The+Carbone+House

=What do I need to know about ... The Carbone House?=

Brief Description

 * ** Rodolpho being unwelcome- Marco warning him to play by Eddie’s rules **
 * ** Eddie refuses to leave the house for Catherine and Rodolpho's marriage **
 * ** Catherine leaving the house- shows Catherine leaving Eddie’s custody etc **
 * ** Rodolpho and Catherine having sex in Eddie’s house **
 * **Beatrice- tablecloth, washing walls etc**
 * **Metaphorical- ‘Eddie’s house’-**
 * **Catherine being brought up- sense of gratitude, almost sense of possession**
 * **Rodolpho, Marco, coming to the house**

Key Quotations
 ·  Much more worried about the //aesthetics// of the house, different from Eddie who is more worried about the //impracticalities// of having extra boarders in the house. o  **“I didn’t even buy a new tablecloth; I was gonna wash the walls – “** [Beatrice] o  **“You’re savin’ their lives, what’re you worryin’ about the tablecloth?”** They probably didn’t see a tablecloth in their whole life where they come from” [Eddie]  ·  Representative of how everything that goes on in there is under his control - his place, his power.  ·  His **‘safe place’**, nothing bad can happen to him whilst within the sanctuary of his house. o  **“Go in the house! Eddie, go in the house!”** [Beatrice, pg 83, just before his stabbing and consequent death] o  **“This is my house. And she is my niece and I’m responsible for her”** [Eddie, pg 68, during a fight with Beatrice] Catherine being brought up - sense of gratitude, almost a sense of possessiveness: **  ·  Initially very dependant on Eddie and Beatrice but eventually, over time, she frees herself from that dependence, particularly her dependence on Eddie, as she moves closer to Rodolpho (who is seen as an intruder by Eddie)  ·  Eddie is very adamant in his belief that Rodolpho is only concerned about marrying Catherine in order to get his passport (American citizenship). o  **“He marries you he’s got the right to be an American citizen. That’s what’s goin’ on here.”** {**She is puzzled and surprised} You understand what I’m tellin’ you? The guy is lookin’ for his break, that’s all he’s lookin’ for**” [ Eddie, pg 41, comments about Rodolpho to Catherine] Rodolpho, Marco coming to the house: **  ·  Eddie: Sees this as intrusion, and he becomes very protective over his property etc. Not only does he intrude into his home, but also, in Eddie's eyes, into his family life and his control over Catherine and Beatrice. Eddie does not want to get pushed around/potentially out of his own house. o  **“Beatrice, all I’m worried about is you got such a big heart that I’ll end up on the floor with you, and they’ll be in our bed.”** [Eddie, pg 16, conversation regarding Marco and Rodolpho moving in with them] - this initial concern may foreshadow Eddie's increasing sense of losing control/order in his own house.  ·  Beatrice + Catherine: Very welcoming to Marco and Rodolpho (opposite to Eddie). Beatrice is worried that if it does not go well then Eddie will be angry with her. o  **“I’m just afraid that if it don’t turn out good you’ll be mad at me”** [Beatrice, pg 15, conversation regarding Marco and Rodolpho moving in with them]
 * __Beatrice__- tablecloth, washing walls etc: **
 * Metaphorical – Eddie’s house: **

Its role in the novel
**“Yes. He’ll be quiet. [To Rodolpho] You’ll be quiet.”** This shows how Marco is very aware that they (him and Rodolpho) are indebted to Eddie; he is allowing them sanctuary in his house, and so they must play by his rules. If he does not like Rodolpho singing, then Rodolpho must not sing. Marco seems to be aware quite early on that Eddie is not fond of Rodolpho. Although he is willing to comply with Eddie’s wishes, there is a scene where Marco lifts a heavy chair in a show of strength; this is a very subtle reminder to Eddie that although indeed they are living in //his// house, Marco will protect his brother if necessary. When Eddie refuses to leave the house at marriage ** Eddie refuses to attend his niece’s wedding. Not only that, but he imposes this decision on everybody else (Beatrice.) The fact that it is his house is representative of that he is the head of the family, and that despite Beatrice’s own opinions, she must defer to his decisions. Although this is perhaps an abuse of his status, and he cannot really stop her from going, her emotional ties to him lead her to support him at home rather than attend the wedding. Catherine leaving the house- shows Catherine leaving eddie’s custody etc ** **“And then you’ll move away.”** Eddie doesn’t want her to leave the house, which means losing custody / control of her. He is afraid that once she leaves his domain, she will no longer be obliged to care for him; he does not want her far from him, he is too attached to her. He is also very worried that when she leaves she will be alone to face the struggles of life; she is naive, and he does not want her to get taken advantage of. This could not happen in his house, with him watching over everything, but if she were far away, he could not protect her anymore. Rodolpho and Catherine having sex in Eddie’s house ** **“Pack it up. Go ahead. Get your stuff and get outa here.”** Catherine and Rodolpho had sex in a bedroom at Eddie’s house; he comes home to find her coming out of the bedroom adjusting her dress. Then, as soon as he sees Rodolpho, **‘//his arm jerks slightly in shock.’// **He then proceeds to tell him to get out. He is angry and upset at Rodolpho for //taking advantage// of Catherine’s naivete; he cannot take it anymore. He has the power to demand that Rodolpho leave, and he uses that. It is ironic that Rodolpho and Catherine committed the act in Eddie’s house. It is indicative of the outcome of the entire tragedy; Catherine having the strength to choose Rodolpho despite Eddie’s protestations, and Eddie’s overprotectiveness leading him to make decisions that are in his power but perhaps irrational, and although he may think it, not for Catherine’s good.
 * Rodolpho being unwelcome- marco warning him to play by eddie’s rules **
 * “...nobody from this house is goin’ into that church today” **