EDDIE’S PERSONALITY CHANGES AS THE EFFECT
OF HIS INCESTUOUS LOVE AS SEEN IN
ARTHUR MILLER’S
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree ofSarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
NILA KRISNAWATI
Student Number: 034214056
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree ofSarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
NILA KRISNAWATI
Student Number: 034214056
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
YOGYAKARTA 2009
v
Three things in life that may never be lost:
peace, hope, and honesty.
Three things in life that are most valuable:
love, self-confidence, and friends.
Three things in life that are never certain:
dreams, success, and fortune.
Three things that make a person:
hard work, sincerity, and commitment.
vi
vii
in this life. It is wonderful to know that from those important things we do, we
will have significant things for our life. I have gained a star that I have dreamed
for so long. I cannot forget all the sublime people who have already guided,
helped and supported me. First, I would like to thank God for the strength, health,
and love that have supported me in writing this thesis. I thank God, for always
loving and blessing me even in the worst time.
Second, I would like to express my gratitude to my advisor, Dra. Th. Enny
Anggraini, M. A. who has willingly sacrificed her time to read, correct, and
criticized my thesis. I am very grateful to my co-advisor, Dewi Widyastuti, S. Pd.
M. Hum. I thank her for correcting and giving suggestion for my thesis writing. I
thank them for her advice, guidance, patience, understanding, and support during
the process of my writing.
I also want to express my gratitude to all lecturers who have passionately
taught me and share their knowledge. I thank mbak Ninik and all Sanata Dharma
staff, for helping me during whole semesters.
My deepest appreciation goes to my beloved parents, Goso Sutikno and
Umiyati. I thank them for their endless support and fantastic love in understanding
and fulfilling my needs. My deep thanks also go to my beloved husband, Djaka
Ade Praja Saputra, for being patient and helpful. I thank my little princess, Salwa
Febrianika Putri, for the wonderful day and great motivation. I would also thank
viii
I am also very grateful for Tika who is really helpful in this thesis writing.
I thank my best friends Dwi, Ika, Poppy, Reni and all of ’03 English Letters
student in Sanata Dharma University. Greatest thanks also go to Kelompok 1;
Caca, Cici, Ririt, Kiki, Nino, Vero, Pandu, and Paul, for experiences we shared
together.
I also thank all of my friends whose names cannot be mentioned one by
one. Thank you for helping me during the process of this thesis writing. I would
never have finished my study well in this University without your help, support,
guidance, and advice.
Yogyakarta
ix
A. Background of the Study ...1
B. Problem Formulation ...5
C. Objectives of the Study ...5
D. Definition of Terms ...5
CHAPTER II: THEORETICAL REVIEW ...8
A. Review of Related Studies ...8
B. Review of Related Theories ...12
1. Theories of Character and Characterization ...12
2. Theories of Incest ...14
3. Theory of Personality Changes ...16
C. Theoretical Framework ...19
CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ...21
A. Object of the Study ...21
B. Approach of the Study ...22
C. Method of the Study ...23
CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS ...25
A. The Description of the Central Character ... 25
1. Generous...26
2. Loyal...26
3. Respectful...27
4. Caring Person...28
5. Overprotective father...30
B. Central Character’s Incestuous Love toward his niece ...33
C. Central Character’s Personality Changes as the Effect of His Incestuous Love...39
1. Selfish...40
x
3. Rude...46
4. Violent... 47
5. Jealous Man...49
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ...51
BIBLIOGRAPHY...54
APPENDICES... 56
Appendix 1...56
xi University, 2009.
This study deals with A View from the Bridge, a revised-play by Arthur Miller. It is based on the writer’s interest on one’s personality that changes badly as the effect of incestuous love he experienced. Everyone has his or her own way to express his or her love. In reality, love becomes an important problem that is able to change and give certain effect in one’s life. It can develop or destroy one’s life. It can make one’s life better or worse, depends on how one is facing love problem.
This thesis discusses the personality changes as the effect of Eddie’s incestuous love as seen in Arthur Miller’sA View from the Bridge. The objectives of the study in this thesis are (1) To find out the characteristics of Eddie as described in the story, (2) To find out how Eddie’s incestuous love is revealed in the story, (3) To find out the changes of his personality as the effect of his incestuous love.
Since this study deals with one’s personality, the psychological approach is used as the suitable approach to analyze the formulated problems as seen in the story. This thesis uses the library research method to gain the data. The primary reference is Arthur Miller’s play A View from the Bridge. The secondary references are some critics about Miller’s A View from the Bridge. The third references are some theories that are supporting in finding the analysis. This study needs the theory of character and characterization, theory of incest and the theory of personality changes.
xii
ABSTRAK
NILA KRISNAWATI. Eddie’s Personality Changes as the Effect of His Incestuous Love as Seen in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge.
Yogyakarta: Fakultas Sastra, Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2009.
Studi in berkaitan dengan A View from the Bridge, sebuah drama yang ditulis oleh Arthur Miller. Studi ini didasarkan pada ketertarikan penulis pada kepribadian seseorang yang berubah menjadi buruk yang disebabkan oleh hubungan cinta sedarah yang telah dialaminya. Setiap orang memiliki caranya sendiri untuk mengungkapkan cintanya. Pada kenyataanya, cinta menjadi masalah yang penting dan mampu merubah serta memberi dampak khusus terhadap kehidupan seseorang. Cinta dapat berkembang atau merusak hidup seseorang. Cinta bisa membuat hidup seseorang menjadi lebih baik atau buruk, tergantung kepada cara kita dalam menghadapi masalah cinta itu sendiri.
Skripsi ini membahas perubahan kepribadian sebagai dampak dari hubungan cinta sedarah yang dialami oleh Eddie dalam sebuah drama A View from the Bridgekarya Arthur Miller. Tujuan-tujuan dari studi ini adalah: (1) untuk mempelajari sifat-sifat Eddie sebagaimana dijelaskan dalam cerita. (2) untuk mempelajari bagaimana hubungan cinta sedarah yang dialami oleh Eddie diungkapkan dalam cerita. (3) untuk mempelajari perubahan-perubahan kepribadiannya sebagai dampak dari hubungan cinta sedarahnya.
Karena studi ini berhubungan dengan kepribadian seseorang, pendekatan psikologi digunakan sebagai pendekatan yang tepat untuk menganalisis perumusan masalah. Skripsi ini menggunakan metode studi pustaka untuk mengumpulkan data-data. Referensi utama adalah drama A View from the Bridge
oleh Arthur Miller. Referensi kedua mengenai beberapa kritik tentang A View from the Bridge karya Arthur Miller. Referensi ketiga adalah beberapa teori yang mendukung dalam pencarian analisa. Studi ini membutuhkan teori tokoh dan penokohan, teori incest (hubungan sedarah), dan teori perubahan kepribadian.
