The Atmosphere of Doom in "A View From The Bridge"

... Surprisingly for Eddie, Rodolpho says that life is strict in Italy and Eddie rises to the occasion. Eddie retaliates with the comment that it is also strict here and he does not like Rodolpho bringing Catherine back so late. Marco gives in to Eddie´s power, trying to create peace between the two. There is now an air of tension and suppressed rivalry in the room. Catherine at this point is sick and tired of the person she loves being denounced in such a way. She therefore challenges Eddie´s authority in asking Rodolpho to dance. Eddie simply freezes and carries on attacking Rodolpho by asking him to box. In this way, Eddie was putting Rodolpho to a sick test. Eddie was wondering if Rodolpho were actually going to hit him. Marco was quiet throughout the whole boxing scene and when it was finished, Catherine and Rodolpho started dancing again. Marco then challenged Eddie to his own kind of test. When Eddie fails to pick up a chain by one leg, Marco does it exposing his full strength. Although this action was done without any words, Eddie knew what Marco was signalling. Eddie had gone too far and Marco was protecting his baby brother. Marco, who was normally a quiet, self-contained and polite figure, was now questioning Eddie´s authority because Eddie had violated his. The Italian passion for justice comes through again as Marco violently protects his brother. Marco had arisen and with great strength, everyone was now questioning Eddie´s authority.

In the next act, Alfieri states that because a crate of wine 'accidentally´ fell off a ship Eddie was likely to come home drunk. Another warning. In this next scene, Catherine and Rodolpho show their love for each other through words and they talk about Eddie. Rodolpho knows that Catherine has to get away from Eddie. They make love. Eddie comes home early in the morning and Catherine comes to the door to meet him. She is wearing little. Rodolpho comes out of the same room and Eddie is able to draw the correct conclusion. Eddie tries to force Rodolpho out of the house. Catherine stands up for herself and tries to go too. As Catherine is trying to state her argument Eddie pulls her close and kisses her on the mouth. Rodolpho is disgusted and then Eddie kisses Rodolpho on the mouth to prove to Catherine that he is gay. Eddie goes to Alfieri and this time Alfieri knows what will happen. When Alfieri could not do anything for Eddie, he called the Immigration Bureau. Eddie committed the injustice, which he was so against at the start of the play. Eddie was on his last legs and when the officers came for the cousins Marco knew, using the Italian instinct, he knew that Eddie had called the Bureau. Marco therefore made a large show, telling everyone in the street what Ed ...