Do Now Task

1. To what extent
is Catherine an
innocent victim?
2. How does her
character
change across
the play?

Catherine- Key Words

Innocent
Dutiful
Subservient
Loving
Maturity
Obedient
Independence
Assertive

Previous Questions
Alfieri: 2014
Marco: ?
Rodolpho: 2012
Beatrice: 2013
Catherine: ?
Eddie: ?

Question is always
a) How is X
presented in Act
X, Scene X?
b) How is X
presented
throughout the
rest of the play?

Character

Catherine

Beatrice

Rodolfo

Marco

Eddie

Moves from being:

Innocent
Obedient
Trusting
Nave
Innocent
Idealistic
Irresponsible
Carefree
Protected by marco
Responsible
Respectful
Strong
Silent
Contained
Bottled up
In control
Part of community

To being:
Mature
Responsible for her actions
Determined to think for
herself
Perceptive
Desperate
Understanding of eddie
Responsible
Rational
Protective of marco
Proud
Vengeful
Furious
Out of control
Cant control his feelings
Desperate
Scared

The question that Arthur Miller makes us ask

ourselves is, What makes such a sweet obedient
trusting girl defy Eddie as she does?
Does he back her into a corner until she has no
alternative?
Would Catherine have arranged such a hasty
marriage to Rodolfo if Eddie hadnt tried to stand
in her way?
Indeed would she have fallen so totally in love with
him (and all he represents, freedom & fun) if Eddie
had allowed her a little more freedom prior to the
cousins arrival?

Catherine (clearing from Beatrice) Whatre you

scared of ?
Hes a rat! He belongs in the sewer!
Beatrice Stop it!
Catherine (weeping) He bites people when they sleep!
He comes when nobodys lookin and poisons decent
people. In the garbage he belongs!

How does this connect to the wider

themes in the play?

Themes

Immigration, home and

belonging
Love and desire
Respect, honour and
reputation
Justice and the law
Maturity and independence

Catherine- Key Words

Innocent
Dutiful
Subservient
Loving
Maturity
Obedient
Independence
Assertive

How is Catherine presented?

Key Event

Quotation(s)

Catherine acts very

childishly in front of Eddie

Eddie: Katie, I promised your

mother on her death-bed. Im
responsible for you. Youre a
baby, you dont understand
these things. (Act One)

She craves his approval.

Eddie: Where you goin all

dressed up?
Catherine: (running her hands
over her skirt) I just got it. You
like it?
(Act One)

Catherine is easily upset

when she feels she has
displeased Eddie

(Act One: Eddie disapproves of

the wavy way she walks down
the street)
Catherine (almost in tears
because he disapproves) What
do you
want me to do?You want me to
Eddie Now dont get mad, kid.
Catherine Well, I dont know
what you want from me.

She thinks that Eddie will

be pleased about her job.

Catherine: Eddie, you wont

believe it
Eddie: No no, you gonna finish
school. What kinda job,
what do you mean? All of a
sudden you
Catherine: Listen a minute, its
wonderful.

She is devastated when he

hints she will forget about
them.

Eddie: And then youll move

away.
Catherine No, Eddie!
.(grasping his arm to reassure
him and to erase the accusation)
No, please!

Notes

Connection to theme/message

How is Catherine presented?

Key Event

Quotation(s)

She comes to realise that

she must act older in front
of Eddie.

Eddie: Im not gonna be a baby

anymore!

She asks Rodolfo to dance

as an act of rebellion.

Catherine ( flushed with revolt)

You wanna dance, Rodolpho?
Eddie freezes.

She tests Rodolfo, trying to

find out if he would still
marry her if they were to
live in Italy.

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?

She grows frightened of

Eddie.

You think its so easy to turn

around and say to a man hes
nothing to you no more?

She clearly loves Rodolfo

very much.

I love you Rodolpho, I love you.

She chooses to go with

Rodolfo when Eddie pushes
her.

Im going with him Eddie. (She

starts toward Rodolfo)

She is furious when Eddies

kisses Rodolfo.

Catherine: Eddie! Let go, ya hear

me! Ill kill you! Leggo of him!
She tears at Eddies face and
Eddie releases Rodolfo.

She is desperate to protect

Rodolfo from the
immigration officers.

Catherine: What do yiz want

from them? They
work, thats all. Theyre
boarders upstairs, they work on
the
piers.
(To the First Officer) Catherine
(fending him off Rodolpho) No,
you cant! Now,
get outa here!

Notes

Connection to theme/message