Male personalities

Male personalities vary from what type of man he is; we see 'manliness' in three different ways. We are shown 'manliness' in Eddie, Marco and Rodolpho's eyes or picture of what 'manliness' is. In Eddie and Marco's ways of 'manliness' they both have 'duty and honour' for an example: Eddies' duty is to work for his wife Beatrice and his niece Catherine and his honour is his name and respect. As for Marco his duty is to protect Rodolpho and his honour is to find a job and send money back to his wife Maria and kids back in Italy, but in Rodolphos' case he show his 'duty and honour' duty is to become a citizen and to get enough money and buy a motorcycle. His honour is his love and respect towards Catherine.

Essay:

Eddie is seen as the commanding figure in the family. He uses different language towards everybody example he speaks towards Marco as his equal and his language towards him shows respect for him as a fellow male. He speaks towards Catherine as if he was a loving and protective farther, Eddie speaking '' you look like one of them girls that went to college.'' caring like a father, ''I think it's too short, ain't it.'' protectiveness, ''Yeah, but you gotta sit down sometimes.'' looks over the caring and protectiveness and begins to argue. He also speaks to Beatrice his wife as a husband does towards his wife, but how he speaks towards Rodolpho shows us that he is uncomfortable being around him, example whenever Rodolpho sits next to Eddie, Edie attempts at trying to move away from him.

Eddie views himself as the man of the house, King of the castle, but no matter how manly he can make himself to be in the house he is always loyal to his family because he works all day and comes home to his same loving wife and niece day after day. Eddie values his name, he values his name so much that if anything happens in or outside the house Eddie feels as though his name is in danger. Eddie is a well-educated man who studies and respects the American Law, but is also loyal to the Italian customs.

Eddie sees Marco as his equal and accepts Rodolpho as part of an Italian Mafia. Eddie's primary concern at this stage is to change what and how Rodolpho behaves and looks so that way then he can think that in two ways he is good (just) enough for Catherine, although I guess it would be no different if it was any other boys who showed their attention to Catherine. As the days go on Eddie's language to Rodolpho from 'Blonde' to 'Punk' in saying this it shows us how desperate Eddie has become, but instead of questioning Rodolpho's sexuality, Eddie should be questioning his, for example whilst Rodolpho is going out with Catherine, Beatrice hasn't had sex for 3 months an is saying to Eddie ''when am I going to be a woman again Eddie?''

Back in the 50's homosexuals were a great deal of a shock to people and I would have imagined that it would have also be a great shock to the audience. Now a day more people are homosexuals, so the audience would have reacted differently by not thinking or so much of it. At the end of Act1 a great deal of 'manliness' is shown. By how Eddie teaches Rodolpho how to box and there was about 3 reasons I think the audience may have seen in this scene why Eddie wants to teach Rodolpho how to box.

Firstly, Eddie wanted to release some anger out on Rodolpho (for flirting and dancing, etc with Catherine). Secondly, Eddie is trying to warn Rodolpho that he needs to now how to fight so that he can defend for Catherine when he is taking her out on a date. Thirdly, Eddie is trying to change Rodolpho's 'manliness' from a puff (homosexual) to what he thinks is a man. As Eddie keeps on teaching Rodolpho how to box, tension is building up in the room, for Marco could see what Eddie was really up to. So at the end of their boxing lesson, Marco displays his 'manliness' by lifting the chair that Eddie couldn't pick up by an inch, over his head. This then shows us:

Marco accepts Rodolpho, Marco stronger than Eddie, Tension reaches a climax of where Eddie is annoyed and angry with Marco when he lifts the chair over his head. Marco's statement questions Eddie' 'manliness', loyalty and his families honour. He is saying that Eddie has dishonoured him and his family; he has killed his family by him not alloying Marco to live and carry on sending money back to Italy to his wife and his sick son. Eddie is contradicts himself by saying (earlier in the play) you can get a million dollars that was stolen than a word you gave away. Basically because Eddie grassed on Marco and Rodolpho to the immigration beau that he has now lost his name in and outside of the streets.

Through out the story Eddie is saying that Rodolpho 'ain't right', but in actual fact whilst Rodolpho is going out with a girl 'Catherine', Beatrice is complaining that they (Eddie & Beatrice) haven't had it for 3 months. Now at first Rodolpho was the one beginning accused about his sexuality, now things have swapped around and Eddie is beginning accused about his sexuality. Illegal immigrants are still happening now and are either: Transported out of the country, back home. Taken to a school (of some kind) to learn e.g. the English Laws, language, etc.

Alferi's statement 'settle for half' I think means not to tell anybody the entire truth of something, but to do what Alferi says 'settle for half' by only telling part of the story which in times is safer to do. The Italian Law is similar to the American Law, but in my opinion if you are an Italian immigrant then you should keep your Italian ways to yourself inside of your house not outside of the house. As the old saying goes 'keep your friends close and your enemies closer.' This is shown between Eddie and Marco. As a result of this saying most of the time there is a tragedy committed and in this case there was a tragedy committed. As for Arthur Miller I would have expected that he would of gone through some similar experiences like fights and deaths on the streets and also would have had Illegal/Legal immigrants in the country.