Take one of the characters in the play ‘A VIEW FROM A BRIDGE’, describe their personality throughout the play and say how the role could be played in a performance.

IRC 002 Richard Smith

King Edward Queen Mary School Lytham

Type: Modern Drama

Preparation: We read the play ‘ A VIEW FROM A BRIDGE’, we watched the video of the play and then discussed the roles of the characters. We also did a hot seating exercise.

Task: Take one of the characters in the play ‘A VIEW FROM A BRIDGE’, describe their personality throughout the play and say how the role could be played in a performance.

Introduction

I am writing about a character from the play a view from a bridge. The character’s name is Eddie Carbone. Eddie is an Italian/American who lives in a place called Red Hook. Red Hook is the ‘gullet of New York’. Eddie is a longshoreman that works on the docks from Brooklyn Bridge to the breakwater where the sea begins. Eddie is ‘forty’, ‘husky’, and ‘slightly overweight’.

Eddie In The Play (ACT 1)

At the start of the play Eddie is coming in from his day of work and he goes to his chair after hanging his cap and jacket. Catherine (his niece) rushes to say hello. The way that he hangs up his cap and jacket, ‘Eddie is pleased and therefore shy about it’; Eddie’s first actions in the play towards Catherine quite clearly shows that he is fond of her. Eddie does not say hello to anyone, just asks ‘where you going all dressed up?’ He runs his hands over her skirt. This is not what a normal uncle or parent would do. This shows that Eddie has deep feelings towards Catherine and he comes across being very intimate with Catherine. Eddie complements Catherine on how she looks. He likes her appearance, he finds her attractive. However Eddie criticises the skirt because he thinks that it is too short. He finds a reason for why he is correct. This happens often in the play. Eddie puts up a fight until he gets what he wants. He also disapproves of the way that she walks; ‘You are walkin’ wavy!’ He brings her to tears. Eddie treats her like a small child because this is the way that he wants it to be. His excuse is that he promised her mother on her deathbed that he would look after her. He is trying to make Catherine feel guilty. If Catherine goes against his word she will be dishonouring her mother; this is not the case. Eddie is trying to take control over her. He wants her all for himself. After this he changes the subject quickly so that he can secure that he has won his battle.

Eddie tells Beatrice (his wife) that her cousins have arrived. This pleases Catherine and Beatrice. Beatrice is worried about the arrangements and this is because of Eddie. She says ‘I am just afraid if it don’t turn out good you’ll be mad at me’. This shows that Eddie must have shouted at Beatrice before. This also shows that Eddie takes charge around the house with everything. Eddie has power over everyone in the house. Catherine interrupts and says ‘Well didn’t tell him about me yet.’ Beatrice tries to distract Eddie from what she says. But Eddie becomes interested and starts asking questions straight away when he hears Catherine mention herself. Catherine says that she will leave school for a job. Eddie is angry but gets interrupted by Beatrice, Beatrice sticks up for Catherine, and Eddie doesn’t like this. Catherine explains the detail and yet Eddie finds another excuse. He ‘don’t like that neighbourhood over there’. He explains how he wants the best for her and how the men are with young women. The problem is that Eddie thinks that the best thing that Catherine could do is to stay at home with him at home and see or speak with no other men. Beatrice tries to reason with him over the job but Eddie refuses to give in until she confronts him with his desire. She says ‘ you gonna keep her in the house all her life?’ Eddie is insulted and disgusted. He becomes angry but when Catherine enters he changes his mood. He doesn’t want to let Catherine see that he does not get along with Beatrice. He gives her what she wants. He agrees with her going to work. This soon gets out of hand and Eddie becomes upset. He uses reverse psychology on Catherine. He tells speaks the opposite of what he wants. He says to Catherine, ‘And then you will move away. That’s life. And you’ll come visit on Sundays, then once a month, then Christmas and New years finally.’ This upsets Catherine and without knowing she tells him what he wants to hear. This automatically changes the mood of Eddie. Eddie knows in a way that he has got what he wanted. He changes conversation straight after as before. They start to talk about the day gone by whilst eating their meal.

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After the meal Eddie asks Catherine when she starts her new job. Catherine knows Eddie is uncomfortable with talking about this. Eddie shows a tear in his eye. Catherine tries to make Eddie feel better by saying that she is not going far. Catherine tries to comfort him. Eddie enjoys this and tries to gain sympathy from her a lot of the time. To settle himself he looks for a cigar. Catherine goes to get one for him and then offers to light it. Eddie feels close with her while she is doing this; he enjoys it while she lights the cigar. Their faces are close and they gaze into each other’s eyes. This shows Eddies true feelings; this is the point where his deep love for her is shown. He looks at her no longer as a relative does but as a lover does. Eddie takes some time to think while Catherine and Beatrice are in the kitchen.