1
A. Background of the study
Drama is a special and unique form of writing in the world of literature. It is
different from other literary works of poetry, novel, or fiction. Drama has different
processes in telling the story by using stage directions and dialogue to describe the
environment or the characters in the story. Drama is meant to be more than
language on a page. It needs not only to be read but also to be performed. Through
its performance, the audiences will be helped to understand more about the story
(Vena and Nouryeh, 1996: viii).
Drama is able to demand our imaginations more than in most other forms of
literature. Through drama, we can see what is explicitly said and done. And we
can understand what is implied and what is unspoken. Drama conveys a story with
its characters in action and conflict, its happening in time and space, the
completed meaning of all that has happened. In understanding drama, we have to
understand how dramatic scripts work in setting the stage, developing the
characters, and advancing the story. It is also described that “most plays move
forward through the resolution of conflicts that develop between characters. These
conflicts create tension and become the catalysts for further physical or
psychological action” (Vena and Nouryeh, 1996: viii-ix).
Plays often portray oppositions between characters or groups, each of whom
2
people’s uniqueness can be recognized in real life from “their outward
appearance, by the way they dress, walk, look, gestures, and so on” (1972: 161). It
shows that each person has his/her own characteristics, temperament, and
behavior that always change and develop. The changes may lead them either to be
a better or worse person. The changes may also give certain effects to other people
around them. Basically, it depends on each individual and how they deal with
many kinds of situations in daily life.
In the book Understanding Plays, drama is described as the reflection of ourselves, it leads us to discoveries and reflections about our personalities,
circumstances, desires, anxieties, hopes, and dreams. It is able to show the ways in
satisfying our willingness in relationships or confronting despair in death. The
characters in the play have struggled to show love and affection to one another.
“Great plays confront us with life’s varieties, conveying the hope, courage,
despair, compassion, violence, love hate, exploitation, and generosity experienced
by all humankinds ”(Barranger, 1994:7).
As experienced by some people, love is the most serious and important
problem that is able to change and give certain effects in one’s life. Love is
regarded as something powerful and it emerges uniquely in each individual. For
some people, love may come to them accidentally from the first encounter with
others because of particular reason, like having immediate interest in one’s
physical appearance or performance (Hauck, 1983:20).
Realizing it or not, people who fall in love will experience some changes in
his/her attention. People will give more attention to his/her attention and they will
be more careful in his/her attitudes and behavior. When people are satisfied with
the fulfillment of their desires to love and be loved, they will experience some
excessive feelings such as nervous as well as excited. As the expression of their
gratitude, they always give something good and sacrifice for the one they love.
However, it may turn to be worse when the practice of love doesn’t meet their
expectation. This condition makes people unable to control their emotion and
makes them drop mentally and physically. Then, their emotion will turn to
depression, anger, anxiety, jealousy, or excessive passivity (1983:1). Love may
remain worst impact like frustration that leads someone to act irrationally by
committing suicide or killing other people who have broken their hearts.
The statement above supports the writer in deciding to choose the play
entitled A View from the Bridge as the subject matter of this analysis. The play, which was written by one of the great literary authors, Arthur Miller, has power and substance. It tells about people who lived at the same place but with different
characteristics of one another, especially the influences of the family and
environment condition where the people live toward their personality and
behavior. For the specific and deeper analysis, the writer chooses one of the
central characters to be analyzed named Eddie Carbone. He lives in his simple flat
with his wife and his niece. Learning the story of this play, it is found that Eddie
really loves his niece as the woman to be possessed. In fact, she is regarded as his
own daughter because they have lived together since she was a child. Eddie’s love
4
woman. It can be seen clearly in the early stage of the play, when two brothers of
Eddie’s wife are arriving in his flat. His niece falls in love with one of them and
plans to marry him. After that incident, the Carbone family’s life changes forever.
Their loves and their loyalties are tested. Eddie always tries to prohibit their
relationship because actually he also wants to posses his niece. Eddie does
everything in order to have his niece. His action makes his relationship with other
characters worse.
The writer has found an interesting point from this play. The character Eddie
tries to explore the psychological sides as human being. Someone as a human
being has his own personality. The personality of a person could change as it is
influenced and shaped by his environment and his experiences. This play also
interests the writer because the play reveals one term of abnormal behavior, that is
incestuous love between father and daughter. This forbidden love, then, makes
some great changes in Eddie’s life. He faces so many conflicts as the play
develops. The first conflict is between him and other characters; including verbal
and physical conflict. The second conflict is within himself as he grapples with his
love of Catherine, his own niece. As the great impact of his love is that he loses
his life, his love leads him into tragic ending that he must die in defending his
love.
Moreover, by analyzing this play, we can learn how to face the world and
control ourselves in the right way. We must consider how the effects are if we do
something shameful and forbidden. Then, we understand that love is able to give
someone’s personality develops or a relation between individuals becomes deeper
or worse only because of love. In other cases, love also can be the only one which
people can do to overcome their problems.
B. Problem Formulation
Considering the previous background, there are three main problems that
can be formulated in the study. They are as follow:
1. What are the characteristics of Eddie?
2. How is Eddie’s incestuous love revealed in the play?
3. What are the changes of his personality as the effects of his incestuous
love as seen in the play?
C. Objectives of the Study
The analysis of the study mainly aims to answer the three questions stated in
the problem formulation above. First, this study aims to know the characteristics
of Eddie through his personal description, past life, speech, opinions from others,
conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, thoughts, and his mannerism.
The second objective is to try to identify how Eddie’s incestuous love is revealed
in the play. The third goal is to find out the effects of Eddie’s incestuous love
6
D. Definition on Terms
In analyzing this play, there are three terms that need to be clarified in order to
provide an accurate analysis and clearer explanation to answer the formulated
problems. These terms are:
1. Character
Abrams stated that character means the person presented in a dramatic or
narrative work who is interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral and
dispositional qualities that are expected in what they say, the dialogue and by
what they do in action (1981:20)
So, characters are the representatives of human being. They are described
through dialogue, behavior, and though that can make them just like ordinary
human being. These characters inherit human characteristics. They can be found
in a performance such as drama, and in other literary works of short story or
novel. They are presented not only depends on the narration of the author but also
from their speech and action.
2. Incestuous love
Incestuous behavior is sexual interaction between relatives. It includes
sexual contact between siblings, or between children and their parents,
grandparents, uncles, or aunts ( Robert, Baur, 1983: 603). In the book Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life, it is described that incestuous is culturally prohibited sexual relations between family members, such as a brother and sister
sexual relations between close relatives for whom marriage is forbidden, most
often between daughter and father or between brother and sister (Neale and
Davidson, 1996: 340-341).
