1. Act 1: up to page 23
LO: To understand and analyse the characters and relationships set up in Act 1.

2. Themes Love Justice and Law Honour
A theme is an idea that runs through a text. A text may have one theme or many.

3. Cast of Characters Alfieri - lawyer Eddie – Italian immigrant
Beatrice - Eddie’s wife
Catherine – their orphaned niece
Rodolfo and Marco – Bea’s cousins

4. The Italian American communities
‘Omerta’ is a code of honour that influences people to stay silent and not cooperate with authorities, for example the police, FBI, or immigration powers.
It originated in Southern Italy and Sicily, where Mafia-style organizations were founded, and continue to operate.
When Italians and Sicilians emigrated to America in the early 20th Century, this code accompanied them.
Retaliation against those who inform was common-place, and in many of these communities, being known as a ‘rat’ or a ‘snitch’ was just about the worst thing you could be.
Al Capone, a notorious Italian-American Mafia gangster from the early twentieth century.

5. Questions
Find 3 pieces of information that the text gives us about Alfieri’s appearance and character.
Explain why Alfieri feels the people are uneasy when they walk past him.
What can you infer about justice on the streets of New York at this time?
What can you infer about the neighborhood of Red Hook?
What does Alfieri give away about the story that he is about to tell?

6. Foreshadowing
What is foreshadowing?

7. Foreshadowing What is foreshadowing? Foreshadowing is…
a warning of a future event OR used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary

8. Longshoremen waiting for work in New York near the docks
Italian families in Booklyn

9. Quick Questions What is Eddie’s full name?
What kind of work does he do, and where?
“Catherine: Hi Eddie!” How does Eddie react, and how do you interpret this reaction?
What do you make of the fact that it is Catherine rather than Beatrice who first greets Eddie upon his arrival home?

10. Key Quotation
Eddie: With your hair like that you look like a Madonna … You’re the Madonna type.
Mary with Jesus
Means My Lady in Italian
a) Who or what is the Madonna? b) What is it then to look like a Madonna? c) And what then is Eddie saying about Catherine?

11. The story of Vinny Bolzano
Eddie: Listen, if everybody keeps his mouth shut
PG: 12-13
Re-read Eddie’s story about Vinnie, the boy who “snitched” on his illegal immigrant uncle.
Why might Eddie want this story told? What point is he trying to make? Use a quotation to support your answer.
Why is it significant that Beatrice, not Eddie, tells the story?
How might this story foreshadow what happens in the rest of the play?

12. Characterisation
What words can we use to describe Eddie?

13. Characterisation What words can we use to describe Eddie? Angry Loyal
SUSPICIOUS
POSSESSIVE
Loyal
dismissive
PESSIMISTIC
Unsympathetic
harsh
Controlling
Overprotective
Knowledgeable
Angry
What words can we use to describe Eddie?

14. Comment about Eddie – characteristic
Loyal – wouldn’t ‘snitch’ to anybody
Understands the consequences of
breaking the (unwritten) ‘law’ of
his community
Welcoming / accommodating
Becomes uncomfortable with
Rodolfo
Establishes himself – the dominant
male in control
Changing – becoming tense
Anxious about Rodolfo – sceptical
Evidence
It never comes out of your mouth who they are or what they’re doin’ here.
[- he is coming more and more to address
MARCO only ]
Just remember, kid, you can quicker get back a million dollars that was stole than a word you gave away.
[Eddie has risen, with iron control, even a
smile]
You’re welcome, Marco, we got plenty of
room here
[he is sizing up Rodolfo and there is
concealed suspicion]
[his face puffed with trouble]

15. Comment about Eddie – characteristic
Loyal – wouldn’t ‘snitch’ to anybody
Understands the consequences of
breaking the (unwritten) ‘law’ of
his community
Welcoming / accommodating
Becomes uncomfortable with
Rodolfo
Establishes himself – the dominant
male in control
Changing – becoming tense
Anxious about Rodolfo – sceptical
Evidence
It never comes out of your mouth who they are or what they’re doin’ here.
[- he is coming more and more to address
MARCO only ]
Just remember, kid, you can quicker get back a million dollars that was stole than a word you gave away.
[Eddie has risen, with iron control, even a
smile]
You’re welcome, Marco, we got plenty of
room here
[he is sizing up Rodolfo and there is
concealed suspicion]
[his face puffed with trouble]

16. Analysing quotes 1. What does this tell us about Eddie?
4. What does this make the audience think about Eddie?
1. What does this tell us about Eddie?
Quotation:
“It never comes out of your mouth who they are or what they’re doin’ here”
2. What does the word ‘your’ tell us?
3. What does ‘never’ tell us about Eddie?

17. PEE Paragraph
P: Point – What is your statement about the character or the theme? E: Evidence – A quote from the text that supports your point. E: Explanation – This is where you explain how your quote supports your point. This should be made up of three comments and should be the longest part of your paragraph.

18. Model Paragraph
In Act One Eddie is… This can be seen… This tell us… The use of the word… suggests…this makes the reader think…

19. Your go 1. What does this tell us about Eddie?
Quotation:
“You can’t take no job”
3. What does this make the audience think about Eddie?
2. What does the word ‘can’t’ tell us?

