Written by Arthur Miller:
Born 1915
Key works: ‘All My Sons’, ‘Death of a Salesman’, ‘The Crucible’, and ‘A View from the Bridge.’
Married Several times, but most famously to Marilyn Monroe
Investigated by the US government for un-American activities. He was a left-wing sympathiser and the US government suspected that he might have been involved with communists.
2005 – dies of heart failure
Key themes in his plays include- societal wrongs and injustice, how much society if to blame for a man’s wrong-doings, deceit, love, morality, natural law versus written law…
Written in the 1940s
Miller worked for 2 years with Italians in the shipyards of Brooklyn.
People were poorly paid and used by the bosses.
Many were illegal immigrants and open to exploitation (they had very few rights in the country)
Miller saw out-of-work dockers waiting on the waterfront for work. This show of desperation made them easy targets for corrupt bosses. This, however, was a common practice in Sicily, so they did not realise their vulnerability. Miller thought this was unfair and humiliating and wanted to draw attention to it.
Also, during his time working on the docks, Miller heard of a longshoreman (dock worker) who acted in a particular way with his illegal immigrant relatives who lived with him. This was the inspiration for the play.
SETTING:
'Red Hook'
Play set in the poor area of Red Hook in Brooklyn.
It is a slum inhabited by the Carbones and their neighbours.
The play is narrated by a lawyer called Alfieri, who views the drama from Brooklyn Bridge.
Although most of the action focuses on the Carbone family, we must remember they are part of a wider community in Red Hook where reputation and respect are of the highest importance.
GENRE- TRAGEDY (when the feelings gone... lalalalala...(sorry!))
What is a tragedy?
A tragedy is a play in which the main character is brought to ruin or extreme sorrow as a result of a flaw in their person, a moral weakness or through their inability to cope with unfavourable circumstances.
In this play, Eddie is seen as the tragic hero.
In many ways, the play fits in with Classical tragedies as written and performed by the Ancient Greeks.
Greek tragedies were very much about great men falling from great heights. Only people of high standing could be truly tragic.
Miller believed that all of us could become tragic if the right (or wrong) situation arose.
KEY CHARACTERS:
Alfieri – a lawyer who narrates the play
Eddie Carbone – a longshoreman, the play’s protagonist
Beatrice – his wife
Catherine – his niece, whom he is responsible for
Marco and Rodolpho – illegal immigrants. Beatrice’s cousins who come to stay and find work
Louis and Mike – Eddie’s friends
Tony – a workmate
Mr and Mrs Lipari – their neighbours
KEY THEMES (SEE LATER NOTES FOR MORE DETAIL):
- Justice and the Law
- Natural law vs written law
- Masculinity
- The importance of reputation (importance of your name)
- Responsibility
- Betrayal
- Forbidden Desires
- Women and Femininity
- Love
KEY TECHNIQUES:
- Symbolism
- Language forms – Educated, controlled dialogue of Alfieri vs. raw nature of Eddie’s speech.
- Metaphors and imagery
- Contrast
- Dramatic tension
- Foreshadowing – hinting at events to come
- Dramatic irony – when the audience knows more than the character about a situation.
ACT ONE NOTES
‘the law has not been a friendly idea since the Greeks were beaten.’- Reference to Ancient Greeks who are renowned for setting up law and order/democracy, gives play a mythical quality. Links in with classical ideas of tragedy.
‘Gullet of New York swallowing the tonnage of the world’ – imagery used to describe the setting. Just as swallowing tonnage would be consuming all the heaviness, the waste, the weight of the world, so Red Hook is full of all the misery and problems that the rest of the world chooses to ignore. This is a hard place to live, a place that can destroy people and literally ‘swallow’ them up.
‘watched it run its bloody course’ – use of foreshadowing and symbolism to hint at the violence that will come to pass. Idea of a ‘course’ or a pathway, suggests that Eddie is not in control of his fate, he is doomed. WC of ‘Bloody’ tells us that this ‘course’ will be painful and sinister. Again, this links to ideas of tragedy.
Key themes revealed: Justice and the Law. Alfieri is a lawyer and so we get the idea that this is going to be a play based around crimes - both crimes to do with the law of the land and the law of the streets. He is able to understand both ‘laws’. Family relationships also revealed through situation with Carbonne family.
EDDIE AND CATHERINE:
At the very start, their relationship is:
- A close father/daughter relationship
- Eddie is protective of Catherine and Catherine cares deeply about what Eddie thinks of her.
- Catherine cares for and looks after Eddie/eager to please and Eddie appreciates this and wants what is best for her.