While in the book of How to Love and be Loved, love is described as a powerful feeling one has for person, animals or things that has satisfied, is
satisfying or will satisfy our deepest desires and needs (1983:16). In New Century Dictionary, love means a deep and tender feeling of affection or attachment or devotion to a person or persons (1952: 982)
So, incestuous love is a powerful feeling that is culturally prohibited
between family members. In this case, Eddie Carbone experiences the incestuous
love for his own niece, Catherine. In the other side, Catherine loves Eddie
Carbone too, but in the relation as a father and daughter.
3. Personality Changes
According to Kalish, personality is “the dynamic organization characteristics
attributes leading to behavior and distinguishing one individual from other
individuals” (1973:51). It reefers to the total individual and includes “needs,
motives, needs of adjusting, temperament qualities, self-concept, role behaviors,
attitudes, values, and abilities” (1973:52)
Personality changes are defined as the personality pattern that can change in
some areas and remain persistent in other as well. Furthermore, the change itself is
not synonymous with improvement but can be either for the better or worse
(Hurlock, 1974:108). Therefore, personality changes are the changes of human
8
CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
A. Review of Related Studies
Some of people’s lives are colored by many kinds of experiences such as
love, marriage failure, broken home, drugs, ridicule, etc. Those experiences will
be able to change someone to be better or worse. Those can also motivate
someone in creating a good work. Not only Arthur Miller, but some of other great
writers tend to use their experiences to motivate their works. As Miller has so
many experiences, he also has so many works related to literature. He is famous
as a playwright because of his great works. In 1947, he got some prizes for his
mature full-length plays titledAll My Sonsand Death of a Salesmanin 1949. and with his historical playThe Crucible, it was thought by many critics to be more unified and superior drama. However, many critics recognized him as a potential
writer and supported him to continue writing that produced better works. In his
experiences, Arthur Miller got the job around the New York waterfront. Through
this job, he learned much about the life of simple Americans who became the
focus of many of his works. Then, he wrote A View from the Bridge as the reflection of waterfront works (Chalandra and Robets, 1968:5).
As a provisional writer, Arthur Miller wrote not only plays but also other
employed his second wife Marilyn Monroe as the actress. The biographical novel
also succeeded with his life story with Marilyn Monroe. This novel entitledAfter the Fall.
Arthur Miller can prove himself as a talented social playwright through his
work in A View from the Bridge. It tells about a longshoreman, Eddie Carbone, who is driven to violate the most sacred tied of trust that binds his community by
compulsion to posses his niece, Catherine. The story of the play is based on
Miller’s experience when he lived in Brooklyn. He had to enter the community for
about two years to understand their accent, and also social life. Then, he
represented a social theme in his play, particularly the tragedy of a common man.
The play ends with the death of Eddie Carbone which shows the unavoidable and
violent end of a sick man (Reinert, 1961:16).
In the book Drama from Ibsen to Brecth, it is said that A View from the Bridgeemphasizes one personal being broken and destroyed by guilt. The crisis is related to the intense primary relationships of an insecure and partly illegal
group-Brooklyn waterfront slum, with ties back to Italy, receiving unauthorized
immigrants and hiding them within its own fierce loyalties. Eddie Carbone’s
breakdown are sexual and the guilt which are deeply related to love. The personal
breakdown leads to a sin against this community, when in the terrors of his
complicated jealousies Eddie betrays immigrants of his wife’s brothers to the
external law. As usual, the center of the drama is against relationship between
parents and child, and in this play, the vital relationship is between a man and the
10
he cannot control, and the complex of love and guilt has the effect of literal
disintegration (Williams, 1971: 274-275).
In the bookLiterature, it is said thatA View from the Bridgewas originally a one act-play written in the genre of naturalism. In this play, the character was
more realistically developed. Miller related the relationships of the neighborhood
characters to a rigid code of ethics that influence Eddie’s actions and reactions.
Eddie experiences great conflict between parental love and sexual attraction to his
niece, Catherine, whom he adopted after his sister-in-law’s death. Eddie’s
repression of this sexual attraction and his accusation of his cousin, Rodolpho’s
homosexuality are evidence of the conflict. These emotions create a sense of
alienation in Eddie that ultimately leads him to violence (Hogins, 1975:882-884).
East Carolina University, School of Theatre and Dance wrote that A View From the Bridge is a powerful drama of which the critics wrote by Walter Kerr, New York Herald Tribune; "A dramatic bonfire", John Chapman, New York
Times; "Splendid, stunning theatre", London Times; "A play of imaginative
power", New York Daily News; "Intensely, absorbing drama.” This play has
become a modern classic. It features some of Miller's best works in his deeply
observed characters, muscular writing, steamroller narrative and riveting climax.
This play was gripping, stirring, steadily illuminated by the incandescence of a
deeply-feeling playwright whose insights into human beings is always profound.
(http://www.theatredance.ecu.edu/Productions/Bridge/View_from_the_Bridge.ht
There is also review by Frank Rich, who tells thatA View from the Bridgeis about the destruction of jealous Eddie wreaks on himself and his family once
Catherine falls in love with Rodolpho. The star of the play, Eddie, is one of the
Brooklyn longshoremen with a secret, unrecognized passion “that had moved into
his body like stranger “. That passion is an incestuous, possessive love for his
orphaned niece, Catherine. “Eddie’s reckless path of vengeance leads inexorably
to catastrophic violence, but not before he has committed the cardinal sin against
his close-knit community - informing to the immigration police”
(http://partners.nytimes.com/books/00/11/12/specials/miller-bridge83.html).
The original version ofA View from the Bridgewas revised into two acts. In this version, the verse became prose, the length was expanded to two acts, and the
characters were allowed to speak more - thus becoming more human and more
sympathetic. The later version goes into slightly more detail about how the
network brings the illegal immigrant into the country (Hayman, 1970: 55-60).
In this thesis, the writer tries to give more study on the character’s
personality. The discussion will be focused on Eddie’s personality that changes as
the effect of his forbidden love to his niece. Interesting point in this study is that
the personality of a person could change since it is influenced and shaped by his
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B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theory of Characters and Characterization
Character is defined as the description of a person who has certain type and
quality. It can be good or bad. The authors will present their characters in their
works. Based on their importance, characters are divided into two parts, major and
minor characters. Major characters can be the center of the story. They are the
most important characters in the story. Minor characters appear only once or twice
in the story. Their roles are less important than the major one (Milligan,
1983:155). Upon the characters we can build expectations and desires to establish
our values and to present convincing dramatization of human issues of the book.
