The dramatic significance Essay Example

The dramatic significance Paper In this next part of this play there is both humour an growing tension between the characters. In this next section Eddies Paper Is a very important prop towards his actions, He has bent the rolled paper and it suddenly tears in two This Stage action shows his anger which he needs to unleash. At this point in the scene I think Eddie is reading his newspaper because he doesnt want to be in the conversation with Rodolfo because he despises him, he is also reading his newspaper to hide behind so he doesnt show everyone he is full of anger and jealousy of Rodolfo. Eddie is full of anger because he has just been in an argument with Rodolfo. Eddie has only stopped arguing because Marco is on his side and he agrees with him, which Eddie did not expect so he still has all his anger flaring up inside of him so he sits down and hides behind his newspaper. Catherine putting on a record and asking Rodolfo to dance shows that her attitude towards Eddie is very revengeful and she knows that he doesnt like her being with Rodolfo so she knows this will get him very angry. When Catherine asked Rodolfo to dance he refuses at first, because he knows Eddie doesnt want him to dance with her and having Eddie in the room Rodolfo can feel Eddies eyes on his back. Rodolfo doesnt want to antagonise Eddie any more. At this point in the play when Eddie asks if the record Paper Doll is a new record, He is implying that Rodolfo is spending a lot of money on records and other American things and not saving it to go back to Italy. We will write a custom essay sample on The dramatic significance specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The dramatic significance specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The dramatic significance specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The stage directions at this point She watches them dance Eddie turns his head away tells us that Beatrices feelings are very proud for Catherine and happy for her because she is watching her dance, where as Eddies feelings should be the same but he is angry that Rodolfo is dancing with his niece and he is backing up his belief that Rodolfo is only going to marry Catherine for his papers, which he doesnt want and he Turns his head away not wanting to watch them because he doesnt like the sight of them being together. Beatrice continues to talk about the fishing boats because she knows that she looks foolish, so she keeps talking so she doesnt look so bad and is also trying to lighten everybody up because it is getting very tense in the room. It also shows that she just like Catherine has been brought up in an over protected environment and is very interested and wants to know more just like Catherine did. The effect on the audience of Eddie lowering his newspaper and saying Hes a cook too is that everybody will find it funny and laugh and it is also saying that he is not reading his paper he is listening to every word and is hiding his anger behind his paper. When Eddie says this, the stage direction about Rodolfo suggests that he has taken it as a compliment and smiles thankfully, when really Eddie is trying to imply that he is a homosexual. The tone of Catherines words They get some high pay those guys is, that she knows Eddie is insulting him but she is pretending to take it the same way as Rodolfo by saying this. She is also saying that he can go further in life than Eddie and is also sticking up for Rodolfo. The effects of Eddies repetition of He sings, he cooks and makes dresses is that he wants to insult him and it is only at this point in the play that Rodolfo realises that he is insulting him. As soon as Eddie has torn the paper his mood changes dramatically. From insulting Rodolfo in his much masked way he offers the two brothers an invitation to a bout. The other characters cant quite make out at this point but they are happy that he isnt insulting him no more. At this point in the scene Miller includes the stage direction. Pulls his pants over his belly. This is showing the audience and the other characters around him his manliness, as though he is getting ready for something. Eddie offers to take Marco to a boxing match because Eddie wants to get at Rodolfo and not asking him to the boxing match at first and asking Marco is like he is trying to say come on Marco let us men go to a manly fight, and leave girlie Rodolfo to do his girlie cooking and making dresses . Marco is uneasy in his reply because he doesnt know what Eddie is trying to do, and he doesnt know what Eddie wants out of him. Eddie has just insulted his brother so he is really not sure. The significance of Eddie inviting Rodolfo along too shows that he has clearly thought this process through so he will get the chance to show Rodolfo how to box and give him a taste of what hes made of. Eddie has been ignoring him and offending him and is now inviting him to go out to the fight with him to cover up his animosity. Danish it is a nickname which suggests friendship. It also links up to the beginning of the play when Eddie had no reason to hate Rodolfo and he says this. Eddie is also trying to lighten the atmosphere in the room. At this point in the play Catherine offers to make some coffee for everyone because she feels that Eddie has finally got to like Rodolfo and is being kind to him by inviting him to the boxing match. Miller has got her to go out the room so when she comes back in and finds Eddie and Rodolfo fighting she will be in great shock. Eddies reply Go ahead, make some! Make it nice and strong! shows that he is still on the subject of boxing and to be a boxer you need to be very strong. He also says this because having her out the room makes it better for Eddie to hit Rodolfo whilst teaching him to box. It is also a side swipe