The drama starts off as Eddie is taking control of Catherine; the audience can see that the way in which he holds her back shows Eddie’s masculinity, through the Sicilian stereotype and the modern day version. Once Catherine tells Eddie that she has acquired a job, at first Eddie does not agree with the idea of his niece going to work before she has finished her education by saying “It’s not wonderful. You’ll never get nowheres unless you finish school. You can’t take no job…” This demonstrates Eddie’s manliness since, in Sicilian culture, he is the head of the house so he has to be acknowledged before most decisions are finalized and then whatever he settles upon is definitive. Because of the family’s confrontation, tension is already created between the three by the argument over Catherine’s future and the quarrel also angers the family even before the arrival of the two cousins.
After this point, the two Sicilian relatives reach their destination and temporary living space in the shape of Eddie Carbone’s apartment. Marco is first described as “…a square built peasant of thirty-two, suspicious, tender, and quiet voiced.” showing that he already demonstrates several characteristics of an orthodox male. Marco’s size, compared to his brother, is quite large and, by the way that he is first to talk, he is shown to be the more respected of the two brothers. Since Marco initially speaks for both himself and his brother, Eddie begins to enjoy Marco’s company but, when he finally has the courage, Rodolfo begins to talk and Eddie immediately begins to dislike the younger brother because Rodolfo reveals that he has several talents that Eddie does not believe a man should have such as singing and cooking. Eventually, Eddie begins to only address Marco showing that hostility is already beginning to emerge. In addition, once Eddie notices that Catherine is wearing high heeled shoes, he forces his niece to take them off. This not only embarrasses Catherine but angers Beatrice,
“Embarrassed now, angered, CATHERINE goes out into the bedroom. BEATRICE watches her go and gets up; in passing she gives EDDIE a cold look…”
Because of Eddie’s action towards Catherine, further hostility is created between himself and Beatrice as she disagrees with the way that Eddie treats their niece. As a result, stress is created even before Rodolfo’s intentions become known. As Rodolfo does begin to flirt with Catherine, Eddie is shown to make this hostility even more violent as his reaction to Rodolfo’s behaviour.
“Eddie is downstage, watching as she pours a spoonful of sugar into his cup, his face puffed with trouble…”
The theme of masculinity once again ties into this as Eddie does not believe Rodolfo to be a well thought-of man who possesses acceptable qualities. In addition, hostility is noticeable as Eddie begins to show his loathing attitude towards Rodolfo early on in the act. As this is the first moment in which the cousins meet Eddie, the audience can tell that the tension between the family members is only going to get more noticeable as Rodolfo’s advances on Catherine become more troubling for Eddie.
Eddie starts to get suspicious of Rodolfo’s motives for wanting to marry Catherine. This causes Eddie to visit Alfieri, in case the law can somehow prohibit Rodolfo’s actions. While talking to Alfieri, Eddie reveals that he believes Rodolfo to be homosexual. This brings into question Rodolfo’s masculinity. This also provokes a somewhat irrational and over exaggerated response from Eddie; his hostile behaviour towards Rodolfo becomes more noticeable through his conversation with Alfieri,
“I gotta sit in my own house and look at a son-of-a-bitch punk like that …..he takes and puts his filthy hands on her like a goddam thief!”
Eddie’s hostility has almost increased to the point of violence. This consequently creates even more anxiety for Eddie as he realizes that he can not stop Rodolfo from marrying Catherine.
At the opening of the climax of the first act, Eddie’s hostility is already obvious by the way that he addresses only Marco and how he angrily replies to Rodolfo’s comment on lemons,
“E: I know lemons are green, for Christ’s sake”
Eddie’s use of blasphemy shows the audience the hostility behind Eddie’s response to Rodolfo’s statement. This resentment begins to build up the strain between the family members because Eddie’s dislike of Rodolfo becomes even more apparent. After this, Eddie begins to argue with Beatrice and Rodolfo over what he and Catherine can do,
“E: I know, but in your town you wouldn’t just drag off some girl without permission, I
mean…I mean it might be a little more free here but it’s just a strict.
R: I have respect for her, Eddie. I do anything wrong?”
Eddie uses his hostility to make Beatrice understand that the way in which Rodolfo is dating Catherine is unacceptable in both societies. When Eddie begins to reveals that New York might be freer but that it is just as strict, he uses his hostility to, in a way, discipline Rodolfo by trying to turn Beatrice against him as well. This also works to make Marco chastise his younger sibling by telling him to bring Catherine home early from now on. This further creates tension between the members of the group by allowing Eddie to gain some ground against Rodolfo.
When Marco reveals that Rodolfo used to cook for the rest of the men on the boat, Eddie begins to once again bring Rodolfo masculinity into question,
“But if I could cook, if I could sing, if I could make dresses, I wouldn’t be on the water front (He has been unconsciously twisting the newspaper into a tight roll. They are all regarding him now’ he senses he is exposing the issue and he is driven on.) I would be someplace. I would be in a dress store. (He has bent the rolled paper and it suddenly tears in two.)”
