Eddie Carbone

Eddie Carbone

1. Eddie is 40 years old. He is described as 'a husky, slightly overweight longshoreman'

   • He is an ordinary man
     • He's very generous as he offers a home to Beatrice's cousins
     • Self-protective and selfish, shows this through reminding Beatrice not to let the cousins sleep in his bed.
   • He is the 'master of the house'
     • Doesn't trust people easily. He says to Catherine "the less you trust, the less you be sorry"
     • He is very protective over Catherine, if not over-protective as if he'd brought her up as one of his own.
       • Later he shows that he's in love with Catherine as he becomes jealous of Rodolpho and Catherine's relationship

2. Eddie attempts to prevent Catherine and Rodolpho from marriage by trying to undermine him.

   • He mocks Rodolpho's skills at cooking, singing and sewing, claims he is homosexual and tells Catherine that he only wants her to gain US citizenship.
     • He calls the Immigration Bureau is a last desperate attempt to stop the wedding: he cares so much for Catherine that he is prepared to break his code
   • He tries to get the law involved and is amazed when Alfieri says that nothing can be done.
   • He tries violence: he 'teaches' Rodolpho to box as an excuse to hit him, then fights with Rodolpho when he knows Rodolpho has slept with Catherine.

3. In the end Eddie loses everything Catherine, his wife, his name.

   • Ends up fighting with Marco prepared to kill him, suddenly Marco turns the knife towards Eddie and kills him.