In a poor Italian community of Brooklyn, the Carbone family consists of three members, the man of the house Eddie Carbone, his wife Beatrice Carbone and their niece Catherine. They didn't consider that their little world of happiness
In a poor Italian community of Brooklyn, the Carbone family consists of three members, the man of the house Eddie Carbone, his wife Beatrice Carbone and their niece Catherine. They didn't consider that their little world of happiness would be turning upside down with the arrival of Beatrice's cousin Marco and Rodolpho. Reading and watching the story, I will base my 'evidence' on who was to blame for Eddie Carbone's murder.
Eddie Carbone was a 40 year old man, who was a husky and slightly overweight longshoreman. He's an ordinary man who lives in a poor Italian community of Brooklyn with his family. He is 'the master of the house' or 'the man of the house' - both Beatrice and Catherine are obviously used to him laying down the rules. He sees this as a 'manly' thing to do and he expects all men to do the same - which is why he can't seem to accept Rodolpho's more gentle talents. He showed his generosity to his wife's cousins, Marco and Rodolpho, by letting them stay around his house. Even though having lived in Brooklyn most of his life, he still doesn't trust the people around him. His 'Honour' and 'Pride' means a lot to him. He would do anything to protect his good name.
He is very protective of his niece, Catherine. He considers her his own little daughter. He paid for her typing lessons and had ambitions for her to rise to a different class. He is proud of her looks, yet is concerned about her new job and the attention she receives from men. He finds it hard to admit that she has become a woman. "I guess I just never figured... that you would ever grow up." However, it soon becomes apparent that Eddie is in love with Catherine. He has not made love to his wife for three months. He quickly becomes jealous of Rodolpho because of the immediate impression on Catherine. The stage directions point out to us, "He looks at (Catherine) like a lost boy"; when she tells him she loves Rodolpho. He is unable to admit this shameful emotion to himself and becomes angry when Beatrice and Alfieri dare to mention it. His feelings for Catherine become more obsessive and he tries to do everything in his power to prevent her marriage with Rodolpho.
He attempts to prove that Rodolpho is more of a 'sissy' then a real 'man' unfortunately all his efforts are wasted. Catherine isn't having any of it. She believes in Rodolpho. He says that Rodolpho is more into 'sewing', 'cooking' and 'singing' then into any 'manly stuff'. He claims that Rodolpho is a 'homosexual' and is only using her to gain 'US citizenship'. He tries to get the law involved to stop Catherine and Rodolpho's marriage. Frustration builds in Eddie, when Alfieri tells him that the law can't do anything about it. He also tries violence, by teaching Rodolpho how to 'box'. Marco, however, takes immediate note of this and comes to his brother's aid. Eddie becomes desperate. He calls the immigration authorities and tells them about his wife's 'illegal cousins'.
The immigration authorities arrive and take away the brothers. This really makes Marco angry. He manages to escape from the authorities to spit in Eddie's face before being caught again and dragged off to Jail. Now, this gives Eddie a bad name in the poor Brooklyn community in which he lives in. Marco manages to get out of jail.
He has no option but to try and clear his name by fighting Marco in a barbaric 'street fight'. He brings out a 'knife' to try and convince him to tell everyone that he was not the ...
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The immigration authorities arrive and take away the brothers. This really makes Marco angry. He manages to escape from the authorities to spit in Eddie's face before being caught again and dragged off to Jail. Now, this gives Eddie a bad name in the poor Brooklyn community in which he lives in. Marco manages to get out of jail.
He has no option but to try and clear his name by fighting Marco in a barbaric 'street fight'. He brings out a 'knife' to try and convince him to tell everyone that he was not the one who called the authorities on them, but Marco being the much stronger man, he was able to take the knife from Eddie and use it against him, finishing him off once and for all. In the end, he loses everything; his wife, his name, his love/niece Catherine and his life
Beatrice was Eddie's wife. She cared for Catherine and also considered her as her own daughter. She never had any children of her own. In every argument involving Catherine, she would always take her side. She was a caring and loving person, who looked out for everybody's well-being. She wasn't as selfish as Eddie. She was excited by the imminent arrival of her cousins from Italy. She tries to keep Eddie in a good mood. She knows upsetting him will make him very irritated and the whole situation will be out of hand. She is undeniably aware of the feelings Eddie has for Catherine. We receive a few hints in the story that Eddie's marriage to Beatrice isn't working out properly. This becomes more obvious when Beatrice confronts Eddie and asks him, "When am I gonna be a wife again, Eddie?"
