprised’. Beatrice knows that there is something up with Eddie, so sits him down on the chair re-assuring him and saying ‘That’s enough now’. Rodolfo then tries to act unharmed or affected, and starts dancing with Catherine again, and Eddie watches on, looking jealous and disgusted, but Rodolfo carries on and ignores him.
As Eddie is sitting down, Marco walks over and asks ‘Can you lift this chair?’ Eddie nods, and starts to lift it from the corner leg of the chair. He starts to lift it, but then starts to struggle and the chair starts to descend. He tries again, but fails. Marco then takes the chair, and starts to lift the chair. He raises it further, and Catherine and Rodolfo stop dancing; they know something important is happening. Marco is now on his feet with the chair above his head, and is staring at Eddie face to face, who is now on his feet to. They stare at each other, and Marco’s face is tense and stiff, but he is gesturing that the chair is a weapon, and looks at Eddie with a sense of triumph. Eddie then realises this, and his grin vanishes as he absorbs Marco’s look.
This scene represents that Eddie is starting to lose his temper a bit, and also his authority. The last part shows that Marco now has power over Eddie, and he is the man of the house.
My final scene is when Eddie comes home drunk, and ends up kissing Catherine and Rodolfo. The scene starts with Catherine and Rodolfo in the house alone, talking at the table. Rodolfo asks what is wrong with Catherine, saying that she never she never seems to speak to him anymore, and Rodolfo knows that the real reason is that Eddie is influencing her. Catherine then starts to talk and says suggests that they move to Italy when they get married. Rodolfo at firsts thinks she is joking, but when he realises that she is serious, he is slightly concerned, and starts asking questions like ‘What would you eat?’ and ‘Where would you work?’ Then Catherine says that the real reason she wants to move is because Eddie scares her. She says that she doesn’t know why Eddie scares him. She starts explaining that she always imagined that Eddie would be really happy when she was getting married. Catherine then asks Rodolfo to ‘teach him’. He then leads her into the bedroom. This leaves the audience a decision to make. Is he taking her in so they can have sex, or are they just going to talk?
Later on, Eddie walks into the apartment, shouting for Beatrice. Catherine then walks out the bedroom, adjusting her dress. Again, the audience have to think, is she adjusting her dress because she has put it back on, or just because she was sitting down? After a few seconds, Rodolfo walks through the bedroom doorway. Once again, another question. Did Rodolfo come out of the room because he was foolish, or was it because he had nothing to be guilty about? As he walks out, Eddie’s arm jerks slightly in shock. Eddie obviously thinks they’ve been up to something. Eddie, drunk, then suddenly shouts out, ‘Pack it up. Go ahead. Get your stuff and get outta here’. Catherine, without thinking, instantly walks over to Rodolfo. She is standing her ground, and showing whose side she’s on. Eddie, shocked, asks where she’s going? As she replies, she is trembling with fright. She is finding it difficult to stand up to Eddie, and is scared of what he might do, but she knows she has to. She says ‘I think I have to get out of here, Eddie’. She starts to edge backwards saying ‘I can’t stay here no more. I’m sorry Eddie’. Eddie is overcome with emotion and sadness, and starts to cry. Catherine starts to try and comfort him by saying ‘I’ll still be in the neighbourhood; I’ll come visit. You know I can’t stay’. When he carries on crying she is annoyed at the way he’s reacted and says ‘Oh, don’t be like that!’ But Eddie, can’t control his emotions due to drinking, and looks at her, lets his true feelings out, and grabs her and kisses her. Eddie has lost it, he has let his true feelings out, and he knows he is losing everything, but doesn’t want to. Rodolfo, who has been watching the conversation the whole time, grabs him and pulls him away shouting ‘Have respect for her.’ Eddie, full of rage and anger, then says ‘You want something’, suggesting they fight. Rodolfo says he just wants Catherine, his wife. Eddie is angered at knowing that Rodolfo, somebody he hates, is marrying Catherine, someone he loves. He then, out of nowhere, grabs him and kisses him. Catherine is outraged and pulls him free shouting at him. Eddie, after releasing Rodolfo, stands up, with tears on his cheeks, and starts to laugh, mocking Rodolfo. Catherine is horrified and stares at him, as if she doesn’t know who he is anymore. The three then stand around, waiting for each other’s reaction. Eddie, gesturing towards Rodolfo, says to Catherine ‘You see?’ Then he says to Rodolfo, I give you till tomorrow, get out of here, alone!’ Eddie is saying this as if he feels he has won the argument, and that Catherine is on his side. But she continues to stand her ground and says she is going with him. Then after threatening Rodolfo, he leaves.
This scene lets everyone see what Eddie was really thinking the whole time. It is a complete contrast to Eddie at the start of the play, and it just goes to show how much he really loved Catherine, and how jealous he was. The contrast shows us just how much he has changed, and how much worse he is after the last few months, showing how bad a spiral he was going down.
