The second conflict is within a character where the character (Catherine) is confused about what to do.
The last type of conflict is conflict between 2 sets of laws or values which means two people arguing about what the law say’s and if its wrong to do something which will break the law.
An example of conflict between characters would be between Eddie and Catherine when Catherine says that she’s got a job and she wants to work and Eddie refuses to let her work.
“You’ll never get no where unless you finish school. You can’t take the job. Why didn’t you ask me before you took the job.”
And Catherine says,
“ I’m the best student, I should take the job and at the end of the year they’ll let me take the examination and they’ll give me a certificate, so I’ll save particularly a year.”
An example of conflict within a character is Catherine. Catherine gets confused on what to do; to marry Rodolfo or listen to Eddie and not marry Rodolfo.
“I don’t know” says Catherine. Beatrice says
“don’t tell you don’t know; you’re not a baby no more, what are you going to do with your self?”
Finally the two sets of laws that cause tension is when Eddie asks Alfieri about what he should do about Catherine marrying Rodolfo. Alfieri says,
“This is my last word, Eddie, take it or not, that’s your business. Morally or legally you have no rights, you cannot stop it; she is a free agent.” Then he says “I heard what you told me and I’m telling you what the answer is. I’m warning you- the law is nature. The law is only a word for what has a right to happen. When the law is wrong its because it natural.”
One of the most important scenes of tension and conflict is the final scene of act 1. at the beginning of this scene, the family are finishing dinner and Beatrice and Catherine are clearing the table. In this incident Eddie say’s that he’s heard that they paint oranges. Rodolfo corrects Eddie by telling him that lemons are green. Eddie doesn’t like Rodolfo interrupting the dialogue shows tension when Eddie says,
“I know lemons are green for crists sakes” the direction which shows tension is when we are told Eddie “resents his instruction.”
Following this incident Marco says that his wife understands she will be faithful to him until he returns from America. Eddie tells marco,
“I betcha there’s plenty of surprises, sometimes when these guys get back there.”
Marco says no there’s not much surprises. Rodolfo backs Eddie up by saying
“its more strict in our town, its not free,” and Eddie becomes angry because he thinks that Rodolfo is trying to say its easy to attract girls in America. An he rises from his chair and says, “it aint so free here either, Rodolfo, like you think.”
In another incident later in this act, Eddie wants to teach Rodolfo to box.
“Ya can’t tell, one of these days somebody liable to step on his foot or sump’n. Come on Rodolfo I’ll show ya a couple of passes.” Beatrice then encourages Rodolfo to box.
“Go ahead, Rodolfo. He’s a good boxer, he could tech ya.” Rodolfo starts to box and Eddie asks to Rodolfo to lay a punch at him, and Rodolfo refuses, because he thinks he might hurt Eddie. Eddie then replys,
“don’t pity me, come on, Throw it , I’ll show ya how to block it.” Then Rodolfo jabs at him, Eddie then says “Ats it now! Now, watch out, here I come, Danish! Eddie feints with his left hand and lands with his right. It mildly staggers Rodolfo. Eddie purposely hits Rodolfo. Marco realises what Eddie is up to and he stands up. Marco goes to Eddie and says, “can you lift this chair?” Eddie replies “what do you mean?” Marco raises on one knee with one hand behind his back, and grasps the bottom of the chair, but does not lift it, then Eddie try’s lifting it , but he struggles and leans over to the floor. Marco kneels, grasps, and with strain slowly raises the chair higher and higher raising to his feet. Marco warns Eddie off. Marco behaves like this because he does not like Eddie messing about with his brother.
In my opinion the person most to blame for the conflict is Eddie, because, Eddie is the one who is causing trouble for the family, and he an unnatural love for Catherine, he becomes jealous, because Rodolfo and Catherine are going out and he is not prepared to settle for half as Alfieri advises him to.