When the cousins enter Beatrice becomes very emotional. They first introduce each other and then start to talk about how long they will stay for and what the pay is like. Eddie only seems to address Marco. This is because of Marco’s appearance, Marco is a big man who is strong and who is a proud man. Rodolpho does not appeal to Eddie because he does not look like a normal Italian. Catherine is the first to talk to Rodolpho. She asks him about his blonde hair. Eddie interrupts her before she has chance to ask him more questions. He asks her to get them some coffee to try and get her out of the way. Eddie makes conversation with Marco and ignores Rodolpho. Rodolpho asks Eddie, ‘He says we start work tomorrow. Is he honest?’ Eddie replies but he tells Marco. It is as though Rodolpho is not there. Beatrice asks the cousins about what the work is in Italy. Eddie then asks Marco ‘ So what you wanna do, you gonna stay here in this country or you wanna go back?’ This indicates that Eddie is already uncomfortable with there arrival. He does not ask how long they wish to stay in his house but instead how long will they stay in the country. After they have talked about the work Catherine asks Rodolpho if he is married. This clearly gets Eddie angry. Eddie does not like Catherine to take interest in any other man. This is the start of a bad relationship with Rodolpho and Eddie. When Rodolpho mentions that he is a singer Eddie immediately questions him with ‘ You mean a regular?’ This shows that Eddie is surprised. The brothers argue over the discussion. Catherine asks Rodolpho ‘Have you ever heard of Jazz?’ When Rodolpho tells her that he sings Jazz she becomes very interested, this must upset Eddie because he is becoming to see that she has an interest in Rodolpho and it could lead to a Relationship. When Rodolpho starts to sing for Catherine, Eddie becomes angry so he stops Rodolpho half way through. He comes up with another excuse to why he should not sing. Eddie says ‘Look kid you don’t wanna get picked up do ya?’ This is not the reason for stopping him though. Rodolpho is entertaining Catherine and Eddie feels that it is not right for anyone else to make her happy. Eddie takes control and gets things how he likes. He has control over the cousins and Catherine and this is what makes him happy. He tells Catherine to change her shoes. This gets Catherine angry and so she gives a cold look to Eddie. There is a short moment of uncomfortable silence that is stopped by Beatrice. She makes a humorous comment ‘ All the actresses want to be around hear.’ When Rodolpho says ‘In Italy too! All the girls!’ Eddie starts to look at Rodolpho in a cold way. Eddie has a concealed suspicion. As Catherine comes back into the room, to annoy Eddie she asks Rodolpho if he likes sugar. As she puts sugar into his coffee Eddie must be very angry and emotional inside. He is quite unhappy about the way Catherine is towards Rodolpho. He has already made an agreement that it is ok for the brothers to stay as long as they want but now Eddie wishes that he wouldn’t had. Eddie closely watches Catherine every move towards Rodolpho and each time she laughs or even speaks with him Eddie is becoming more and more angry. The anger inside Eddie is mounting up.

A few weeks have gone by and there is a relationship with Catherine and Rodolpho that is getting stronger. Eddie is outside waiting for Catherine and Rodolpho to return from the cinema. Eddie is uncomfortable with Catherine being with Rodolpho. He wants to keep her for himself. Beatrice explains why they are not back yet. Eddie does not like to hear the truth from her, so he makes excuses. He doesn’t want to show anyone that he has sexual feelings for Catherine. Because he cannot admit to having these feelings for Catherine he has to find another reason for why it is wrong for Catherine to be with another man. He tries to tell Beatrice how Rodolpho gives him the ‘heebie-jeebies’. Eddie is campaigning to Beatrice to try and explain why there is something wrong with Rodolpho, when really the only problem is Eddie and his feelings for Catherine. Eddie is jealous of Rodolpho because Catherine wants Rodolpho as a lover and Eddie doesn’t wish to accept that. When Beatrice tells him this, he is clearly affected and upset because he knows that Beatrice speaks the truth. When Beatrice goes inside Eddie meets his friends, Louis and Mike. They start to talk about the brothers. When they laugh about Rodolpho this troubles Eddie. Eddies doesn’t like to see his Catherine go out with a person who people make fun of and laugh about. As his friends leave Catherine and Rodolpho return from the Paramount. He is upset to see them together and he asks Rodolpho to go inside. Rodolpho refuses and answers back to Eddie. Eddie gets angry and asks him again. Rodolpho walks off down the street. Eddie asks Catherine what will happen with her and Rodolpho. Eddie is upset. When she asks him ‘what’re you got against him?’ he becomes tense. He finds negative comments to make about Rodolpho. Catherine thinks that Rodolpho has respect for Eddie but he tries to convince her that it is not so. Eddie tries his hardest to convince Catherine that Rodolpho is not the right man for her. Eddie will do this all his life because he thinks that the only right man for Catherine is himself. Catherine becomes angry at the accusations that Eddie is making. Catherine answers him back. Yet again Eddie finds another excuse. Eddie upsets Catherine and yet again brings her to tears. She runs inside crying, but Eddie has not got his own way this time, he follows her inside. Beatrice explains why Eddie is acting in this manor but does not tell her the full storey. She doesn’t tell her about Eddies love for Catherine.