at Rodolfo. He says make it strong because he isnt and needs to be to figure with Eddie. Eddie saying Make it nice and strong mystifies Catherine because she cant fully understand why he has said this and is confused. Eddie is Weirdly elated because of what he is about to do. He is rubbing his fists into the palm of his hand as though he is about to have a fight and he is going to hit Rodolfo and this makes him excited and happy. Beatrices comment Whats he got to learn that for? shows she has noticed that something bad is going to happen and is warning us of this. Eddies comment Someones liable to step on his foot? is ironic because we know what is going to happen in the end and that the person who is going to step on his foot is going to be Eddie. Rodolfo only agrees to let Eddie teach him how to box because Beatrice says Go ahead , Rodolfo. Hes a good boxer, he could teach you He takes Beatrices advice as she is part of his family and he trusts her. If I were directing this play I would show that Rodolfo isnt very good at boxing but he was able to pick it up very easily. The characters around him were saying at boxing he was good to try boost his confidence, especially when Beatrice says Hes very good! because he starts to jab at Eddie with a lot more comfort in doing it. Miller at this point has Catherine come back into the room because now Eddie says Now I am gonna hit you so block me, see? so this will make Catherine think that theyre having a fight and could take it the wrong way, and be very shocked, Eddie also waits for Catherine to enter the room so he can show Rodolfo up by hitting him and showing how weak he is. Eddie, later on in this play repeats this show by kissing Rodolfo in front of Catherine. The effect on the characters and the audience of Eddie landing Rodolfo with his right is that everybody is shocked. Marco rises as though he is ready to get Eddie and defend his brother, and the audience feel that he is going to say something to Eddie, Beatrice and Catherine are shocked because they didnt think that Eddie would do such a thing as this. The effect of Eddie Rubbing the back of his hand across his mouth is that it is showing that he has finished with him, just as you would if you were to wipe your mouth when you are finished with your dinner. It also shows a sense of enjoyment and that he has won and beat Rodolfo. Rodolfo says that Eddie did not hurt him when he punched him, he has certain gleam and smile as if to say that no he didnt hurt me I am a strong man and that his punch was very weak, when really it did hurt him. He is trying to mock Eddie but Rodolfo also gives a sign that he understands Eddies motions perfectly and fully intends to pay him back. Eddie turns to Marco and says He could be very good because he is trying to cover the fact that he really did mean to hurt him but then saying this just means he was just teaching him. When Eddie says Ill teach him again it has a double meaning because the way he wants everyone to take it, is that he will teach him boxing again also saying that he will teach him properly and really have a fight with him and teach him not to mess with him again. At this point Rodolfo asks Catherine to dance because he knows that Eddie doesnt like seeing them together so having Eddie see them dance close together he will not like it and it will make him jealous, Rodolfo is getting his own back on Eddie in his own tormenting way. The closing scene of the first act is extremely tense and dramatic, Marco challenges Eddie to a contest of strength. Whilst it is all quiet and only Catherine and Rodolfo are dancing, Marco slowly and quietly picks up a wooden chair and places it in front of Eddie, and looks down at it. The audience are very confused as to what Marco is doing as well as Eddie and Beatrice. Marco then says Can you lift this chair? The curiosity is increasing in everybody as to what is going on. Marco then explains what the task is that he wants Eddie to do. He goes down to the chair, kneels, grasps the bottom of one of the chairs legs but does not lift it because if he did it would take the drama from Eddie failing it. From here Marco says with a quiet soft voice. Eddie thinking it will be very easy replys Sure why not? He goes to the chair, kneels, grasps the leg, raises the chair one inch, but leans over to the floor. Eddie tries over again and again he fails, although the task is very hard, he tries to tell Marco why its so hard by giving him an excuse for him failing Its on an angle, thats why, heh? Marco kneels down and grasps the leg of the chair. He lifts the chair fully off the ground and keeps rising stands up tall with the chair held way above Eddie. Marco is face to face with Eddie, a strained tension in Marcos face as he gripping the chair telling the characters that it is hard but yet he is determined to do it. Marco is doing this in family solidarity, defending his brother as Eddie has just defeated Rodolfo and now, Marco has just defeated Eddie. Eddie was acting like a bully to Rodolfo and now Marco has got Eddie as if to say bullies never win. The end of this act is like the same as the end of act two because Eddie is been defeated by a kind of strength and the characters are very tense and silent. The significance of placing the interval here is that Miller knows the audience needs a break from the tension. Doing this he gives the two acts a symmetrical structure which helps the audience predict the later action. Ending this act in tragedy from Eddies behaviour prefigures the end of the play. This scene has demonstrated the destructive nature of Eddies love for Catherine. His love for her has taken over his life and it is as if it is the only thing on his mind in the play. Eddie, Beatrice, Marco and Rodolfo all have to start to consider the importance of family loyalty and honour.