A View From the Bridge: Character Profiles

A View From the Bridge: Character Profiles

Eddie Carbone

  • Central character, a tragic hero.
  • Longshoreman working docks in Brooklyn.
  • Struggles with his subconscious feelings for his niece, Catherine.
  • His feelings are taboo, making him the root of the tragedy of the play.
  • Values the traditional values of honour and respect.
  • His obsession with masculinity leads him to ridicule Rodolpho’s feminine skills.
  • Unable to express his feelings, his suppressed emotions result in a violent end for him.

Beatrice Carbone

  • Eddie’s wife, desperately loves and seeks respect from him.
  • Struggles to keep peace between Eddie and Catherine.
  • Uses logic and tries to make Eddie realise his illicit feelings for Catherine.
  • Represents a maternal figure. She struggles to maintain the family unity and defend Catherine’s rights.

Catherine Carbone

  • Niece of Eddie and Beatrice, object of Eddie’s desire.
  • Grown up like daughter in the household, but Eddie’s feelings for her are more complex.
  • She is an innocent character, naïve to male attention and love.
  • Her relationship with Rodolpho spark conflict with Eddie.
  • Over time, becomes independent from Eddie and stands up for Rodolpho and Beatrice.

Rodolpho

  • Young, handsome, blonde Italian immigrant who falls in love with Catherine.
  • Talented—he can cook, sew, and sing. Eddie finds these skills ‘unmanly’, sparking conflict.
  • Accused of using Catherine to obtain American citizenship.
  • Represents a threat to Eddie in terms of possessing what he cannot have

Marco

  • Older brother of Rodolpho. Comes to America to work and send money to his starving family back in Italy.
  • Portrayed as honourable, responsible, and a strong family man.
  • Acts as a foil to Eddie—he embodies honour and masculinity in a more restrained, societal way.
  • His conflict with Eddie results from Eddie’s mistreatment of Rodolpho and ultimately results in Eddie’s death.

Alfieri

  • The narrator of the play also a lawyer character who Eddie consults.
  • Known as ‘bridge’ between American law and the Italian cultural codes of honour and family loyalty.
  • Represents voice of reason and American justice system.
  • Often powerless to alter the tragic events, reinforcing the tragic inevitability of the play.