Eddies Destructive Love in Act 2

643 Words3 Pages
Eddies destructive love in act 2 Eddies actions in act 2 of Arthur Miller’s “a view from the bridge” predominantly lead to the destruction of his and Catherine’s relationship. Near the start of the act Eddie returns home “unsteady, drunk” to find Catherine and Rodolpho post sex. Through Millers use of the adjective “unsteady” in the stage directions, the audience are aware that Eddie has had a lot to drink, bringing about the inevitable suspicion that the scene may result into something dramatic, as when things often are when someone is intoxicated. It could also be viewed that Miller is perhaps suggesting that Eddie’s mind is unstable due to his infatuation with his niece becoming increasingly more obsessive. This unstableness is again seen later on in the scene after Eddie kisses Rodolpho in which he expresses two conflicting emotions as “tears are rolling down his face” but he is still laughing “mockingly”. This conveys to the audience that eddies inappropriate love for Catherine has led to the destruction of his sanity as he is laughing at Rodolpho in an intimidating manner but is crying because he knows he has lost Catherine forever. He further destroys his relationship with Catherine through the double kiss scene. Eddies belief that Catherine is a virginal “Madonna” or mere child in need of his fatherly protection is shattered after Eddie becomes aware of her and Rodolpho’s sexual relationship and it angers him greatly, as it brings on the realisation that Catherine has become a woman and is no longer his; “Eddie, I’m not a baby anymore”. His drunken state arouses Eddies suppressed feelings of desire and jealousy, resulting in him grabbing her and “kissing her on the mouth”. The whole notion is almost animalistic as he kisses her “mouth” rather than her lips giving connotations that the kiss is devouring and aggressive, rather than romantic, as it would be
Open Document