However, in Eddie, there is also a sense of paternal pride and protectiveness, present in the father or father-figure of any young girl. This is demonstrated in the play when Eddie says:
“You look like one of them girls that went to college. Where you goin’?”
Here we can see that the relationship that did start of as a normal affection between niece and uncle has developed into a more intimate relationship within the pace of the first page. This idea of the relationship is continued throughout the book, though the next major shift in their affinity is at the entrance of Rodolfo.
As soon as Rodolfo arrive from his home country of Sicily it is clear to both the reader and to Eddie that the relationship between himself and Catherine will develop into something much more than what was at first perceived. Eddie immediately recognises the threat of Rodolfo as he recognised her “walkin’ wavy” in the presence of the guys at the candy store. He insists for Rodolfo to stop singing even though Catherine thoroughly enjoys it; his excuse is “you don’t want to be picked up, do ya”.
Furthermore the idea of Eddie’s need for control is shown here:
“What’s the high heel for Garbo?”
Here, Eddie compares the character of Catherine with a movie star of impure nature, whereas previously he had compared her with the likes of Madonna, the Virgin Mary. This indicates a clear shift in their relationship. Eddie has already begun to view Catherine as an impure form. It is also the first indication of the influence of the movies. The movies are seen as one of the major ideals of the great American Dream – the way in which Eddie uses this shows the dark sexually motivated thoughts that go through his mind. Moreover it is linked with Broadway, where Eddie realises the “tramps” representative of the sexual nature of the place, in comparison to Rodolfo, whose innocence and naivety lead him to think only of the operas. We also sense that Eddie is disappointed in the fact that Catherine is steadily moving away form him and fulfilling her own American Dream instead of the twisted, mutable version that Eddie wishes for her to follow.
Catherine readily reacts to their changing relationship and the servitude which she once granted Eddie has now been transferred to Rodolfo:
“Sugar? Yes! I like sugar very much!”
Rodolfo’s excited replies, seen by the use of exclamation marks consistently within his speech only infuriate Eddie further. By now the relationship is at a stage where as it can not be revived. Catherine demonstrates this in her first violent outburst when she and Rodolfo return from the cinema:
“I don’t believe it and I wish to hell you’d stop it.”
This violent reaction shows demonstrates Eddies loss of control. This loss of control is not gradual, it has occurred as soon as Rodolfo enters their life. This shows that the relationship that Catherine had with Eddie was only because she did not have anyone else, it also shows that as soon as another boy entered her life her relationship would her parental figures would sharply change. This is true to all households, but this case is special as Eddie has restricted Catherine so much that she is now quite old. This is the cause of the tragedy that now does inevitably occur.
Towards the end of Act 1 we see that not only the relationship between Eddie and Catherine is falling apart but all the relationships in the household. This loss of respect and essentially friendship heightens the eventual tragedy. The boxing lesson and the chair-lifting contest show this domestic trouble. Instead of respecting each other they have turned family life into a competition.
The reaction of Catherine toward Eddie’s clearly threatening behaviour in the event of the boxing lesson is very significant. Catherine is not threatened as she knows the way in which Eddie thinks:
“You wanna dance, Rodolfo”
Catherine says this in deference to Eddie; she knows that Eddie will not like the idea of them dancing together. Their relationship has now changed so much that they are at a point of actually hurting each other. Catherine’s refusal to go along with Eddie is courageous but at this stage in their relationship it is in fact worthless, and only makes Eddie more furious in a way that he must call the Immigration police.
Overall the relationship has changed dramatically due to the entrance of Rodolfo and Eddies continuing jealousy.