The book will essentially fail if the characters fail in their role (Henkle, 1977: 93).
Each character has his or her or its own characteristics. Character in a
literary work has his or her own personalities and physical appearances or
characteristics that make him or her different from each other. Based on their
psychological behavior, there are two kinds of characters namely flat and round
characters. The flat characters are the characters that represent single
characteristics, treat, idea or limited number of qualities. The flat characters are
static and do not develop as fully as round characters. Round characters are
complex in temperament and motivation. Round characters are dynamic and
often appear as the center of the story. They represent number qualities or traits
and complex multidimensional characters of significant intellectual and
Rohrberger and Woods stated that characterization is the process by which
an author creates a character. Not only the physical appearance that the reader
can imagine the character, but also through his or her behavior and thought
(1971:20). While Barnet, Berman, and Bruto have opinion that characterization
is defined by what the characters do, by what they say, by what other say about
them and by the setting in which they move ( 1988:746). Based on these
opinions above, can be concluded that characterization is the way of the author
presents the character.
M. J. Murphy in hisUnderstanding Unseen (1972: 161-173), he mentions nine ways on how an author may describes the character’s personalities and
traits to the reader. They are:
a. Personal Description
An author can describe a person’s appearance and clothes.
b. Character as seen by another
An author uses another character’s eyes and opinions to describe a
character.
c. Speech
What a character says can give the reader an insight of another person’s
characterization.
d. Past life
A person’s past life can shape his nature. We can find out the character’s past
life by the author’s direct explanation, the character’s thoughts and
14
e. Conversation of others
The conversation of other people and the things they say about a character can
be a clue to a person’s character.
f. Reactions
By allowing the readers to know how a person reacts to various situations and
events, an author can also give a clue to a person’s characteristics.
g. Direct Comment
The author can describe or comment on a person’s characteristic directly.
h. Thoughts
The author can give his readers a direct knowledge of what a person is
thinking about.
i. Mannerisms
We can understand the character through the way in which he behaves and
talks when he is with the other people.
2. Theory of Incest
Incest is one of the forms of sexual disorder. In the book Abnormal Psychology, “incest is the sexual relationship between close relatives for whom marriage is forbidden, seems virtually universal in human societies” (1996: 341).
Incest includes all forms of sexual contact. The most common form is
between brother and sister. The next most common form, which is considered
more pathological, is between father and daughter. It is more often the case to the
physically. The structure of families in which incest occurs is unusually
patriarchal and traditional, especially with respect to the position of women
relative to men. Furthermore, it is believed that incest is more prevalent when the
mother is absent or disabled and there might be sexual frustration in the marriage.
Most incest victims tend to be the older women. Some factors that put a child at
risk for being subjected to the case of incest are having a stepfather, having a
mother who did not graduate from high school, having a poor relationship with
the mother, and having fewer than two close friends in childhood ( Neale and
Davison,1996: 340-341).
According to Coleman, there are some causal factors of incestuous behavior
occurs in our life. The first factor is because of accidental incest. In this condition,
brother and sister share the same bedroom during the preadolescent period. In
some cases older brother seduce their younger sister without any apparent
understanding of the social prohibitions or possible consequences. Second is
incest associated with severe psychopathology. In the case of psychopathic
fathers, the incestuous relations maybe associated with the lowering of inner
control, such as alcoholics and psychotics. The third is incest associated with
pedophilia. The father has an intense craving for young children as sex objects,
including his own daughters. Fourth is incest associated with a faulty paternal
model. The fathers set an undesirable example for his son by engaging in
incestuous relations with his daughters and may encourage his son to do likewise.
16
relations. The family has low morals or is disorganized. In some cases, hostile
wife may actually foster father-daughter incest (1976:576-577).
3. Theory of Personality Changes
In the play of A View from the Bridge, the personality of the central character, Eddie Carbone, is very interesting to be analyzed. The changes of his
personality and emotion reflect a significant life phenomenon. Many theorists
have their own perception and present them in various ways. So, theories of
personality changes below will support the writer in understanding more deeply
about one’s personality.
In the book Personality Development, the author defines that personality development is a stage in growth of a constantly changing and evoking process
within the individual. The process becomes more complex, in the patterning of
one’s self-concept, habit, attitude, emotional states, sentiment, and motives.
Furthermore, it determines his/her uniqueness in speech, in reactions to people
and things, in mannerism, in fantasy, and in other ways directed toward the
specific goal to adjust his/her environment (Hurlock, 1974: 7).
Personality of human being is different from one to another. One’s
personality can change by the time. Allport, as cited in Bryne and Kelley
(1981:87), stated that “one’s personality is a dynamic process for it can change
through one’s life”. The changes happen when there is a condition that leads to a
a new fact, there might be dramatic changes in one’s info-belief system, new
expectancies, and perhaps new emotional responses as well as attitudes.
One’s personality is unique. Each person has their own personality.
Personality is a psychological pattern of single person consisting of characteristics
thought, feeling and behavior. Personality is dynamic. It continually exists over
time and situation. There will be different personality in different time and
situation. Pattern of characteristics thought, feeling and behavior persist over time
and situations and distinguishes over person from another (Phares, 1984:673). So,
human’s personality is an important factor that determines his/ her characteristics,
behavior, and thought.
There are three characteristics of changes in personality that stated by
Hurlock (1974:120-122). First, the changes are for better and worse. This
personality reflects the life adjustment of the individuals are making at certain
point. Generally, the worse changes happen at puberty times. The person will
have different kinds of personality and this time is called as danger time.
Sometimes, people forget their good personalities and change their new
personalities that are not always better. The second personality is for quantitative
and qualitative. The quantitative changes are for the replacement on the whole
personality pattern. The quantitative will make the personality strengthen,
weaken, or reinforced. A person who is shy, self-conscious, and self-effacing in
social status, may be less so in the presence of intimate friends than in the
presence of strangers or those whom he regards as his superiors, but his behavior
18
personality. An already present trait is replaced by another trait, usually an
undesirable one to be a desirable one. The third changes are for the slow and rapid
changes. The changes are regarded as slow if the changes are hardly seen, while
rapid changes are clearly seen for all. Usually, personality changes happen slowly
and gradually because it involving the replacement of new habit as the
substitution for the old habit. The rapid changes are usually having close
relationship with the brain damages and this change also considered as danger
signal. It is caused by the stimulation which temporarily causes the person to
forget his real self-concept and see himself as he would like to be.
Hurlock stated that the changes do not occur by themselves; there are many
conditions that may be responsible for personality changes. There are physical
changes, changes in social pressure, changes in role, strong motivation, and
changes in self-concept (1974:124).
