Rodolpho
- Rodolpho is Marco’s younger brother. He is blond and handsome. His blond hair is unusual among the more usually dark Sicilians, and people often remark on it. In fact, Catherine’s first words to him are
How come he’s so dark and you’re so light, Rodolpho?
He and Catherine have an instant attraction for one another. - He has a sense of humour. He is always ready to make a joke, even about the poverty back in Italy -
The horses in our town are skinnier than goats… in our town the horses are only for show.
- Rodolpho is ambitious. He, along with Catherine, represents the younger generation, with Catherine, who are not prepared to sit back and take whatever life throws at them. He has big plans, and one of these is to gain American citizenship.
- He is happy-go-lucky, and enjoys singing, cooking and sewing. He is confident enough about himself not to feel that these skills threaten his manliness, unlike Eddie, who considers him effeminate.
- He tries very hard to be friendly with Eddie; the stage directions say he talks to Eddie,
attempting familiarity
, but Eddie is not prepared to give him a chance. When Rodolpho and Catherine are alone in the apartment together for the first time, they end up going into the bedroom where they have sex. As Rodolpho comes out of the bedroom to face a furious, and drunk, Eddie, the stage directions say that [Rodolpho nods to him testingly.] It is as though Rodolpho has now staked his claim on Catherine, and is daring Eddie to challenge him. - He is understandably insulted when he realises that Eddie is telling people that he only wants Catherine so that he can become an American citizen. Of course the fact is that, by marrying her he will get his wish, and this is a fortunate side effect. However, the audience is never in any doubt that he loves Catherine. He says,
Yes! She’ll be my wife. That is what I want. My wife!
The pair of them will go forward into the new world of 1950s America, freed from the bonds of the ancient Italian social rules and unwritten laws. It is a sign of his self-control that he never retaliateTo make an attack in return for a similar attack. against Eddie when he kisses him on the mouth and calls himthat
, although he is angry and tells Catherine that he would like Eddie to know that he isnot a beggar.
- At the end of the play, Marco and Rodolpho have more or less changed roles, and Rodolpho is now the peacemaker. He accepts that everything has happened because of him;
It is my fault, Eddie. Everything. I wish to apologize. It was wrong that I do not ask your permission. I kiss your hand.
He begs Marco and Eddie not to fight, shouting,Eddie, please, he has children! You will kill a family!
Even if he does not really believe this, he is willing to accept responsibility in order to prevent the fight.
‘A View from the Bridge’ - the role of Rodolpho
