Characters – WJECEddie Carbone

• Eddie Carbone’s surname is significant. It means ‘carbon’ which is one of the most common elements. This tells us that he is an ‘everyman’; an ordinary man who represents all men. He was born in America but his father came from Italy – probably Sicily – around the turn of the century (1900). He understands that people must obey the written American law, but deep inside him he has the ancient Italian desires for respect and revenge. He warns Beatrice and Catherine to say nothing about Marco and Rodolpho staying with them and tells them the cautionary tale of Vinnie Bolzano, a man who betrayed his own uncle. This foreshadows what happens later.
• He and his wife, Beatrice, have no children of their own, and this is possibly a cause of tension between them. However, they have brought up Catherine, Beatrice’s niece, since she was a baby. Eddie has always thought of her as his daughter, but during the span of the play it becomes clear, both to the audience and to several characters, that he is extremely possessive and has developed sexual feelings for her. It is important to understand that Eddie himself does not realise this. He just thinks he is looking out for her. However, he tries to put obstacles in her way every time she seems close to leading an independent life. He just scoffs when Beatrice points this out to him.
• Since Eddie has been having these feelings for Catherine, he has not been interested in having a sexual relationship with Beatrice. This causes arguments between them throughout the play. Eddie cannot see that he hurts Beatrice every time he pays Catherine a compliment, such as when he calls her a Madonna three times in one short speech. The Madonna is the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. She is without sin, pure and kind, and to Catholics, their universal mother.
• Before Marco and Rodolpho arrive he seems pleased to be able to help them. He acknowledges that if he were in in their position he would be grateful for the help. His wife calls him an angel. Unfortunately, his kindly feelings change soon after the cousins arrive because he can see that Catherine and Rodolpho are attracted to each other. He says that Rodolpho only wants to marry Catherine to gain American citizenship. He then begins to refer to all aspects of Rodolpho, such as his ability to sing, sew and cook, which Eddie thinks shows that he must be gay. He says, The guy ain’t right, Mr Alfieri. To Eddie, this is the proof he needs to show that Rodolpho cannot be marrying Catherine for love. When he comes home drunk just before Christmas, Eddie finds Catherine and Rodolpho coming out of the bedroom. He explodes with rage and reacts in a terrifying way. First he grabs Catherine and kisses her on the mouth. As Rodolpho tries to stop him, Eddie asks You want something? and does the same to him. He later claims that Rodolpho enjoyed the kiss, He didn’t give me the right kind of fight, I know it, Mr Alfieri, the guy ain’t right.
• At the start of the play he shares Alfieri’s faith in the American law. He repeatedly goes to Alfieri to see what can be done about Rodolpho. When Alfieri explains that Rodolpho has done nothing illegal (except for entering the country without papers) Eddie loses faith and takes matters into his own hands, breaking the omertà – the code of silence. This is when he phones the Immigration Bureau. We can infer that he is asked for, but does not give, his name when he does this, as he is heard saying Heh? I’m just around the neighbourhood, that’s all. Heh? He fully understands how enormous the betrayal is among his fellow Italians. This emphasises his desperation to keep Catherine and Rodolpho apart.
• Throughout the play it seems that Rodolpho is Eddie’s biggest problem, but towards the end it is evident that he hates Marco far more for spitting at him and taking away his respect – his name. He sums up his feelings for the brothers when he says, I want my name! He [Rodolpho] didn’t take my name; he’s only a punk. Marco’s got my name... He insists that he will only accept Marco’s apology in front of the whole neighbourhood. This sets up the scene for Eddie to stand in an elevated spot to address the people, just as in a Greek tragedy. Ironically, when Marco spits at Eddie, Eddie feels that it cancels out his betrayal. He insists, I want my name, Marco. His final words, My B! show that Beatrice was his true love but that he lost his way. This is, after all, a very human failing.

Traditional

How is Eddie like this?

Eddie goes out to work and Beatrice stays at home.

He has trouble accepting the fact that Catherine wants to go out into the world and find a job.

Evidence

You lived in a house all your life, what do you know about it? You never worked in your life.

No – no, you gonna finish school. What kinda job, what do you mean? All of a sudden you...

Analysis

Eddie is unfair to Beatrice when he says this. He has always expected her to be a housewife; in fact, he thinks all women should be like her. It is just his obsession with Catherine which makes him act nastily.

Possessive

How is Eddie like this?

He hates the idea of other men looking at Catherine as a woman.

Evidence

I don’t like the looks they’re giving you in the candy store. And with them new high heels on the sidewalk – clack, clack, clack. The heads are turning like windmills.

Analysis

Not only does this show Eddie’s possessiveness – but the juxtapositioning of candy store and high heels illustrates how Catherine is caught between childhood and adulthood in Eddie’s mind.