Testing Rodolpho Essay Example for Free

Testing Rodolpho Essay Catherine doesnt get drawn in by this and goes back to testing Rodolpho; she steels herself as if she is about to say something important and the audience know something is going to happen. She asks him a question that Rodolpho doesnt answer, but he immediately attacks her about Eddie and whether it was him making her ask the question:  Catherine [steeling herself]: Tell me something. I mean just tell me, Rodolpho would you still want to do it if it turned out we had to go live in Italy? I mean just if it turned out that way. Rodolpho: This is your question or his question?  The audience can tell that Rodolpho thinks about Eddie differently now to before the boxing. Before that Eddie was like a potential uncle to him but he has now realised how much Eddie hates him, or hes aware of something that he doesnt understand.  Rodolpho takes his anger for Eddie out on Catherine and he answers her question in a way that the audience dont expect him to and shocks them. Catherine is also shocked and upset that he hasnt told her he loves her. Rodolpho attacks Catherine about Eddie:  No; I will not marry you to live in Italy. I want you to be my wife and I want to be a citizen. Tell him that, or I will. Yes [He moves about angrily.] And tell him also, and tell yourself, please, that I am not beggar, and you are not a horse, a gift, a favour for a poor immigrant.  This shows Rodolpho is upset and angry that Eddie should suggest such a thing. He is proud and frustrated that Eddie and Catherine think of him this way. As he talks Rodolpho walks about showing his frustration and anger. He still doesnt tell Catherine that he loves her although he could be playing for time. The emotion moves on and Catherine talks about Eddie and what he means to her:  Its only that I He was good to me, Rodolpho. Good. He razzes me all the time but he dont mean it. I know. I would just feel ashamed if I made him sad. Cause I always dreamt that when I got married he would be happy at the wedding, and laughin and now hes mad all the time and nasty [She is weeping.]  She doesnt understand why Eddie doesnt like Rodolpho and feels like she doesnt know Eddie anymore. The audience feel her emotion and it makes them feel sad for her. She pleads with Rodolpho to get Eddie to trust him:  Tell him youd live in Italy just tell him, and maybe he would start to trust you a little, see? Because I want him to be happy; I mean I like him, Rodolpho and I cant stand it! The audience can see she is desperate and they feel for her. They want Rodolpho to do what she wants. Rodolpho doesnt seem to take her that seriously:  Oh Catherine oh, little girl  This could be taken as if Rodolpho is protective over her or that he is taking advantage of her.  Catherine tells Rodolpho she loves him but he doesnt tell her he loves her back, making the audience wonder why he didnt:  Catherine: I love you, Rodolpho, I love you.  Rodolpho: Then why are you afraid? That hell spank you?  He is suggesting that Catherine should trust him. Catherine shows she wants someone to treat her like an adult so she can be an adult:  You dont know; nobody knows! Im not a baby; I know a lot more than people think I know. Beatrice says to be a woman, but then why dont she be a woman?  The characters are developing and Catherine doesnt understand and doesnt know what to think. She is trying to understand what is going on and what people are trying to say, but she also wants to prove herself and show she isnt a baby. Things start to get more intimate and Rodolpho relates Catherine to nature and shows what Eddie is doing to her:  Catherine. If I take in my hands a little bird. And she grows and wishes to fly. But I will not let her out of my hands because I love her so much, is it right for me to do? I dont say you must hate him; but anyway you must go, mustnt you? Catherine?  This could also be interpreted as the bird being held like Rodolpho is holding Catherine. They hold each other and Rodolpho leads her towards the bedroom, showing Catherine as being defenceless and he is protective over her. This is a dramatic movement because the audience assume they will have sex. When Eddie comes in the audience can anticipate something will happen because he comes in drunk with many bottles:  [Light rises on the street. In a moment Eddie appears. He is unsteady, drunk. He mounts the stairs. He enters the apartment, looks around, takes out a bottle from one pocket, puts it on the table. Then another bottle from another pocket, and a third from an inside pocket. He sees the pattern and cloth, goes over to it and touches it, and turns towards upstage.]  Catherine enters from the bedroom first and tries to act naturally. Eddie mockingly asks if Rodolpho has been making her a dress, making the point that he thinks Rodolpho is gay. When Rodolpho appears from the bedroom Eddie realises what might have happened and the audience feel tension because they dont know what he will do. There is a dramatic pause before Eddie tells Rodolpho to get out.  Catherine follows Rodolpho and the audience can see that her loyalty is now with him instead of Eddie and she stands by Rodolpho.  I just cant stay here no more. You know I cant. [Her sobs of pity and love for him break her composure.] Dont you know I cant? You know that, dont you? [She goes to him.] Wish me luck. [She clasps her hands prayerfully.] Oh Eddie, dont be like that! This shows her desperation because she loves Eddie and wants him to agree. She doesnt know what else to do but she has decided to be a woman. What just happened in the bedroom with Rodolpho might have helped her to make this decision.  When Eddie intimately kisses her on the mouth he is showing that she is his not Rodolphos. This is a shock to the audience and might cause them to wonder if Eddie wants a relationship with Catherine. Rodolpho pulls Eddies arm away and tells him to stop it. He is appalled by what Eddie has done and might also be jealous. He tells Eddie that Catherine will be his wife, demanding and taking control. Eddie mocks and taunts Rodolfo until Rodolpho flies at him and Eddie kisses him. This is completely unexpected and shocks the audience even more than when Eddie kisses Catherine. The audience are horrified, as is Catherine who has realised that Eddie thinks Rodolpho is gay and she doesnt know what to think. As Eddie leaves the apartment he tells Rodolpho to get out alone, threatening him. The audience are not sure if Catherine is going to go with him and it is almost left on a cliff hanger because they dont know what is going to happen. The lights go down leaving a tense atmosphere.  This scene is particularly dramatically effective because of the fast pace and suspense. There is a lot of varying emotion and the audience never know what is going to happen next.