At the opening of act one, Eddie and Cathrine appear to be almost flirting. ‘(Eddie is pleased and therefore shy about it.)’This type of relationship is surprising because Cathrine is Eddie’s niece and proves to be a source of friction between Eddie and Beatrice. This is openly shown at the end of the play when Beatrice tells Eddie “you can never have her.”
Further disagreement comes from Eddie’s protectiveness of Cathrine. He feels that as an uncle it is his duty to protect her from the world; he tells her that her revealing clothes attract unwanted attention, and he is not keen for her to get a job. Beatrice thinks that Eddie is over protective of Cathrine and convinces him that she is old enough. “Look, you got to get used to it, she’s no baby no more.”
Miller continues to increase the tension between Beatrice and Eddie when later they begin to argue about Rodolpho; his sexuality and his relationship with Cathrine. Eddie’s affection for Catherine leads him to dislike Rodolpho and find faults in him, at every opportunity. He interprates Rodolphos effeminate behaviour ( singing, cooking and stiching dresses) as homosexuality and tells Cathrine that Rodolpho is decieving her, in order to gain an American passport ( Rodolpho is an illegal immigrant ) . The tension in the play is fueled further as Beatrice openly tells Eddie that he is being too protective of Cathrine and harsh on Rodolpo.
Miller uses these arguments to create a sense of mounting tension between the couple as the arguments become gradually more serious.This climaxes when Beatrice asks Eddie to forgive Marco for acussing Eddie of turning the two imigrants in. This argument is very heated and long before a lull when Marco appears.
“MARCO: Eddie Carbone!
… all stand transfixed for an instant”
Miller uses this to create the effect of a fuse reaching its end before the explosive finale of Eddies death at the hands of Marco.At this point Miller turns the tables on the relationship between Eddie and Beatrice.
“EDDIE: Then why of B!
BEATRICE: Yes, yes!
EDDIE: My B!
(He dies in he arms..)”
This shows their ultimate unity.
Miller could be trying to sustain the tension by showing the audience that Eddie refuses to acknowledge his attration to Cathrine upto his last breath.
As this play is a tragedy reminiscent of the Greek style, Miller could be trying to redeem the tragic hero by showing that despite all of Eddies shortcomigs, he is ultimately devoted to and in love with Beatrice.
