Although Catherine condemns Eddie, Beatrice still remains a loyal wife who respects and protects her husband. In response to Catherine’s animadversion of Eddie, Beatrice immediately replies “Don’t call him that!” In addition to rejecting Catherine’s remarks of Eddie, she is admonishing Catherine for her impertinence. Beatrice cannot tolerate the younger generation standing up against their elders, perhaps because old traditions are so ingrained in her. Despite Eddie’s betrayal, Beatrice still continues to stand by her husband’s side, allowing her virtue to shine through.
Nevertheless, the Sicilian community does not have as great a capacity for tolerance as does Beatrice, because members of the community have clearly lost all respect for Eddie. Eddie’s friend, Louis “barely turns, and walks off.” Meanwhile, others react similarly; “Lipari the butcher and wife turn, they exit.” Miller highlights that the Siclian community is physically abandoning Eddie despite his adamant proclamations of innocence.
This leads to the final confrontation between Marco and Eddie, which is a very moving resolution. Once he realizes that Marco is coming for him, Eddie shouts, “I want my name!” The short exclamation conveys the great importance of name and identity to Eddie. Eddie accepts his fate by being willing to confront Marco to regain his name. While Marco drives the blade into Eddie’s body, Marco only facilitates the killing because the weapon is ultimately in Eddie’s hand. Ironically, it is Eddie who kills himself through his actions. This strikes a sorrowful note in the audience’s heart because the punishment of death for the crime of betrayal seems too severe.
In the epilogue, Alfieri declares that Eddie “let himself wholly known and for that I think I will love him more than all of my sensible clients.” Alfieri cannot help but be impressed by Eddie because of his adamant pursuit for dignity as he is willing to even sacrifice his own life for his name and identity. Although Alfieri comments that “yet it is better to settle for half”, he finds it difficult to convince even himself that people are better off comprising after witnessing Eddie’s tragedy.
The ending of the play evoke strong feelings as Miller illuminates the themes of name and identity, respect as well as Sicilian values. Alfieri’s comments cement the notion that Eddie is the tragic hero of the play and his fate was a tragedy. Through this tragic ending, the play is raised from a mere play to a story of greatness and importance, to the equivalent of a Greek tragedy.