It is described that “physical changes may come from maturation and
decline from illness, organic, and glandular disturbance, injuries or some other
condition resulting from the person’s life pattern not unrelated to the normal
changes in the body structure.” Social environment may produce changes in the
person’s self-concept and in his personal behavior. A change in environment will
not guarantee an improvement in personality. Moving to a new environment will
not automatically improve our personality. The changes will depend largely on
how well we are accepted in the new environment and whether it meets our needs
There will be significant changes if a person has significant people in his
life, who might effect personality. This personality will change within social
pressure. Generally, people have a strong desire to be accepted by those who are
significant to him; he tries to change any personality traits that he can be accepted.
Strong social pressure to comfort to a socially approved personality pattern thus
leads us to change in certain aspect of personality. Traits, which are likely to lead
to social rejection such as aggressiveness, shyness, bossiness, and greed, are
subjects to an increase in dominance rather than those which are usually admired,
such as affection, cooperatives, and generosity (1974:126).
Role changes result in status changes within the group. One’s role may
change because of a change in age, a change in one’s role may come from
changes in economic condition. A change in a role may also be due to affiliation
with a new group (1974:127).
The changes can be affected when the motivation to improve the personality
is strong enough. Ordinarily, people are strongly motivated to change those traits
which they believe will improve their social relationship and earn them social
acceptance greater (1974: 127).
A change in the self concept will lead to a change in the entire personality
pattern, because self-concept is the core of personality pattern which determines
the kind of adjustment the person will take. Changing one’s self-concept requires
tremendous self-insight, which means that a person must be able to see himself as
20
C. Theoretical Framework
In this study, theories of character and characterization are needed since the
central character takes an important role in this study. The theories of character
and characterization are used to explore the characteristics of Eddie Carbone and
his personality changes in the story. The analysis of the character in the story will
be based on the theory of character that has been stated before. Murphy’s theory
of characterization is also used as the most suitable method to give more
understanding about the character.
To answer the second problem, the writer needs theory of incest since the
character to be discussed experienced incestuous love. His love gives big
influence to the changes of his personality. The writer used theory of incest from
Coleman, Neale, and Davison as the suitable theory.
In answering the third problem, the writer needs both theories of personality
and incest to find out the changes of the character’s personality as the effect of his
21
A. Object of the Study
A View from the Bridgeis the work that is going to be used as the object of this study. This play was written by Arthur Miller in 1955 and was first staged in
1956. Miller wrote this play based on his experience when he worked in
Brooklyn neighborhood. The play focuses on a doom-ridden family and the
community in front of which that household all-too-publicly disintegrates. In this
case, the family is the working-class-Italian Carbone in the community of Red
Hook, Brooklyn, 1955. The issue is the emerging sexuality of the Carbone's niece,
Catherine, who has begin to wear high heels and to walk "wavy." Guardian Uncle
Eddie's all-consuming adoration for his niece evolves into a lusty force stronger
than all the wise counsels, desperate pleas, and bad omens in the world.
(http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/review).
A View from the Bridge is the tragedy of Italian-American longshoreman Eddie Carbone, whose intransigence proves his downfall. Like the central
characters ofAll My Sons and Death of a Salesman, Eddie is a man out of time.
He has labored long to support his wife Beatrice and his niece, Catherine
.
Eddie isthe Brooklyn longshoreman with a secret passion. That passion is an incestuous,
possessive love for the seventeen-year-old orphan niece, Catherine, whom he and
22
jealous Eddie wreaks on himself and his family once Catherine falls in love with
Rodolpho.
B. Approach of the Study
In analyzing a literary work, it is important to obtain a deep and good
understanding about the literary work itself. Therefore, it needs an appropriate
approach that can help to support the analysis of the story as the material of the
thesis. Since this study discusses about one’s personality, the psychological
approach is needed as suitable approach to analyze the character’s personality in
the story. As stated in the book An Introduction to Personality, “the field of personality is defined as a branch of psychology which deals with dimensions of
individual differences and with situational determinants of behavior. Thus,
behavior is viewed as determined by a combination of personality, traits, and
situational factors” (Bryne and Kelley, 1966:33).
This approach is chosen as the most suitable approach because this approach
will bring us to analyze the play from the point of view of human beings. It will
help to identify how the character is characterized and how he undergoes his
personality changes. Certainly, to get and find the answers of three questions in
the problem formulations, the writer employs theory of personality and theory of
psychology. According to Rohrberger and Woods, psychological approach
involves various theories of psychology to explain the character’s personality in
the story. The proponents of this approach used the theory of human psychology
character’s behavior that could be referred to the psychology of human beings.
Through this approach, the character’s behavior and though can be analyzed more
profoundly (1971, 13-14).
C. Method of the Study
In order to answer three questions stated in the problem formulation, there
were some methods that the writer had done. Firstly, the writer used library
research since this study focused on literary work. In this method, the writer took
all the suitable references from the library to support the analysis. In this thesis,
there were two kinds of data that were used. They were primary and secondary
data. The primary source was a play entitled A View from the Bridge. The writer read it carefully to obtain a good understanding of the content of the story and
concentrated more on Eddie Carbone’s actions and reactions, quoted the
important descriptions on his character which shows us the nature of his
personality.
The secondary data were used as the second method to support the answer of
the problem formulation. The data were some comments and critics on the play
which the writer takes from the books. Some books of theories were also used to
support secondary data. The writer found the sources by surfing on the internet.
Thirdly, in analyzing this play, the writer applied the psychological
approach as the critical approach taken from Reading and Writing about Literature by Rohrberger and Woods, this approach involves the effort to locate and demonstrate certain recurrent patterns. We can apply certain psychological
24
made summary and took notes of the points to be discussed, that are Eddie’s
personality changes. The next step was making the analysis by finding behavior
personality and the changes of the chosen character. In this step, the writer applied
the theories of character and characterization in order to find out the
characteristics of one character. Besides, the theory of incest was used to reveal
the incestuous love that experienced by the character. It was also applied the
psychological approach to reveal the changes of the character’s personality as the
effect from that incestuous love. The last step is to sum up the analysis as a
conclusion. This process was done by summarizing the answers of the three
questions in problems formulation and selecting the important points of the
25
This chapter discusses the three questions that are stated in the problem
formulation. The first part of this chapter covers the description of Eddie’s
characteristics in the play. The second part depicts the analysis on how the
character’s incestuous love is revealed in the play. The last part of this chapter
presents Eddie’s personality changes as the effect of his incestuous love.
A. Description of Eddie’s Characteristics
This section will clearly discuss Eddie’s characteristics as described in the
play. Eddie Carbone is the important character in this discussion because he has
big influence in the story development. Eddie Carbone is one of the round
characters in the story because he has many dominant traits. Therefore, to identify
the description of his characteristics, some methods of characterization as
suggested by Murphy (1972:161-173) will be used. That characterization will be
employed through personal description, manner and other thought or conversation
as presents in his nine methods of characterization.