As mentioned earlier, Beatrice is more supportive to Catherine then to Eddie in arguments. She is the one who helped persuade Eddie to let Catherine work. She encourages Catherine that she needs to be more independent. She, in later stages, tells Catherine that she has to stand up for herself and her beliefs; "It means you gotta be your own self more." She has a no-nonsense, practical approach, makes clear observations and is assertive.
Towards the end of the story, she builds the coverage and tells Eddie the truth: "You want something else, Eddie, you can't have her!" She is practically upset by the conflict within the family. She knows that Eddie would never accept the relationship between Rodolpho and Catherine. She continually tries to be the calming influence and in the end, she proves her loyalty towards Eddie, after being left helplessly by Marco, she stays at his side and doesn't attend Catherine's wedding. She is rewarded for this with Eddie's dying words - "My B!"
Catherine is a 17 year old girl, who is the orphaned daughter of Beatrice's Sister Nancy. She is attractive, energetic and cheerful. Yet, she is naïve. She has never seen anything outside the Carbone household. She considers Eddie her father and loves him dearly. She wants permission from Eddie on everything she does. Even at the beginning of the story she is desperate for him to admire her new skirt. Later, she believes that perhaps she is too familiar with Eddie now and that she has grown up: Beatrice tells her not to wander round the apartment in her slip, which shocks and saddens Catherine - which the stage directions point out. She is at the edge of tears, as though a familiar world had shattered. She had never before imagined that there was anything wrong with her relationship with Eddie.
She is very excited to meet the 'illegal cousins' of Beatrice. And once they arrive, the excitement in Catherine becomes reality. After meeting the cousins, Marco and Rodolpho, she wants to know them better. After a short introduction, she becomes attracted to the good looking Rodolpho. She considers them - 'the representative of the outside world'. Wanting to show off in front of Rodolpho, she is reluctant to take her high heels off when Eddie tells her to!
She is initially torn by the conflict caused by the relationship she has between her and Rodolpho with the relationship she has with Eddie. She tries to bring a type of agreement between them by telling Eddie to go and talk to Rodolpho: "Why don't you talk to him, Eddie? He blesses you, and you hardly talk to him." She tries to remain loyal to Eddie by telling Beatrice that her marriage to Rodolpho would be wrong and unacceptable if Eddie doesn't accept it. "I know him and now I'm supposed to turn around and make a stranger out of him." However, she is prepared to take sides when Eddie spars with Rodolpho at the end of Act I, when she comes to her lover's aid. (This helps us bring up the thought that she has chosen to marry Rodolpho despite Eddie's wishes in Act II.)
Still concerned about the rift between the two men she loves, Eddie and Rodolpho, she becomes quieter and more withdrawn by the start of Act II. However, near the end of the story, she builds the courage and strength to leave Eddie to wed Rodolpho. She becomes furious with Eddie when he forbids Beatrice to attend the wedding. But when Eddie betrayed Marco and Rodolpho by calling the immigration authorities, she tries to release her angry by calling Eddie "This rat!"
During the play, she transform from a child to a woman, capable of making her own decisions. Despite this newly formed independence and maturity, she blames herself for the death of Eddie. "Eddie, I never meant to do anything bad to you."
Marco is the older brother of Rodolpho. He comes from a poor village and family in Sicily. He is one of Beatrice's cousins. He has left his wife and three children at home in Italy, the oldest of the three is suffering from tuberculosis. You can tell he loves his family dearly. He is near tears when he first mentions them to the Carbones. He is anxious not to outstay his welcome with the Carbones. His first words towards Eddie are; "I want to tell you now, Eddie - When you say we go, we go." By this we can tell that he is extremely well mannered.
