1) The document analyzes sexuality and gender roles in A View from the Bridge. It explores the characters of Rodolpho, Catherine, Eddie, Beatrice, and Marco. 2) Eddie is suspicious of Rodolpho's sexuality and masculinity. He is obsessed with controlling Catherine and sees Rodolpho as a threat to take her away. 3) Catherine is coming of age and asserting her independence, which Eddie disapproves of. She is torn between Rodolpho and fulfilling Eddie's desires to keep her under his control.

1. Sexuality in A View
from the Bridge
Joe, Harry and Dominique

2. Rodolpho
• Possible affairs in the past
• Paper Doll song: suggests he’s a Lothario
• Catherine putting sugar in his coffee –
innuendo
• Motivation for relationship with Catherine:
- To get papers?
- Genuine love?
Rodolpho smiling:
• Doesn’t like to work (would much rather sing) “He trusts his wife”
– Mike and Louis, when talking about
Rodolpho, clearly think something’s wrong Eddie: “The guy
with him. ain’t right” (1.527)
• Eddie’s suspicion of Rodolpho’s sexuality
- Cooking, singing and sewing
Eddie: “if you close the
- Platinum blond
paper fast, you could
- Finds almost every other way of suggesting blow him over.” (1.535)
he’s gay apart from saying it directly.
• Doesn’t act in the “masculine” way towards Eddie: “if you came in the house
Eddie; he forgives him where Marco doesn’t. and you didn’t know who was
• Masculinity tests singin’, you wouldn’t be lookin’
- Boxing match for him you’d be lookin’ for her”
- Eddie kissing Rodolpho

3. Eddie: “You’re getting to be a
Eddie big girl now, you gotta keep
yourself more, you can’t be
so friendly, kid.” (1.36)
• Protective of Catherine – trying to
Alfrieri: “I saw it was only
get her away from possible threats a passion that had moved
(from other men) into his body, like a
• Owns Catherine as a father would – stranger.” (1.508)
Italian American patriarchy Eddie: “He looked so sweet
there, like an angel – you
• Doesn’t want to let her go (common could kiss him he was so
fatherly feeling) sweet” (1.541)
• Catherine lights his cigar Eddie: “I mean I got a couple
rights here *…+ This is my house
• Uncontrollable desire for Catherine here not their house.” (2.120)
• Obsessed with Rodolpho’s sexuality
– possibly suppressing his own?
• Masculinity taken away from end of
act 1 (numerous attempts to regain
it)
• Kiss = easy parallel with the kiss for
Catherine?
• Ultimately loves Beatrice (ending)

4. Catherine
Eddie: “I guess I just never
figure on one thing.”
Catherine, smiling: “What?”
• Becoming a woman – high heels being Eddie: “That you would ever
reflective of womanhood and her gaining grow up.”
sexual power over men (1.189-191)
• Eddie disapproves (Catherine Catherine: “He still thinks I’m a
purposefully rebels) as he finds them baby”
threatening in the same way that Beatrice: “Because you think
Catherine finds them attractive you’re a baby.”
• Catherine and Beatrice talk about what (1.483-484)
makes a woman Catherine: “Teach me
- For Catherine: deciding whether or not [Rodolpho+ I don’t know
she wants to marry Rodolpho (and thus anything, teach me,
finding another man to latch onto) Rodolpho, hold me.” (2.61)
- Not walking round in her slip
- Not sitting on the edge of the tub whilst
Eddie shaves
- To be a woman is to reserve modesty in
front of men and to make independent
decisions.
• Even when Catherine’s with Rodolpho
she’s submissive

5. Beatrice: “When am I
going to be a wife
Beatrice & Marco again, Eddie?” (1.361)
Beatrice: “Like when he comes
• Beatrice: home sometimes you throw
yourself at him like when you
• Hasn’t been a wife in 3 months was twelve years old.” (1.490)
• Knows (vaguely) of Eddie’s desire Louis: “He’s a
and tries to warn Catherine regular bull” (1.390)
subtley Marco: “Animal! You
[Eddie] go on your
• Is the first one to voice Eddie’s knees to me!”
desire(s) – but Eddie is powerless (2.328)
to stop his desires by this point
• Marco:
• Challenges Eddie’s masculinity:
chair lifting
• Swears revenge upon Eddie
• Typical “manly” things