To look at the bewildered mind of Eddie Carbone we must see what he was first like when introduced. At first insight Eddie appears to be a kind caring person with an Italian background. He also knows what to say so that one can fell loved. This is seen when he says;
Eddie: “Beautiful. Turn around, lemme see in the back. (She turns for him.) Oh, if your mother was alive to see you now she wouldn’t believe it.
The actor’s body movement should be slightly shy but relaxed with a hint of flirting because he is trying to complement her. He then complements her more by saying;
Eddie: “You look like one of them girls that when to college. Where you going?”
Form this quote we can see that he’s trying to find out what Catherine’s up to but not being to pushy instead he’s being supportive the actor should speak with more authority and should quizzical when asking her what she up to.
We can see that Eddie has grown up in an antifeminist environment and still believes that the ‘man’ is in charge this is emulated by quotes such as;
Eddie: “Now don’t aggravate me, Katie, you are walkin’ wavy! I don’t like the looks they’re givin’ you in the candy store. And with them new high heels on the sidewalk- clack, clack, clack. The heads are turnin’ like windmills.”
He sounds like he loves her although he is just like every father were they are over protective. This is because the father lover Katie so much that he doesn’t want to find out that she has been hurt. This is where the actor must use his skills to show the love but in a hug but a more frustrated form. He changes the mood by showing that he loves her by saying;
Eddie: “Look, did I ask you for money? I supported you this long I support you a little more. Please do me a favour, will ya? I want you to be with different kind of people. I want you to be in a nice office. Maybe a lawyer’s office someplace in New York in one of them nice buildings. I mean if you’re gonna get outa here then get out; don’t go practically in the same kind of neighbourhood.”
From this the actor should be a more stern and authoritative. This can be done by facial movement and the depth and loudness of the actor’s voice.
We can see that although Eddie is stern in his comments, he is still looking out for Catherine’s best interests
Eddie: “Catherine, do me a favour, will you? You’re getting’ to be a big girl now, you gotta keep yourself more, you can’t be so friendly, kid.
The actor needs to act more like a father figure. He can achieve this by opening a kind approach to his body movement.
Near about the middle of the story Eddie changes to become the person who tries to transform Catherine’s feeling but he does this by putting thoughts in her mind like
Eddie: “He’s a coo, too! (Looking at Rodolfo) He sings, he cooks…”
By saying this he is trying to say that Rodolfo is homosexual but with out putting the words in Catherine mouth. The actor should keep a straight face will trying to put word in her mouth.
Eddie attempt to get Rodolfo the hit him so he has an excuse to get into a fight with Rodolfo. Eddie also tries to make Rodolfo feel that he is good at boxing by saying
Eddie: “Don’t pity me, come on. Throw it, I’ll show you how to block it. (Rodolfo jabs at him, laughing. The other join.) `At’s it. Come on again. For the jaw right here. (Rodolfo jabs with more assurance.) Very Good!”
He actor is required to talk like they are a boxing instructor and need to show that Rodolfo is not capable of injure Eddie with him punch. The actor also needs to show that he is in charge and not Rodolfo.
Eddie waits for the lime light to make this move and when he does he connect to a knock out by playing it smart and saying
Eddie: “Sure, he’s terrific! Look at him go! (Rodolfo lands a blow.) `At it! Now, watch out, here I come, Danish! (He feints with his left and land with his right. It mildly staggers RODOLFO. MARCO rise)”
The actor need to show he’s been waiting to do this for a long time but he also needs to act like the really cares for Rodolfo. The need to be good at balancing from right to left on both his feet and arms.
Eddie is also hot-blooded and he not the listening kind he more of the don’t care don’t what to no you.
Eddie: “who said you could come in here? Get outa here!”
The performer needs to be loud and hot like when he gets overprotective.
Eddie also hates it when he is critical remark in public and wants to make everything look like he is a good person by saying
Eddie: “I got nothin’ against Marco? Which he called me a rat in front of the whole neighbourhood? Which he said I killed his children! Where you been?”
The actor needs to show that what people think of him should be more important then what his family think.
I have come to a conclusion that Eddie Carbone was not to be blamed for his death or his actions through the story because he was only protecting his loved one from what would have seen as being a threat. So the actor must think like this in order to act like Eddie Carbone. That actor also needs to be able to change his characteristics to fit in to the Eddie image.