However, by the end of the second part:
- Tensions have started to form due to the arrival of Rodolpho and Catherine’s attraction towards him
- Eddie has become far more controlling and cruel towards Catherine
- Catherine is upset by Eddie and is angered at the way he is treating her
- Catherine begins to speak out against him/is not so easy to please.
QUOTES THAT HINT AT TENSION/FORBIDDEN DESIRES FROM THE BEGINNING OF ACT ONE:
'You wanna go to work… Madonna’: The Madonna is the Virgin Mary and symbolises purity and beauty. This insinuates that Eddie wants Catherine to stay young and pure- not to grow up.
‘Turn around. Let me see in the back.’: This is when Catherine is wearing her new skirt. Eddie asking to ‘see in the back’ could be interpreted as him wanting to see her in her very short skirt from behind!
‘you’re walking wavy.’- Just as something wavy has lots of curves, moves in a rhythmic motion, so this reveals that Eddie has been paying close attention to Catherine’s body and the way she moves it- again, a hint that his feelings towards her are perhaps not quite right.
‘What’s the heels for, Garbo?’- Greta Garbo was very famous, glamorous movie star- known to be sexually attractive to most men. Therefore, the insinuation here is that Eddie deems Catherine to be sexually attractive.
KEY SCENE: THE BROTHERS' ARRIVAL
How does the family greet the brothers?
They welcome them warmly. Eddie takes Marco’s bag, Beatrice introduces the family. Eddie offers them supper/coffee.
What differences are noticeable between Rodolpho and Marco? Evidence?
Marco – formal, polite, often says thank you, keen not to outstay his welcome , age 32 - likes to keep the peace. Not to cause trouble.
Rodolpho – laughs often, likes to make jokes (Danes invading Sicily, pushing taxis up the hill). Showman.
How does Eddie show his opinion of Rodolpho? Evidence?
Eddie shows that he takes Marco more seriously by addressing him more. He shows his dislike of Rodolpho by ignoring him at first: 'coming more and more to address Marco’, and then by making remarks about his singing etc.
What are Marco’s ambitions?
M is very keen to send money home to his family. He is tearful when he mentions them. He talks about how poor they are. ‘They eat the sunshine’ Wants to stay for 4, 5, or 6 years
What are Rodolpho’s ambitions? Delighted to be in America – wants to earn money and go back to Italy with a motorbike. Likes fashion, music, image
How do Catherine and Rodolpho show their developing attitudes to one another? Evidence? Both have interest in jazz, C says that his singing is 'terrific'; she is enthralled. Does not want him to stop singing. She asks if he is married.
How does Eddie react to Rodolpho’s singing?
He is furious, and quite clearly jealous. However, he covers this up by saying that he is worried that they will draw too much attention to themselves.
What is Marco’s response?
Wants to keep the peace. Tells R to keep quiet to keep Eddie happy. He respects his host’s wishes.
[Embarrassed, now angered, Catherine goes into the bedroom] Explain Catherine’s response. She feels like this because she has been reprimanded in front of the visitors; she is wanting to make an impression that she is a grown-up and attractive woman but has been sent to her room like a child.
Alfieri states ‘Now as the weeks passed, there is a trouble that would not go away.’ What trouble could that be? What tension can you sense developing between which characters? Site instances where this is shown? p34
Conflict developing between Eddie and Rodolpho and also Eddie and Catherine. When Rodolpho and Marco first arrive, Eddie does not like R's attitude. This conflict increases when Rodolpho and Catherine start to flirt. Eddie’s treatment of Rodolpho and of Catherine in front of him also begins to conflict between E and C.
SYMBOLISM OF 'PAPERDOLL' SONG:
When Rodolfo decides to show off his lovely tenor voice to his new benefactors, he makes the incredibly symbolic choice of singing "Paper Doll." It would seem that the symbolism isn't lost on Eddie. Look at the lyrics to the above song:
"I'll tell you boys it's tough to be alone. And it's tough to love a doll that's not your own. […] I'm gonna buy a paper doll that I can call my own, A doll that other fellows cannot steal“
This song obviously has symbolic meaning. The lyrics seem to sum up Eddie’s view of Catherine quite well. It demonstrates how possessive Eddie is, and how difficult he finds the thought of losing her. It seems to us that the words describe exactly the way Eddie feels about Catherine. The prospect of her growing up makes him feel lonely. Catherine isn't really his, and as much as he tries he can never truly have her. Also, he tries to treat her like a doll. He wants her to be a pure innocent object (A Madonna) that he can dress up in girlish clothes and not let anybody else play with. He wants her to remain a ‘doll’, a child- he does not want her to grow up!
