Eddie’s wife, Beatrice, was aware of the deeper, more disturbing reason for Eddie’s protectiveness towards Catherine. Nevertheless, Catherine is very selfish in her behaviour, had Catherine listened to Eddie and retained respect for him, she might have not have fallen for Rodolfo and caused the chain of events leading to the tragedy. Catherine should have been more conscientious, more obedient and resisted Rodolfo’s advance at Eddie’s behest. Catherine was careless, absent minded and inattentive.
Beatrice is liable for Eddie’s death based on the fact that she has not provided Catherine with the correct advice. Moreover, Beatrice encourages Catherine to be independent and therefore misleading her. In provoking Catherine with phrases as “you got to keep yourself more”, and “go ahead, dance Rodolfo” Beatrice forms a protective barrier, forcing Eddie to back off Catherine’s case in becoming an independent girl and move ahead her relationship with Rodolfo. Beatrice saw the unhealthy attraction between Catherine and Eddie but acted ineffectively and too late to stop it. “You want somethin’ else, Eddie, and you can never have her!”
Following the traditional law of the community Marco pays no respect toward Eddie as he received none.
In the play, Marco has difficulty speaking English, but this is not his only reason. He is very attentive to what is going on and being said, he thinks and then speaks, and I believe he thinks actions speak louder than words, whether in unloading a ship or threatening Eddie. At one stage in the play, as he raises a chair like a weapon, a symbolic message to warn Eddie, he is able to express an idea which he would not wish to put into words as it would seem to show ingratitude to his enemy.
The fact that Marco stabbed Eddie at the end of the play suggests his guiltiness. Furthermore, in challenging Eddie’s temper and accusing Eddie of being an “animal” and the person who “stole the food from” his “children.” Towards the community dominated by lawlessness and justice, Eddie feels humiliated and abashed.
As the intruders, Marco and his little brother Rodolfo upset the family’s circle. Unlike before, the whole family including Eddie were never in an argument. Catherine used to act very different; she used to “throw” herself at Eddie as he comes back from work.
Secretly Eddie has sexual feeling for his niece Catherine for a long time. By frequently mentioning “I don’t see you no more, I come home you’re running around someplace” and by questioning Catherine “You like him, Katie?” clearly suggests Eddie’s obsession towards Catherine. This was something that Eddie himself could not recognise or understand. Instead as Catherine falls in love with the “glamorous” Rodolfo, Eddie focuses his anger and frustration upon Rodolfo and his brother Marco. Eddie tries to discredit his rival; he tries to make fun of Rodolfo. He first implies that Rodolfo is not serious about having a relationship with Catherine but rather in search of American citizenship. When this fails he comes to convince the family and Catherine that Rodolfo is gay, and tries to show up his lack of maleness. The number of unsuccessful comments and remarks lead Eddie in betraying Rodolfo and Marco as he reveals their illegal status as a refugee.
Eddie spoke in non-standard English. Phrases like “givin’ me the willies” and “heeby-jeebies” are classic non-standard English, informal language in the 1950s. Similar to the workers at the dock in which Arthur Miller previously worked during his early days he has written the dialogue of Eddie in the style of the immigrant workers with who he had lived and toiled in his younger life. As an immigrant himself, Miller was continuously interested in the poor lives of the country’s “down trodden workers”.
In contrasts to Eddie’s style of informal language and style of speech, Rodolfo is affectionate, articulate and poetic. Affectionate and poetic remarks such as “My hearts dies to look at you” and “All the answers are in my eyes” suggest his skill in able to express himself in an articulate way. He is very honest and direct in what he said he is aware of the conflicts that surround him and his brother.
Arthur Miller used many dramatic devices to demonstrate Eddie’s behaviour and anger. For instant, during the play Eddie becomes jealous of Rodolfo’s “glamorous” looks and his attraction towards Catherine; he “twisted” the newspaper to show his anger and jealousy. First, Rodolfo dances with Catherine, symbolically taking her from Eddie. Eddie's bitter response is three times to repeat the phrase "He sings, he cooks, he could make dresses...I can't cook, I can't sing, I can't make dresses, so I'm on the water front. But if I could cook, if I could sing, if I could make dresses, I wouldn't be on the water front". The stage direction tells us that Eddie has been "unconsciously twisting the newspaper" and that he senses "he is exposing the issue".
In the second movement, Eddie tells Rodolfo about boxing matches and offers to teach him to box. After allowing Rodolfo to land some blows, Eddie strikes him harder: "It mildly staggers Rodolfo". The three characters all see what Eddie is trying to do, but his attempt to make Catherine think less of Rodolfo failed.
The third act, and most affective was the movement coming from Marco, who challenged Eddie to lift a chair by one of its legs. When Eddie fails, Marco lifts the chair, and raises it "like a weapon over Eddie's head". Once more, the other characters watch the action attentively. They are very aware of Marco’s action towards Eddie and have no doubt to stop him. I think that the family believes Marco could discipline Eddie to become a better man. They never knew Eddie would take this so serious and put his life on the line.
In contrast to Rodolfo’s awareness and “affectionate”, Eddie is unable to express himself to other people. He is unable to articulate his points such as “I can’t, I can’t talk about it.” By not being able get his point across to his family Eddie ends up insulting them.
A View from the Bridge surprisingly similar to the famous Al Capone. Al Capone is America’s best know gangster and the single greatest symbol of the collapse of law and order in the United States during the 1920s Prohibition era. Capone had a leading role in the illegal activities that lent Chicago its reputation as a lawless city. Al Capone lived and grew up in a rough neighbourhood and was a member of two “kids’ gangs,” named “The Brooklyn Rippers” and the “Fourty Thieves Juniors. “ Capone had a leading role in the changes of many cities. He cluttered the communities with a bad reputation. He made them into a lawless community, a community with no law.
In my opinion and the evidences above displaying the characters which could influence the death of Eddie Capone, I think that Eddie was responsible for his own death. Eddie’s desire and lasciviousness for Catherine and his hatred toward the brother caused him to define his “bloody death”. Eddie is responsible for his own death because he ultimately is fighting against himself with his desires for his niece.
Although this performance was very predictable from the start based on the fact that the introduction of the play was delivered in a form of a chorus, displaying the fate of the play and its characters, I think that the play was very enjoyable in interesting.