Eddie's Inability to Face the Truth of His Passion for Catherine Is the Cause of His Downfall

Eddie's inability to face the truth of his passion for Catherine is the cause of his downfall. Discuss.

In the novel 'A View from the Bridge' Eddie failed to face the truth of his secret and undeniable love for Catherine, this is the root cause of his demise. Eddie was a very proud person and loved his wife, Beatrice very much. He felt very strongly that he would never do anything to hurt his wife, but there was a subconscious niggling thought that he tried to push to the back of his mind. This thought was Catherine. Eddie knew that this was not right and unorthodox but at the same time thought he would give up anything to have her, this included deporting his cousins. Therefore, Eddie found himself unable to express his love for Catherine due to the ethically and morally wrong circumstances.

Eddie was a very proud man and would not even think of betraying his wife. Although, once he saw Catherine as a woman his thoughts changed. He pushed his lust for Catherine to the back of his mind and denied all existence of his intimate feelings for Catherine "you can't have her!'... what are you talking about B?' Eddie made sure no one found out about his true feelings by closing himself off to everyone and not showing any emotion at all, but Beatrice could read him like a book and eventually found him out. Hence, Eddie vowed to not let his feelings get the better of him but they eventually led him to death.

At first Eddies lust for Catherine was a harmless thought but soon led to an obsession. Being Italian, Eddie thought that he would be able to hold at bay his feelings for Catherine. Seeing as he was the man of the house and he made all the rules, surely he could follow his own ethical rules. This work at first and life went on as normal considering that Catherine was living at home so that Eddie could still see her and that she was single. But as Catherine changed throughout the novel - such as the introduction of Roldopho who is an Italian immigrant and getting a job in a bad area - Eddie's feelings began to rise to the surface through anger. He demanded respect from Roldopho and Catherine and demanded that they live by his rules. Henceforth, Eddie's lust for Catherine fires up quickly once Catherine became more independent and more detached from Eddie.

Finally Eddie's Lust for Catherine became such a devouring