InA View from the Bridge, Eddie Carbone lived with his wife Beatrice and her orphaned niece Catherine. The Carbone family is the poor family who lived in
Brooklyn, where Eddie works at the shipyards as the longshoreman. At the first,
Eddie’s family looks lke a loving family who care for each other. However, their
life changes since the presence of the two cousins to the story. From the analysis
26
1. Generous
In the first part of the story, Eddie Carbone only lives with his wife,
Beatrice, and his niece, Catherine. Their life seems good and happy at first.
Beatrice’s cousins are reported on the way to their home from Italy. The two
cousins named Rodolpho and Marco. They think that they can live better and find
good job by going to America. Before they get the job, they want to stay in
Eddie’s flat only for a while. Fortunately, Eddie is very welcome and kind at that
time. He gives them place to sleep in his house.
EDDIE
You’re welcome, Marco, we got plenty of room here. Katie, give them supper, heh?Exits into bedroom with their bags(p. 26).
As stated by Murphy that there will be a clue to one’s characteristics by
seeing from how someone reacts to various situation and events. So, from Eddie’s
reaction, it can be seen that he is a very generous person because he lets the
cousins stay freely in his house. Eddie gives them place to sleep without thinking
about the risk because of keeping illegal immigrants in his house.
2. Loyal
Murphy said that we can find one character by seeing from whenever he
speaks, whenever he is in conversation with another, and whenever he puts
forward an opinion. Here is part of Eddie’s conversation with her niece,
Catherine, which is talking about the cousins’ status because staying illegally in
their house.
CATHERINE
EDDIE
I don’t care who sees them goin; in and out as long as you don’t see them goin; in and out. And this goes for you too, B. you don’t see nothin’ and you don’t know nothin’ (p.19-20).
Catherine seems afraid of the arrival of Rodolpho and Marco. She is afraid if
there will be somebody asking about the existence of them because of their status
as illegal immigrants. In fact, Eddie tries to safe the cousins and still lets the
cousins stay in his house. From Eddie’s conversation, he shows that he is loyal
with his family. Although, he doesn’t have much in his life but, like other people
in his close Brooklyn neighborhood, he is willing to make sacrifices for friends or
family entering this country illegally. Even, he doesn’t care about the risk because
of keeping illegal immigrants. As we know that there will be a law to judge a
person who keeps other people illegally in this country. Then, Eddie’s loyalty is
proved by his preferring of keeping the illegal immigrants than obeying the law.
3. Respectful
Eddie’s personality as a respectful person also can be seen from his reaction
in the first part of the story when Rodolpho and Marco just arrived in his house.
Eddie is very welcome to them. He supports them to find the job in that city and
gives the place to stay freely. He also shows his sympathy when Marco told about
the poor condition of his family. Eddie’s reaction to Rodolpho and Marco shows
that he is very respect to them and we can see that he is a kind of hospitable
person.
EDDIE
28
Eddie really shows his respect both for the cousins and also his wife. His
respect to his wife is shown by his reaction that helps Beatrice to calm the
situation because of her panic in the cousins’ arrival. She is afraid because of their
poor house. She wants the new paint of the wall and also new tablecloth. In this
situation, Eddie is able to calm Beatrice and makes her not to be very panic. Eddie
says that they will be very thankful and even, they will not recognize about the
wall and tablecloth.
4. Caring
Eddie is a kind of caring person. He cares for the women he protects, his
wife and his niece. He pays more attention to Beatrice and supports her in doing
something which he deals to. When her two cousins came from Italy, Beatrice
looks very panic and afraid. She is afraid of their poor condition and cannot serve
them better. She wants to make their house is looked better when the cousins
arrived. So, she wants to change the tablecloth and wash the wall. Then, Eddie’s
reaction supports Beatrice not to be so worry and directly he asks Beatrice to buy
a new tablecloth. As the play progresses, they seem as a loving family who shows
their respect for each other.
BEATRICE
No, I’m just nervous, that’s all.To Catherine: I’ll make the fish. EDDIE
You’re savin’ their lives, what’re you worryin’ about the tablecloth? They probably didn’t see a tablecloth in their whole life where they come from (p.10)
Although, Eddie and Beatrice have never had a sexual intercourse for three
months, in daily life they still seem as a couple with no problem. It is because
each other. The other characters even do not realize about their problem, because
they can keep their problem well as they can keep their close relationship.
EDDIE Why? What worries you got?
BEATRICE When am I gonna be a wife again, Eddie?
EDDIE
I ain’t been feelin’ good. They bother me since they came. BEATRICE
Its almost three months you don’t feel good; they’re only here a couple of weeks. Its three months, Eddie (p.40).
He also cares and pays attention to his niece, Catherine. In the beginning of the
play, he always gives comments on the way she dresses and appearances.
EDDIE Where you goin’ all dressed up?
CATHERINE
(running her hands over the skirt) I just got it. You like it?
EDDIE
Yeah, it’s nice. And what happened to your hair? CATHERINE
You like it? I fixed it different.Calling to the kitchen: He’s here, B! EDDIE
Beautiful. Lemme see in the back. She turns for him.Oh, if your mother was alive to see you now! She wouldn’t believe it (p.6).
Eddie’s comment on Catherine’s skirt which is too short also seems normal as a
comment from father to daughter. In this part, Eddie only reminds Catherine how
to dress up politely, just like father who reminds his daughter.
EDDIE I think it’s too short, ain’t it?
CATHERINE No! Not when I stand up.
EDDIE Yeah, but you gotta sit down sometimes.
CATHERINE
26
As a father and daughter, their relationship seems harmless at first. Eddie acts as
an overprotective guardian of his niece in her increasing maturity. This seems
normal because he and Beatrice do not have a child of their own. Beside that, they
had promised to raise Catherine as their own child. By keeping the promise, it
proves that Eddie is a man who has strong beliefs.
EDDIE
Katie, I promised your mother on her deathbed. I’m responsible for you. You’re a baby, you don’t understand these things. I mean like when you stand here by the window, wavin’ outside (pg. 7 ).
5. Overprotective father
At first, Eddie looks like a father who is very love to the family. He shows
his love to Catherine by being an overprotective father. He reminds Catherine not
to walk so wavy because he does not like when the boys outside look at
Catherine’s way on walking by using her high heels. This event shows that Eddie
treats Catherine specially, but still in the line that she is his daughter. He wants
her daughter to be different from all girls outside who are always being watched
by other boys.
EDDIE
Catherine, I don’t want to be a pest, but I’m tellin’ you you’re walkin’ wavy.