SCENE AS A TURNING POINT
The turning point occurs due to the arrival of the brothers and the conflicts that begin to arise as a result of their arrival. Before the Cousins' arrival there are no real conflicts. The turning point is indicated by the symbolism of the 'Paperdoll' song and Catherine’s obvious attraction to Rodolpho leading to Eddie's anger/stage direction at end of scene. This clearly shows growing conflict between the characters and shows that the plot will no longer be solely concerned the family’s worries about their part in the illegal immigration of the brothers. Alfieri's comment that ‘Now as the weeks passed, there is a trouble that would not go away.’ clearly tells us that these conflicts will only increase and get worse as the play continues.
'BOXING SCENE'- KEY SCENE- CONFLICT/TENSION BUILDING- LEADS TO CLIMAX
A strained evening at home ends the first act: Catherine and Rodolpho dance: Eddie and Rodolpho box; Marco quietly warns Eddie (Chair scene)
Miller puts the protagonist (Eddie) in a claustrophobic domestic setting. The scene opens benignly with an amiable conversation about the brother's experience on the fishing boats in Italy. Marco assures everyone that his wife will be faithful to him while he is away.
1. Find the quote which shows Eddie using the conversation to make a point about the allegedly disrespectful way Rodolpho has gone about courting Catherine.
'It ain't so free here…..
2. What does Marco say which shows he respects Eddie's position as head of the house?
'If he does wrong you must tell him what does he do wrong?‘
3. What does Beatrice say that defends Catherine?
'Well you said the movie ended late didn't you?‘
4. Find a quote that shows that Eddie uses the situation to show his dislike of Rodolpho
'If he is here to work he should work'
5. Catherine puts on 'Paper Doll' and asks Rodolpho to dance with her. Why does she do this?
She knows that this will hurt Eddie and is trying to state her independence.
6. Beatrice returns the conversation to the fishing boats. This confirms her role as ____peacekeeper______
7. Eddie sees another opportunity to attack Rodolpho. Find the quote and explain what Eddie is implying.
'It's wonderful, he cooks, he sings, he could make dresses‘- here Eddies exposes the issue - he says that if Rodolpho can do these things he should not be 'on the waterfront' but 'in a dress store'. The innuendo is clear to all that he is accusing Rodolpho of being homosexual.
The turning point occurs due to the arrival of the brothers and the conflicts that begin to arise as a result of their arrival. Before the Cousins' arrival there are no real conflicts. The turning point is indicated by the symbolism of the 'Paperdoll' song and Catherine’s obvious attraction to Rodolpho leading to Eddie's anger/stage direction at end of scene. This clearly shows growing conflict between the characters and shows that the plot will no longer be solely concerned the family’s worries about their part in the illegal immigration of the brothers. Alfieri's comment that ‘Now as the weeks passed, there is a trouble that would not go away.’ clearly tells us that these conflicts will only increase and get worse as the play continues.
'BOXING SCENE'- KEY SCENE- CONFLICT/TENSION BUILDING- LEADS TO CLIMAX
A strained evening at home ends the first act: Catherine and Rodolpho dance: Eddie and Rodolpho box; Marco quietly warns Eddie (Chair scene)
Miller puts the protagonist (Eddie) in a claustrophobic domestic setting. The scene opens benignly with an amiable conversation about the brother's experience on the fishing boats in Italy. Marco assures everyone that his wife will be faithful to him while he is away.
1. Find the quote which shows Eddie using the conversation to make a point about the allegedly disrespectful way Rodolpho has gone about courting Catherine.
'It ain't so free here…..
2. What does Marco say which shows he respects Eddie's position as head of the house?
'If he does wrong you must tell him what does he do wrong?‘
3. What does Beatrice say that defends Catherine?
'Well you said the movie ended late didn't you?‘
4. Find a quote that shows that Eddie uses the situation to show his dislike of Rodolpho
'If he is here to work he should work'
5. Catherine puts on 'Paper Doll' and asks Rodolpho to dance with her. Why does she do this?
She knows that this will hurt Eddie and is trying to state her independence.
6. Beatrice returns the conversation to the fishing boats. This confirms her role as ____peacekeeper______
7. Eddie sees another opportunity to attack Rodolpho. Find the quote and explain what Eddie is implying.
'It's wonderful, he cooks, he sings, he could make dresses‘- here Eddies exposes the issue - he says that if Rodolpho can do these things he should not be 'on the waterfront' but 'in a dress store'. The innuendo is clear to all that he is accusing Rodolpho of being homosexual.
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