Characters from a view from the bridge

Characters from a view from the bridge

1. Catherine

   • Is beatrice's niece - the orphahed daughter of her sister nancy
   • she is attractive, energetic and cheerful
   • look's up to eddie like a father-like figure
     • always looks for his approval -- "do you like it?" x3
     • still heavily influenced
     • blames herself for eddie's death -- "eddie i never meant to do nothing bad to you"
   • She is excited on the arrival of beatrice's cousins Marco and rodolpho
     • attracted to rodolpho straight away
     • torn between her relationship with rodolpho and her relationship with eddie
       • tries to encourage eddie to speak to rodolpho -- "why dont you talk to him, eddie? He blesses you, and you dont talk to him hardly"
   • changes from a child into a women during this play
     • makes her own decisions

2. Eddie

   • hard working longshoreman -- described as "a husky, slightly overweight longshoreman
     • supports his wife and niece
     • well liked man in the community
     • 40 years old
   • when beatrice's cousins arrive, eddie is scared and feels threatened that his masculinity will be pushed out and will lose his position as the master of the house
     • generous to let them stay in his house considering the consiquences
     • selfish and self protective about his things when it comes to the cousins
       • very protective over catherine when it comes to rodolpho
         • proud of her looks but doesn't like how she attracts other men
         • finds it hard to admit that she has grown up
         • it soon becomes obvious that eddie is in love with catherine
           • "he looks at catherine like a lost boy"
           • doesnt show interest in beatrice
             • his main concern is making sure catherine and rodolpho dont get married
               • tries to undermine rodolpho for his looks and his skills
               • goes to alfieri to try and prevent it in the law
               • uses boxing as an excuse to hit him
               • calls the immigration bureau to get rodolpho and marco taken away
           • obsessive
             • jealous
   • concerned about his honor and reputation in the community -- "a guy do a thing like that, how's he gonna show his face?"

3. Beatrice

   • loving caring person
     • cares for her sisters daughter as she hasnt got any children of her own
   • she defers to eddie and lets him control everything in the house
     • before the arrival of her cousins she worries about the consequences --" im just worried about you"
     • has to persuade his approval for catherine's job and relationship
   • aware of eddie's non interest
     • "when am i gonna be a wife again, eddie?"
     • partly because of this, she encourages catherine's relationship with rodolpho
     • "you want somethin, else eddie, and you cant have her!"
     • remains loyal to eddie
       • stays with him instead of attending catherines wedding
         • rewarded with his words "my B"

4. marco

   • oldest brother of rodolpho
     • protective over him
     • holds up a chair after eddie punches rodolpho as a sign that he will defend him if nesscesary
   • comes from a poor town in sicily
   • has a wife and three children back home whom he wants to make a living for
   • anxious not to overstay his welcome with the carbones -- "when you say we go, we go "
   • strong, eddie's friend mike describes him as a regular bull
   • get's revenge and justice over eddie

5. rodolpho

   • has platinum hair and therefore makes and immediate impression
     • great sense of humor
       • incredibly polite, even when eddie is rude to him
       • popular down the docks
     • keen
       • loves the idea of america
   • he can sing, sew, and cook
     • eddie doesnt approve of his feminine skills
   • falls in love with catherine
     • "you think i would carry on my back the rest of my life a women i didnt love just to be an american?"
       • speaks passionately
         • tries to reason with eddie, and tries to kiss his hand to settle the situation
           • sensitive about things
   • marcos younger brother
     • more sensible than him -- asks marco not to harm eddie so he can attend the wedding
       • tries to prevent them at the end "no marco, please! eddie, please, he has children!"

6. Alfieri

   • lawyer
   • he is the commentator of the play
   • he is compassionate -- tries to settle eddie and later marco
   • warns eddie "let her go" and "you wont have a friend eddie"
   • powerless to change what he knows