CATHERINE I’m walkin’ wavy?
EDDIE
Now don’t aggravate me, Katie, you’re walkin’ wavy! I don’t like the looks they’re givin’ you in the candy store. And with them new high heels on the Sidewalk-clack, clack, clack. The heads are turnin’ like windmills.
CATHERINE
But those guys look at all the girls, you know that. EDDIE
You ain’t “all the girls” (p.7).
His protectiveness also can be seen when Catherine wants to take the job.
Eddie suggests that she should not take the job. His reason is that he does not like
the neighborhood where Catherine will go to work. The neighborhood is not good
for Catherine.
CATHERINE Why? It’s a great big
company-EDDIE
I don’t like that neighborhood over there (p.14-15).
Eddie said that the company is not good for Catherine. She will be with so
many plumbers and sailors there. Actually, Eddie wants Catherine in other better
place to work. Eddie’s love to Catherine is very great. He also has a very great
expectation for Catherine. He always hopes Catherine will get better in all of her
life.
EDDIE
Look, did I ask for money? I supported you this long I support you a little more. Please, do me a favor, will ya? I want you to be in a nice office. Maybe a lawyer’s office someplace in New York in one of them nice buildings. I mean if you’re gonna get outa here then get out; don’t you go practically in the same kind of neighborhood (pg.15).
As his love for Catherine is very great, his action is very possessive to
Catherine although she is not his own daughter. At first, Eddie doesn’t allow
Catherine to work outside.
EDDIE
It’s not wonderful. You’ll get nowhere unless you finish school. You can’t take the job. Why didn’t you ask me before take a job? (p.13).
As Catherine tells Eddie about the job, directly he forbids her to take the
23
quarrel with his wife about taking the job or no, finally he allows Catherine to
work. His possessiveness shows that actually it is hard for Eddie to live without
Catherine in his house. He is afraid Catherine will never visit him again after she
works and moves from his house.
EDDIE And then you’ll move away.
CATHERINE No, Eddie.
EDDIE (grinning)
Why not? That’s life. And you come visit on Sundays, then once a month, then Christmas, and New Year’s, finally (p.17).
That conversation reveals Eddie’s sadness that actually he does not want
Catherine goes to work outside. He is afraid that Catherine will leave his house
and at last never visit him again. From this part, Eddie’s possessiveness is asked.
Whether he really loves Catherine because she is his daughter or because of his
secret desire to Catherine.
B. Eddie’s Incestuous Love toward His Niece
Incestuous love is a powerful feeling that is culturally prohibited between
relatives, which includes sexual contact between siblings, or between children and
their parents, grandparents, uncles, or aunts. As depicted in the story, Eddie and
Catherine are in a family relationship. Their relationship is between uncle and
niece. Since Catherine’s mother died, Eddie and Beatrice took Catherine as their
own daughter. They raised Catherine since she was a child. They promised
Catherine very much, and now their relationship is already seen as parents and
child.
This section discusses Eddie’s powerful feeling to his niece which is
regarded as incestuous love. As the play progresses, Eddie’s love for Catherine is
revealed by his own action, manner, and conversation with other character. The
audiences realize that there must be a secret desire from Eddie to Catherine when
Catherine lights Eddie’s cigar in the living room, it is an event that gives Eddie
unusual pleasure.
CATHERINE
Here1 I’ll light it for you!She strikes a match and holds it to his cigar. He puffs. Quietly: don’t worry about me, Eddie, heh?
EDDIE
Don’t burn yourself.Just in time she blows out the match. You better go in help her with the dishes.
CATHERINE
(turns quickly to the table, and seeing the table cleared, she says, almost guiltily)
Oh! She hurries into the kitchen, and she exits there: I’ll do the dishes,B.!
Alone, Eddie stand looking toward the kitchen for a moment. Then he takes out of his watch, glances at it, replace it in his pocket, sits in the armchair,and stares at the smoke flowing out of his mouth(p.24).
Eddie’s delight is the first indication of his sexual desires. This possibly
warm and affectionate act between niece and uncle has phallic suggestions.
Eddie’s great attention to his attractive niece and impotence in his own marital
relationship immediately makes his secret desire clear.
Usually, Catherine is always at home when Eddie back from working.
Since the cousins stay in their house, Catherine seems go out often with
25
This event makes Eddie get mad and angry to Catherine. He tells something
nonsense to Catherine when she just backs from walking around the city with
Rodolpho. It shows that Eddie is jealous oftheir close relationship.
EDDIE
I don’t see you no more. I come home you’re runnin’ around someplace. CATHERINE
Well, he wants to see everything, that’s all, so we go… you mad at me? EDDIE
No, he moves from her, smiling sadly. It’s just I used to come home, you was always there. Now, I turn around, you’re a big girl. I don’t know how to talk to you (p. 46).
Other character is also aware of Eddie’s feeling to Catherine. Beatrice is the
first character who expresses this possibility in her conversation with Catherine.
But, Beatrice not directly tells that secret to anybody. She just keeps what she
knows and tries to stop Eddie’s shameful feeling by her own way. Beatrice thinks
that the best way without hurting anybody is by letting Catherine to take the job to
work outside.
BEATRICE
Well, look Katie, if it’s goin’ to hurt you so much you’re gonna end up an old maid here.
CATHERINE No!
BEATRICE
I’m tellin’ you, I’m not makin’ a joke. I tried to tell you a couple of times in the last year or so. That’s why I was so happy you were goin’ to go out and get work, you wouldn’t be here so much, you’d be a little more independent. I mean it. It’s wonderful for a whole family to love each other, but you’re a grown woman and you’re in the same house with a grown man. So, you’ll act different now, heh? (p.53)
Beatrice only hopes that if Catherine goes to work outside, she will get a
good man for her to marry. If Catherine is ready to be married, she believes that
her husband, Eddie, will not do anything to satisfy his feeling.
BEATRICE
Because it ain’t only up to him, Katie, you understand? I told him the same thing already.
CATHERINE (quickly) What?
BEATRICE
That he should let you go. But, you see, if only I tell him, he thinks I’m just bawlin’ him out, or maybe I’m jealous or somethin’, you know?
CATHERINE (astonished) He said you was jealous? (p. 53)
Through that conversation, Beatrice indirectly shows her awareness by her
jealousy. She does not want Catherine keep staying in that house because she
already knew Eddie’s feeling for her. Then, Beatrice tells Catherine that she
should grow to be a mature woman who has her own choice for her life. Beatrice
builds Catherine’s independentce and says that she is not a baby anymore. She has
to be with her own life.
BEATRICE
No, I’m just sayin’ maybe that’s what he thinks. She reached over to Catherine’s hands; with a strained smile: You think I’m jealous of you honey?