When Eddie begins to twist the newspaper and eventually tear it in two, the audience can see that this moment is starting to get very stressful for Eddie and that he is beginning to get very angry with everything that Rodolfo is doing. All of this together creates a very nerve-racking scene for Eddie but also a very enticing scene as the audience begins to realize that the anger between Eddie and Rodolfo is about to hit its climax.
The climax opens with the boxing match. This creates an uneasy tension between the three as the two cousins are curious as to what Eddie is up too as this is just after his outburst moments before about Rodolfo’s talents. This also marks the beginning of Eddie’s hostility finally being turned to physical aggression “E: Sure, he’s terrific! Look at him go! (Rodolfo lands a blow.) ‘At’s it! Now, watch
out, here I come, Danish! (He feints with his left hand and lands with his right. It
mildly staggers Rodolfo. Marco rises)”
This aggression is obviously intentional as this would not have been done to any other beginner to the sport. Eddie had originally intended this to make Catherine no longer love Rodolfo; instead it had the opposite effect as Rodolfo immediately started to dance with Catherine. The tension is extremely obvious not just to the audience but to the characters as well, namely Marco. As a result of his hostility turned aggression, Eddie is now on the receiving end of Marco’s own violent behaviour. This is shown through the use of the chair to look like a weapon over his head and also the look of triumph on Marco’s face. Eddie realizes that Marco knows that if Eddie were to attack the younger brother again, Marco is stronger and will defend his sibling,
“the chair raised like a weapon over EDDIE’s head - and he transforms what might appear like a glare of warning into a smile of triumph, and EDDIE’s grin vanishes as he absorbs his look.
As this is the most climatic moment in the drama so far, the audience finds out that Marco knows what Eddie is trying to separate Rodolfo and Catherine by any means necessary. The audience now realizes that a major event is going to occur between the two characters as a result of Eddie’s behaviour. Because of this, the tension is now at an all time high as Eddie realizes Marco will do anything to defend his brother.
In the beginning of the second act, Rodolfo and Catherine are alone in the house for the first time, as revealed by Alfieri, and the audience expects their relationship to grow. Then, just as Rodolfo and Catherine enter one of the bedrooms, Eddie walks into the apartment drunk, which only serves to heighten his aggressive behaviour. Seeing Catherine and Rodolfo come out of their room angers Eddie and he becomes very aggressive in his actions against the two lovers. Eddies “grabs her arm”, showing that he does not want Catherine to leave and will use force to stop her. After this, the emotion and stress is too much for Eddie and he once again pull Catherine to him and kisses her. This is in an attempt to win ownership of Catherine, as Eddie realizes that his violence has done anything to change her mind. Instead, Eddie’s actions have an opposite effect on Catherine as she takes the kiss to be a breach of her rights. Rodolfo is angered by this and goes to attack Eddie; this shows that Eddie’s aggression will always be reciprocated by one of the two brothers. Eddie, once again changing tactics, kisses Rodolfo to show Catherine that her love is gay. By attempting to humiliate Rodolfo, Eddie is trying to once again acquire power over Catherine and also to compel Rodolfo to abscond. Once again, Eddie’s attempts are futile as Rodolfo and Catherine refuse to separate. Eddie is now on the verge of a nervous breakdown as he appears to be full of emotion shown by the stage direction, “EDDIE stands there with tears rolling down his face as he laughs mockingly at RODOLFO.” This shows that no matter how hard he is trying to resist it, Eddie’s masculine behaviour is somewhat deteriorating as he begins to cry; a stereotypical man is supposed to be unemotional and stoic.
For second time in the drama, Eddie decides to visit Alfieri to see if the law the can some how stop Rodolfo from marrying Catherine. This alone shows that Eddie is beginning to get desperate as Alfieri already told him that the law can not stop the two from been wed. The audience realizes that the tension in the apartment is at an all time high Eddie reveals that no one speaks much anymore. When Eddie tells this to Alfieri, he once again brings Rodolfo’s masculinity into question by say that “- he (Rodolfo) ain’t right. Somebody that don’t want it can break it.” This is once again another attempt by Eddie to prove that Rodolfo is gay. As “A phone booth begins to glow on the opposite side of the stage…” the audience realize that Eddie is about to phone the Immigration Bureau, as he became conscious that this is the only way to stop Rodolfo. This adds dramatic tension as the audience begins to notice that Eddie is no longer abiding by the Sicilian way of life, as he will be disrespecting his own family by handing over Rodolfo and Marco. This event also is evident of showing dramatic irony as Eddie was the person who told Catherine the Vinny Bolzano story. As Eddie calls the Immigration, he is losing all of the respect that he has gained in the community.
