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.