Saturday, September 14, 2019
Hereford Plays series Essay
After the complex events of the scene before, Marco jumps in to try and regain his brotherââ¬â¢s dignity. This is his family and he cannot let Rodolpho be disgraced like that or be hurt; whether it was just a stagger or not, Eddie was out of order and Marco wonââ¬â¢t allow it. As Catherine and Rodolpho dance, Marco discusses a ââ¬Ëfriendlyââ¬â¢ challenge: ââ¬ËMarco takes a chair and places it in front of Eddieââ¬â¢. Eddie has to lift the chair as far up as he can with one hand holding it by the bottom of one leg. As Eddie kneels and grasps the leg he lifts it by an inch whereas when Marco tries it he lifts it all the way above his head. This simple action obviously had a motive behind it: to warn Eddie to lay off his brother but Eddie consciously knows that he wonââ¬â¢t give up that easily. Marco has shown that Eddie may think heââ¬â¢s more of a man than Rodolpho but Marco is more of a man than Eddie; this event has generally shamed Eddie in his home, which is something this character feels very strongly about as the head of the household. The scene needs a sense of oppositon and competition. In order to emphasise what is to be a true test of strength, the onlookers (Rodolpho, Catherine and Beatrice) need to have complete awareness and support of Marcoââ¬â¢s triumph. In this scene you have to visually compare the failure of Eddie in comparison to the triumph of Marco. While Marco is lifting the chair he is struggling and the tension in his neck, face, arms and especially his facial expression is needed to portray not just victory of lifting the chair but the victory of putting Eddie to shame and gaining some respect for his brother. This scene is a turning point in the story because Eddie now knows that if he wants Rodolpho out of his life heââ¬â¢ll may have to take even more extreme measures and the battle has turned from not just putting Catherine off of Rodolpho but to get these immigrants out of his house. Itââ¬â¢s important for its visual impact on the audience because its dramatic actions of a fight for strength and self-dignity turns the whole generalisation of the story from a happy family get-together into a potential ââ¬Ëcrime against his (Eddieââ¬â¢s) family and the Sicilian communityââ¬â¢ (as quoted from synopsis/pri cis of the book). Its also important because it shows Marcoââ¬â¢s justified slyness; justified because he has dishonoured Eddie but only in retaliation to Eddie taking advantage of Rodolpho. As soon as Marco said ââ¬Å"Hereâ⬠¦ â⬠and started to lift the chair it is the beginning of Eddieââ¬â¢s slowly increasing shame and disgrace. The victory celebration should idealistically be a smiled expression (from Marco) as if to imply to Eddie that no-one messes with his brother or else theyââ¬â¢ll answer to him. As director I would issue the following instructions: Catherine: youââ¬â¢re enjoying your dance with Rodolpho and you are nai ve as to what might be going on with Eddie and Marco so keep off guard and treat the situation as though its just a bit of fun between them. Beatrice: you have realised that Eddie feels discomforted at the weak position that he has been put in; however you believed that he deserved it and you are just hoping that Eddie has learned his lesson and will not interfere again. Act supportive at his distress but donââ¬â¢t destroy is ride by talking about it too much (as your character would naturally do) Eddie: you have to accept Marcoââ¬â¢s offer very boldly and confidently as Catherine might be watching and you donââ¬â¢t want to back down now. Your facial expression has to show repressed rage at Marco; grind your teeth and be silent to keep your pride, you want everyone else in the room to feel that what has happened doesnââ¬â¢t mean or prove anything so get on as though it didnââ¬â¢t happen although youââ¬â¢re still much aware of the damage that Marco has done Marco: you are proud of what you have accomplished but youââ¬â¢re not going to look like a show off; if you win gracefully it will add to Eddieââ¬â¢s shame which is something you want to do. Your facial expression should say ââ¬Ë Iââ¬â¢m triumphant and taking it wellââ¬â¢ In conclusion, Eddie cares about his family and the responsibilities that come with it. He was strict in the upbringing of Catherine and had the utmost respect for his wife. Even though he made a fool of himself and died just for his name (his dignity) we must recognise he had a strong and defiant will or view that was his own and that he fought to uphold, such as his ââ¬Ëprimitive manââ¬â¢s viewââ¬â¢ that there must be a law that keeps Catherine from marrying Rodolpho because he is supposedly a homosexual. The bottom line is Eddie should have settled for half meaning he brought Catherine up and now it was time to let her go. So in the end, Eddie dies to keep his pride and his ââ¬Ënameââ¬â¢ but doesnââ¬â¢t even gain the audienceââ¬â¢s admiration because his actions were unnecessary. As quoted by E. R. Wood, who wrote the introduction in the Hereford Plays series (1975) publication of ââ¬ËA View From The Bridgeââ¬â¢, ââ¬Å"To be a tragic hero, you do not have to be in the right; you have to be true to yourself. â⬠So Eddie was guilty of destroying the lives of these immigrants and the only honourable way out was to die.
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