Character Dynamics and Rising Conflict in Arthur Miller's Play

Character Dynamics and Rising Conflict

The character of Beatrice is warm-hearted. On Page 7, we read: “Beatrice—there are tears on her eyes. She turns and grabs Eddie’s face in her hands.” This suggests to the audience how Eddie is compassionate and patriotic toward Italian immigrants, as he understands the poverty they are suffering. We also realize how important Beatrice's family is to her. Having “tears” produces a visual effect that simultaneously makes the scene dramatic; additionally, grabbing Eddie’s face heightens the excitement, making everyone realize the drama on stage.

On Page 21, when Rodolfo starts singing, Catherine falls in love with him. Eddie counterattacks to stop the seduction: “Eddie rises and moves upstage.” This stage direction is used to build tension as Eddie sees Rodolfo seducing Catherine. Eddie is not letting that happen, so he intends to stop Rodolfo from singing. Miller has Rodolfo sing "Paper Doll" to make Eddie uncomfortable because the lyrics refer to him; this may also be a cause of Eddie rising to stop Rodolfo singing.

For now, Catherine has seen the positive side of Eddie; she appreciates his protection. However, as she falls in love with Rodolfo, things change. On Page 42: “Catherine (flushed with revolt) Eddie freezes.” Miller provides a stage direction describing what is happening on stage. Catherine moves with revolt, which implies she might be strong enough to leave Eddie. The drama increases with Eddie’s reaction; by using the word “freezes,” Miller prepares the audience for something tragic and intense that will occur in the future.

At the end of Act 1, the tension is maintained. We see all the characters at home together. The scenario is set like a cage fighting ring: “They are lightly boxing now” (page 46). This is because Eddie wants to teach Rodolfo some boxing lessons, but it is clearly an excuse to punch Rodolfo, as Eddie is jealous and does not offer Marco the lesson too. When Eddie punches Rodolfo, Marco immediately stands out to control the situation: “Marco rises.” This action also reveals the conflict between the characters. This might suggest to the audience that there has been a change in the family from a poor but loving unit into one torn apart by mistrust, jealousy, and violence.