Eddie talks with his lawyer. He tries to find out a way in which he can get rid of Rodolpho and also how he can get Catherine back. Eddie tries to make every excuse on why Rodolpho should not be with Catherine; unfortunately everything is in line with the law. Eddie accuses Rodolpho of being gay. Eddie is trying to use every excuse that he can find to give him a reason to split Catherine and Rodolpho up. The conversation is ready to close until Alfieri says this, ‘You know sometimes, God mixes up the people. We all love somebody, the wife, the kids – every man’s got somebody that he loves, heh? But sometimes there is too much love. You know? There’s too much, and it goes where is mustn’t. A man works hard, he brings up a child, sometimes it’s a niece, sometimes even a daughter, and he never realises it, but through the years – there is too much love for the daughter, there is too much love for the niece. Do you understand what I am saying to you?’ This is the speech in the play that makes Eddie realise what he is doing. He is clinging on to his niece and his love is too great for her. This infuriates Eddie and he loses his temper. He is very angry at this point and he tells Alfieri what he thinks. However it begins to break through to him what point Alfieri is trying to make. Alfieri says ‘She wants to get married, Eddie. She can’t marry you, can she?’ Eddie knows that everyone can see his true feelings towards Catherine. Eddie returns to the house in a fragile state. He is angry and upset. He starts to act in a sarcastic manor. He says ‘I heard that they paint the oranges to make them look orange.’ Marco does not understand him but Rodolpho replies with ‘Lemons are green’. Eddie resents this comment because he believes that Rodolpho is insulting his intelligence. He gives a sharp answer to Rodolpho and this weakens the happy mood of the others in the house. It is Beatrice once again that tries to break the uncomfortable silence. Everyone in the house sees how Eddies mood has changed. Eddies starts to say things that indicate he is insulting Marco and Rodolpho. He says ‘ I mean you know, they count the kids and there’s a couple extra than when they left?’ Marco becomes more cautious and Eddie seems to make more subtle insults. Whenever Eddie is unhappy about something with Rodolpho he always tells Marco as he knows that Marco will sort it out. An example of this is: ‘ But in your town you wouldn’t just drag some girl without permission, I mean. You know what I mean Marco? It ain’t much different here’. Eddie is trying to say that he thinks that it is wrong for Rodolpho to go out with Catherine without his permission. Marco thinks that Eddie is right with what he says but Beatrice is the only one that really knows what Eddie means. Things settle down again and then Marco goes on about eating in the ships. He tells them all of how good of a cook Rodolpho is. This starts Eddie off again and he yet again begins to insult and mock Rodolpho in a subtle way. But Eddie begins to realise that he is exposing the issue. He does not want this to happen because it might cause trouble with them all. This is not what Eddie wants! Once Eddie thinks that he has taken the conversation too far he changes the subject. He invites the cousins too see a fight. They accept his offer. But things become a little uneasy when Eddie says that he will teach Rodolpho how to fight. At first it is like a lesson, like what a farther would teach his young son. They start to spar and Eddie gets a little too carried away. Eddie slips out of his frame of mind and for a second he thinks he is in a real fight. When he lands a right hander and Rodolpho staggers it all stops. Marco stands up. Marco can sense that something is not right. Marco stood up to show that he was ready to jump in and protect Rodolpho. It becomes an uneasy atmosphere. Rodolpho and Catherine dance and Eddie sits. Marco feels that now it is his turn to show Eddie what he can do. Marco shows his strength by picking up a chair with one hand from the bottom. Eddie fails to do this and Marco picks up the chair with ease. Eddie is uncomfortable with this and Marco does this so that Eddie can experience what Marco was feeling when Eddie and Rodolpho were sparing. The expression on Eddies face changes. Marco is showing off his strength and superiority that makes Eddie feel uncomfortable.