20. Your Go In Act one Eddie… This is shown when he says…
This shows that… The use of … suggests that… this makes the reader think…

21. reveals Eddie’s character Comment on what you think of Eddie
about Eddie
Evidence
Comment on HOW Miller
reveals Eddie’s character
Comment on what you think of Eddie
Loyal –
wouldn’t ‘snitch’ on anyone
Positive Or
negative
aspect?
‘It never comes out of your mouth who they are or what they’re doin’ here’ (15)
What Eddie says:
Word choice is significant –
“your mouth” – not his. Does not
even seem to be a question that
he would ‘snitch’
“never” – emphatic, commanding –
exerting his authority over the
women
Eddie appears to be loyal to a fault
He is trying to protect his family from
any trouble they would get into if they
told anybody of the situation
He is taking the lead + making it clear
to the women that they must NOT say
anything
At this stage, Eddie appears to be
typical of the community he lives in
Just remember, kid, you can quicker get
back a million dollars that was stole than a word you gave away (16)
What Eddie says:
Tone - almost like he is giving Cath
advice - ‘just remember”
Word choice: “million dollars that
was stole” - a lot of money to these
people
highlights how difficult it would be
to retract words – both scenarios imply carelessness
Understands the consequences of breaking the ‘law’ of his community
Positive Or
negative
aspect?
It appears that Eddie has Catherine’s
best interests at heart
He is warning her trying to make her
see how precious her “word” is —
“million dollars” – given literal value
The improbability of “snitching” being
accepted is clearly shown
Eddie appears to be very generous
towards the men
He is showing true consideration to
their feelings and is trying to make the
situation as easy as possible for them
He seems genuine
Keen to please - saying they have plenty
of room when they don’t - doesn’t want
the men to feel uneasy
You’re welcome, Marco, we got plenty of
room here (19)
What Eddie says:
Word choice - ‘welcome” “plenty
of room” - indicates that Eddie
wants the men to be there. We know there is far from plenty of room!
Accommodating , warm and
friendly
Tone - friendly / pleasant - should
put cousins at ease
Welcoming /
Accommodating
Positive Or
negative
aspect?

22. reveals Eddie’s character Comment on what you think of
about Eddie
(U)
Evidence
Comment on HOW Miller
reveals Eddie’s character
(A)
Comment on what you think of
Eddie
(E)
Becomes uncomfortable with Rodolfo
Positive Or
negative
aspect?
[- he is coming more and more to address
MARCO only ] (22)
Stage directions reveal Eddie’s
actions
“Addresses” only Marco – not
Radolpho. Word itself is controlling/domineering
indicates change – why?
Unexpected change as Eddie
seemed so welcoming at first
Unexplained as it is not clear why
Eddie is becoming uncomfortable
with Rodolpho although the
audience can speculate
reveals on ‘edge’ to Eddie’s
character that again is unexpected
his reaction shows clearly that he
wants to be in charge and dominant
he also appears to be enjoying the
process clearly thinking that he has
‘won’
audience begin to question Eddie’s
reaction and his motivation - Cath?
Establishes himself – the dominant
male in control
Positive Or
negative
aspect?
[Eddie has risen, with iron control, even a
smile] (26)
Stage directions again reveal
what Eddie does
“risen” - gets up - above all
other characters - intimidating
“iron control” - iron is a strong
metal / steel - cannot be bent
easily
“even a smile” – indicates
smugness? Triumphant
Stage directions reveal what
Eddie does
“puffed” significant – indicates
redness / change in
appearance
“trouble” is ominous - indicates
anxiety or danger - inevitable
that protagonist is mapping
downfall?
Also focus on a look - nothing
has been spoken as yet
Changing –
becoming tense
Positive Or
negative
aspect?
[his face puffed with trouble] (27)
Clear that Eddie feels that there is a
problem
audience again suspicious that
Eddie is creating a situation out of
nothing
impression of Eddie is beginning to
change although his motives could
be entirely harmless and well
meaning

23. The cousins Marco Rodolpho
What happens to Catherine and Eddie with the introduction of the two brothers?

24. GROUPWORK: Relationships
In your groups, using what we have read so far (up to p.23) build up a bank of evidence about the characters’ relationships.
Focus your quotations and thoughts into three sections:
How does Eddie act towards your character?
What does Eddie secretly (or not so secretly) think about them?
How have Eddie’s feelings towards your character changed throughout the act – and how might they continue to change?

25. Group 1: Eddie and Catherine Group 2: Eddie and Beatrice Group 3: Eddie and Marco Group 4: Eddie and Rodolpho Group 5: Rodolpho and Catherine

26.
Why do you think this is the song Miller chooses for Rodolpho to sing?
What might be the double meaning in “I’ll never fall again”
How do you feel about his depiction of the woman in the song?
What is Eddie’s reaction to the song? Why?

27. To end…
How is tension created in this section of Act 1? What predictions can we make?

28. Homework
Finish reading Act 1. Select two quotations and turn them into PEE paragraphs. You can do two more paragraphs on Eddie or you can select a different character to analyse. All for next week. EC2 B – Thurs EC2 C - Wed