Eddie Carbone is the tragic protagonist of Arthur Miller's play "A View from the Bridge." He is a working-class Italian-American living in Red Hook, Brooklyn, who is deeply passionate and protective of his family. However, his love for his family ultimately leads to his downfall as he becomes consumed by his jealousy and possessiveness, leading to his tragic end.
At the beginning of the play, Eddie is presented as a loving and devoted husband to his wife, Beatrice, and a caring uncle to his niece, Catherine. He works as a longshoreman and is respected by his community for his hard work and dedication. However, as the play progresses, we see that Eddie has a possessive and controlling nature, particularly when it comes to Catherine. He is uncomfortable with the idea of Catherine growing up and becoming a woman, and he becomes increasingly jealous and overprotective as she begins to mature and attract the attention of other men.
Eddie's jealousy and possessiveness reach their climax when Beatrice's two illegal immigrant cousins, Marco and Rodolpho, arrive from Italy and stay with the Carbones. Eddie is immediately suspicious of Marco and Rodolpho, and he becomes convinced that Rodolpho is only interested in Catherine for her American citizenship. Eddie's suspicions and hostility towards Rodolpho eventually lead to a confrontation between the two men, and Eddie's jealousy consumes him to the point where he betrays his own family by turning Marco and Rodolpho over to the immigration authorities.
Eddie's actions have devastating consequences for his family and himself. Marco and Rodolpho are deported, and Catherine is left heartbroken and disillusioned. Eddie's relationship with Beatrice is also irreparably damaged, and he is left isolated and alone. Ultimately, Eddie's possessiveness and jealousy lead to his tragic end as he is killed by Marco in a confrontation.
In conclusion, Eddie Carbone is a complex and tragic character who is driven by his love for his family, but ultimately destroys himself and those he loves due to his jealousy and possessiveness. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of letting emotions like jealousy and possessiveness consume us.