CATHERINE No, it’s the first I thought of it.
BEATRICE (with a quiet sad, laugh)
Well, you should have thought of it before…but I’m not. We’ll be allright. Just give him to understand; you don’t have to fight, you’re just-you’re a woman, that’s all, and you got a nice boy, and now the time came when you said good-by. All right? (pg.53-54).
Unlike Beatrice who wants Catherine to be an independent woman, Eddie
does not want Catherine to go to work outside. It seems that Eddie does not want
27
shown Eddie’s secret desire to Catherine that he really has a great expectation of
Catherine.
EDDIE
(sadly smiling, yet somehow proud of her)
Well…I hope you have good luck. I wish you the best. You know that, kid.
CATHERINE (rising, trying to laugh)
You sound like I’m goin’ a million miles! (pg. 23).
Eddie’s desire to Catherine is explored through his conversation with other
character. Alfieri, who works in that neighborhood as a lawyer, also realizes
Eddie’s feeling during his first conversation with Eddie. Eddie comes to him and
tells about what he feels related to the arrival of two cousins. His conversation
shows that Eddie does not really like Rodolpho. Eddie tells Alfieri that Rodolpho
is not a right guy, “the guy ain’t right, Mr. Alfieri” (pg.56). It means that whatever
Rodolpho looks like are the worse things for Eddie.
EDDIE
Wait a minute I’m tellin’ you sump’m. He sings. See. Which is- I mean it’s all right, but sometimes he hits a note, see. I turn around. I mean- high. You know what I mean?
ALFIERI Well, that’s a tenor.
EDDIE
I know a tenor, Mr. Alfieri. This ain’t no tenor. I mean if you came in the house and you didn’t know who was singin’, you wouldn’t be lookin’ for him, you be lookin’ for her.
ALFIERI Yes, but that’s
not-EDDIE
I’m tellin’ you sump’m, wait a minute, please Mr. Alfieri. I’m tryin’ to bring out my thoughts here. Couple of nights ago my niece brings out dress which it’s too small for her, because she shot up like a light this last year. He takes the dress, lays it on the table, he cuts it up; one-two-three, he makes a new dress. I mean he looked so sweet there, like an angel- you could kiss him he was so sweet (p.57)
Even, all of Rodolpho’s effeminate characteristics that he is able to sew and
sing beautifully are the worst things for Eddie. Rodolpho does not fit Eddie’s idea
of what a man should be. Eddie sees that a real gentleman should not have such
effeminate characteristics. Those characteristics make him not proper for a man
who works in the docks. Eddie finds that Rodolpho needs to reach his own paper
in his close relationship with Catherine. Rodolpho’s paper is only wanting to get
American citizenship by his marriage with Catherine.
ALFIERI
Because there’s nothing illegal about the girl falling in love with an immigrant.
EDDIE
Yeah, but what about it if the only reason for it is to get his papers? ALFIERI
First of all you don’t know that. EDDIE
I see it in his eyes; he’s laughin’ at her and he’s laughin’ at me (p.55).
In this case, Eddie actually wants Rodolpho to be judged as the wrong guy
who loves his niece because he only wants to take the advantages from their love
relationship. But, Alfieri said that there is no law for the two humans who falling
in love each other. Eddie feels disappointed when Alfieri does not support him.
This event, then, stimulates Eddie to find other ways to stop Catherine’s
relationship with Rodolpho. Eddie’s eagerness, then, leads him to act irrationally.
It can be said that all of Eddie’s views about Rodolpho are only his
accusation which directly shows his jealousy. By telling everything to Alfieri,
Eddie hopes that there will be somebody who can understand and help him in
29
Rodolpho and Catherine. The following quotation explored Eddie’s deep feeling
that makes his desire to Catherine become clear.
EDDIE
(with a helpless and ironic gesture)
What can I do? I’m a patsy, what can a patsy do? Iworked like a dog twenty years so a punk could have her, so that’s what I done. I mean, in the worst times, in the worst, when there wasn’t a ship comin’ in the harbor, I didn’t stand around lookin’ for relief- I hustled. When there was empty piers in Brooklyn I went to Hoboken, Saten Island, the West Side, Jersey, all over- because I made a promise, I took out of my wife’s mouth. I walked hungry plenty days in this city! It begins to break through.And now I gotta sit in my house and look at a son-of-a-bitch punk like that- which he came out of nowhere! I gice him my house to sleep! I take the blankets off my bed for him, and he takes and puts his dirty filthy hands on her like a goddam thief!
ALFIERI But, Eddie. She is a woman now.
EDDIE He’s stealing from me (pg.60)
Eddie speaks out to what he feels, it makes clear that Eddie does not want
anybody to take Catherine from him. He just wants to have Catherine for himself
because he thinks that he did so many things for Catherine instead of his hard
working for their life. He thinks that it is not fair if Rodolpho suddenly take
Catherine from him. What Eddie did is not featured as what a father did. He just
figured as a possessive man who wants to have the girl as his lover.
C. Eddie’s Personality Changes as the Effect of His Incestuous Love
The description of Eddie’s characteristics in the first part of this analysis
shows merely describe him into the good personality description. In the second
part, it presents the revelation of Eddie’s incestuous love to Catherine. In this part,
changes. This bad personality of Eddie arises after he has his personality changes.
Eddie gets personality changes after he recognized that his niece is in love with
one of his cousins. Eddie cannot accept that fact, because he also keeps secret
feeling to his niece. As his love for his niece cannot to be fulfilled, Eddie turns his
frustration into his bad personality changes.
1. Selfish
As the play progresses, the love between Catherine and Rodolpho becomes
clearly seen. But, Eddie sees their love as something bad for him. He thinks that
Rodolpho steals Catherine from him. Realizing that he cannot have Catherine for
himself, he makes himself not generous anymore. Eddie changes into a very
selfish man. As stated by Hurlock that the characteristics can be changes for better
and worse. In this case, Eddie experienced the worse changes because he has too
much love for Catherine and he cannot fulfill his expectation that forced him into
deeper frustration.
Unlike the first part of the story, now Eddie counts everything he gave to
Rodolpho and Marco. Eddie thinks that Rodolpho should thank him and pay back
his kindness with a good thing instead of stealing Catherine from him (p.60). As
other characters are aware of Eddie’s feeling to Catherine, Marco and Rodolpho
move upstairs to stay in Mr. Dondero’s flat, one of their neighbors.
EDDIE Who brought them in here?
BEATRICE
All right, I’m sorry; I wish I’d a drop dead before I told them to come. In the ground I wish I was.
EDDIE
Don’t drop dead, just keep in mind who brought them in here, that’s all.