Eddie In The Play (ACT 2)

Catherine is in the house telling Rodolpho her feelings towards Eddie. Eddie comes in and it is clear to them that he has been drinking. Eddie orders Rodolpho to get out of his house. Catherine walks towards Rodolpho and Eddie grabs her. He has what he wants and he doesn’t want anything or anyone else near them. He kisses Catherine to show his true feelings for her. Rodolpho is upset and lunges himself at Eddie to try and stop him. When he kisses Rodolpho Catherine doesn’t react because she can’t quite believe what is happening. When she pulls him away he laughs at Rodolpho. He has greatly insulted him and Eddie is proud. Eddie does this to try and prove to Catherine that Rodolpho is gay. It does not work but Eddie doesn’t care. Eddie wants him out; Rodolpho is in so much shock that he does what Eddie asks without questioning. Eddie has the final word and he wants him out!

Eddie goes to talk with Alfieri and tells him about the situation at the house. Once again Eddie gets told the truth and doesn’t like it. This time he does something about it. Eddie reports Marco and Rodolpho to the Immigration Bureau. This is the only way to get rid of them.

Eddie goes into the house and only Beatrice is there. They discuss what happened and Beatrice explains why they have gone to move upstairs. Eddie shouts at Beatrice and blames her for what has happened. He blames her because it was Beatrice who wanted them in America in the first place. Beatrice is the only one who can tackle Eddie because she knows what he wants from Catherine. Beatrice tells him that the wedding is in a week. Eddie doesn’t react to in an unpleasant way to this because he knows that shortly they will be picked up. If he would not have rung the Immigration then he may have reacted in a different way to the news. He doesn’t care anymore, as he knows that they will soon be gone.

When Catherine tells Eddie that there are two other boarders staying upstairs with Marco and Rodolpho Eddie panics. Eddie tells Catherine to get them out. Catherine and Beatrice are confused when he acts in this way and they question him. Eddie thinks that the two men may be from the Immigration. Eddie starts to get angry with them, ‘ Will you stop arguing and get them out!’ This is the point where they realise what Eddie has done. They know that he has rung the Immigration. Eddie’s mood does not change and he orders them to get the cousins out of the house. The Immigration officers knock at the door. Eddie tries to stall the officers but this is only to make it look as though he doesn’t know what is happening. Really Eddie cannot wait for them to be taken away. Beatrice only says ‘ Oh my god, my god!’ Eddie says nothing and stays out of the way of the officers. On the inside Eddie is now happy with himself and has a feeling of accomplishment and power. As they get taken away Marco spits in Eddies face and in front of the neighbours accuses Eddie of killing his children. Eddie is highly respected by a lot of people in the neighbourhood. His respect was taken away from him at that very moment. Eddies rage and anger breaks out. ‘I’ll kill you for that you son of a bitch!’ he shouts. As the crowd looks at Eddie in disgust he makes excuses. ‘He’s crazy! I give them the blankets of my bed. Six months I kept them like my own!’ All his friends resent him. His friends no longer have any respect for him.

It is the day of the wedding. Eddie refuses to go, he tells Beatrice that if she goes she does not come back. Eddie wants his respect back. No one has any respect for him but Beatrice still sticks up for him as she thinks it is her duty as his wife. Catherine hates him and suddenly says, ‘who the hell do you think you are?’ This must damage Eddie’s feelings because of his love for Catherine. Catherine calls him a rat that belongs in the sewer. Eddie is becoming weaker each time she insults him. Beatrice stops her from saying bad thing about him. Beatrice knows how much damage it is doing to Eddie. Beatrice stays with Eddie at the house while Catherine goes to her wedding. Rodolpho comes in to the room. Eddie tells him to get out. Rodolpho tries to reason with him but Eddie refuses to co-operate. Rodolpho says ‘ Marco is coming, Eddie. He is praying in the church, you understand?’ Marco is on his way to get Eddie. Eddie knows yet refuses to leave the house. Eddie tries to look as though he is calm, on the inside Eddie is scared and knows what will happen when Marco arrives. Eddie sits in his chair and acts like a rock. He refuses to move and he will not listen to what anyone has to say, because in his mind he knows what he wants. Eddie explains what he wants; he wants his name. As Eddie exits for the door, Marco shouts from outside. ‘Eddie Carbone!’ Eddie stands frozen, Eddie did not expect it to be like this. Eddie thought that no one would ever challenge him because he always acts as a powerful figure around everyone. Eddie torments Marco without showing one bit of fear. Eddie has anger built up inside him but he controls it in a powerful manor. Eddie calls Marco a liar. Marco is becoming more and more angry. They lunge for each other and Marco pins Eddie to the floor. Eddie brings out a knife. Eddie has a knife because he knew that his chances were very little against such a man as Marco. Marco is a bigger and stronger man than Eddie. Marco turns the blade on Eddie. As he dies Catherine says ‘ Eddie, I never meant to do nothing bad to you. He replies ‘ Then why – Oh B!’ Catherine doesn’t know what hurt and pain she has caused him, this is why he gives her that answer. Catherine is upset but not half as upset as she would be if she knew the truth about Eddie.