He always speaks simply and clearly; which indicates his straightforward and uncomplicated character. He is very strong. Eddie's friend describes him by calling him a 'bull'. He feels a sense of responsibility for Rodolpho. For example, when Eddie was upset that Catherine and Rodolpho were out late, he warns his brother and demands that he begins to come home early.
However, he still is very protective of Rodolpho. For example; when Eddie punches Rodolpho in the face, while teaching him to 'box', Marco comes to the aid of his younger brother, by lifting the chair over his head with one hand. According to the stage directions, the chair is raised over Eddie's head like a weapon, in other words, he is warning Eddie that he'll defend Rodolpho if necessary.
He has a clear sense of Justice. He sees things as 'right' and 'wrong'. When he is arrested, he spits in Eddie's face and criticises him in front of his neighbours; "That one! He killed my children." His sense of Honour is such that if law can't right a wrong; he won't panic to take the law into his own hands. He comes to see Eddie, near the end to do what he sees as his duty - even when Alfieri had warned him that only God makes justice.
He is the younger brother of Marco. He has got platinum hair, so he makes an immediate impression. He has striking good looks - Beatrice and Catherine are obviously attracted to him. His unusual looks may be a signal to us that he different from an average Italian immigrant.
We later find that he has a different, more sensitive way of trying to solve disputes between Eddie and Marco. He has a great sense of humour and is unvaryingly polite, even when Eddie is rude to him. Unlike Marco, he wants to stay in America and own a motorbike. He loves America and wants to find out as much as he could about New York City - He is keen to see Broadway.
Eddie becomes concerned with Rodolpho because he buys 'American' products, such as a new jacket and records; rather then send money to Marco's family. He can sing, cook and sew. He is very talented. It upsets him to see why Eddie dislikes him because of his 'feminine' skills. His language is lively and imaginative. This shows how intelligent he is. For example; later in the play he pictures Catherine as a bird in a cage.
Catherine falls in love with him almost immediately and he falls in love with her. Even though Eddie tries to suggest that Rodolpho only wants to marry Catherine in order to become a 'US citizen', it is clear his love is strong and genuine. He does not see things in such black and white terms as Marco - he attempts to mediate between Marco and Eddie and is sensitive to both points of view. We realise that, in the end, he is more responsible than Marco. He argues with Marco to promise not to harm Eddie, so that Marco can be granted bail and attend the wedding.
He apologises to Eddie before the wedding and tries to kiss his hand, to calm down the situation. He tries his best to try and stop Eddie and Marco fighting. For Example; "No, Marco, please! Eddie, please, he has children!"
According to the above evidence:-
* Beatrice is only doing what a normal loving mother would do. She wants her 'daughter' to do the best in life and is willing to argue with Eddie for the sake of it. She is loyal to her family and tries to be the calming influence of it, so that it doesn't go out of hand.
* Catherine wants to do her best in life. She wants to repay her 'mother' and 'father' for everything they have done for her. She immediately wants to help 'rebuild' the house with her income. Her love for Rodolpho is 'uncontrollable'. She is willing to fight all odds for it.
* Rodolpho is a teenaged boy who has immediate impressions on the female gender. But it is proved through the course of the story that his love for Catherine is true. He believes for what he fights. But he doesn't want to start a family feud. He tries his best to stop things by trying to calm Eddie down; unfortunately, all of his efforts are in vain.
* Marco is a well mannered honest person. He comes to America for the sake of his family. But, towards the end of the story, Marco gives his word to Alfieri and tells him that he will not kill Eddie. If Eddie didn't bring out a knife, would Marco have killed him? No. I think Marco would live up to his word and expectations.
* I believe that Eddie is his own killer. If he had not bought out a weapon to threaten Marco, he would still be alive. During the middle of the story, you could tell that Eddie's death was eminent. His selfish desires for Catherine caused him his life, his family and most importantly, his name. If Eddie had survived, would he be the same respected person in the community? And would he have supported Catherine and Rodolpho's marriage? No. Eddie is a man of pride. His pride was damaged when he called the immigration authorities on the brothers, and from there onwards his pride became irreparable. He believes in what his mind tells him. He would have lost all moral respect in his community.