As expected by the audience, the Immigration officers take Marco and Rodolfo into custody. Marco has figured out who had called the Immigration Bureau and he reacts in very aggressively and with retribution in mind. Because of what Eddie has done, Marco believes that Eddie has disrespected his family and does not deserve anything from him except to spit in his face. This, in Sicilian culture, is a symbol of humiliation and shows that community that Marco holds Eddie accountable for what has happened also shown by his words “That one! He killed my children!” This aggressive behaviour all serves to create tension between Marco and Eddie, as Eddie responds by trying to gain back control by emphasizing his power. The protagonist uses expletives to try and show his anger, “I’ll kill you for that, you son of a bitch!” Eddie, after this, then goes into denial and tries to convince the crowd that has gathered that he has only had the cousins’ best interests at heart and that he did not do anything to hurt them throughout their time in his home. This is shown by “I kept them, I give them the blankets off my bed!” By doing this, Eddie is trying to lower the tension now created between all of the members of the community against him. After Eddie’s attempts to bring people back to his side, each member walks off stage away from him. Eddie now begins to let all of his emotion out by saying “I’ll kill him!” showing that he has realized that he has lost all of the respect he had in the community and that only by an act of violence can he win the society’s admiration back.
The scene now changes to a prison cell where Alfieri is talking to Marco with Rodolfo and Catherine. Alfieri reveals that he can bail Marco out until the time of his hearing but he will not unless Marco promises that he will not confront Eddie over what he has done. To Marco, this promise seems dishonourable as his masculinity will be put to the test if he does not harm Eddie, since Eddie had him arrested and subsequently also will have sent him back to Sicily. Marco criticizes American law by saying “All the law is not in a book,” and that since “He degraded my brother. My blood.,” Marco believes that he will be within his rights in killing Eddie and that the only way for him to show his masculinity is for him to take revenge for himself and his brother.
The climax starts in Eddie’s apartment on the day of Catherine’s wedding. Catherine, in an unexpected move for her, finally stands up to Eddie and shouts at him while crying, “He comes when nobody’s lookin’ and poisons decent people. In the garbage he belongs!” As a result of Catherine’s own hostile conduct, Eddie shows aggression appearing to “about to pick up the table and fling it at her.” By showing this behaviour, the audience realizes that Eddie is once again trying to control the situation and by his reaction, Eddie’s reaction shows that he has lost his niece. The tension once again starts to rise as Rodolfo walks into the apartment and reveals to Eddie that “He’s (Marco) praying in the church. You understand?” This means that Marco is asking God to pardon him for what he is about to do. Because of the tension, the audience can guess that Marco is on his way to kill Eddie. When Eddie says “Marco’s got my name and you can run tell him, kid, that he’s gonna give it back to me in front of this neighbourhood, or we have it out.” This aggressive statement suggests that unless Marco gives Eddie the respect he deserves, the tension between the two will finally result in all out violence. After this, Beatrice finally states Eddie’s true feelings for Catherine,
“B: You want somethin’ else, Eddie, and you can never have her!
E: (shocked, horrified, his fists clenching) Beatrice!”
This finally reveals to the audience and also to the other characters that Eddie real feelings for Catherine are more than just father-daughter – his fatal flaw. This brings about a violent reaction from Eddie and creates tension between the three just before Marco walks into the scene. Upon entering the street, Marco shouts out Eddie’s name to which Eddie replies by shouting out his name three times. This is because he wants both his respect and honour back from Marco so that he can once again have his traditional masculine nature. As everyone is out in the street, Eddie sees this as ideal opportunity for Marco to apologize to him. With the stage direction “He is incensing himself and little bits of laughter even escape him as his eyes are murderous and he cracks his knuckles in his hands with a strange sort of relaxation,” the audience can feel the tension building as Eddie prepares himself in this aggressive way for what is about to happen. As they slowly move towards each other, both Eddie and Marco spread their arms to show that, in their aggressive way, they are ready for the conflict they are going to have. The dramatic tension is now at the highest point in the tragedy as the audience can see that Eddie and Marco are now ready for their final confrontation. In his anger, Eddie gets a knife into his hand and raises it at Marco giving him one last chance to redeem himself. When he refuses, Eddie lunges with the knife but Marco grabs his arm and turns the knife in on Eddie. Because of this, Eddie could be said to have died because of his actions because he was the person who was holding the knife when it stabbed him and also because his actions caused Catherine to fall in love with Rodolfo before she had a chance to meet any other men. In the end, Eddie finally gets what he wants and this is “The two women…calling his name again and again”. This shows that Eddie finally receives what he has been trying to obtain throughout the whole act and that is his name and his respect from the people he loves. As he dies in Beatrice’s arms, he gains back the quality of masculinity as he now has their reverence.
Throughout the drama, Eddie Carbone made his inner emotions well known, which consequently served to be his undoing. As he tried to gain respect and control out of the two women he loved, Eddie actually drove them further away with his aggression and hostility and as a result, Catherine fell in love with Rodolfo. Because of this, the dramatic tension continued to rise after every violent and antagonistic conversation up until Eddie’s and Marco’s final confrontation. In conclusion, as the audience knows ‘A View From the Bridge’ to be a Greek tragedy, they can understand that the protagonist will have a fatal flaw and that in the end; this will lead to their undoing.