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1 A Brief Analysis of Vito Corleones Character By Ye Anran A 2006 Undergraduate of the School of Foreign Languages of Anqing Teachers College Supervised by Associate Prof. Deng Li June 1, 2006 2 A Brief Analysis of Vito Corleones Character Thesis statement: Vito Corleone is a man with conflicting personality: a ruthless criminal and also a warm, loving father and husband. Outline I. Introduction: A. Background of the book B. Brief introduction of the story II. The factors that affect Vito: A. The factor of society B. The factor of family III. Main characters of Vito A. A skillful leader B. A powerful man C. A good family man IV. Conclusion 3 A Brief Analysis of Vito Corleones Character By: Ye Anran Supervisor: Deng Li I. Introduction In 1972, there was a film directed by Francis Ford Coppola that won 3 Oscars: the best picture, best script, and best actor. Rarely can it be said that one movie can define a genre, but never is that more true than in the case of The Godfather. Since its release gangster movie has been judged by the standards of this one. Maybe its not very fair to say that, but the movie is really an exquisite Mafia classic that constructs a compelling saga from outstanding performance. The famous actor Marlon Brando got his second Oscar by his excellent show of playing as Vito Corleone or the Godfather. Before the film has become famous is the popularity of the book: The Godfather. It was published in 1969, in America, written by Mario Puzo, the son of Italian-born parents. The book was an instant bestseller, which stayed at the “New York Times” best-sell list for 67 weeks. Mario Puzo set out to write this book at the age of 45, and at first he was supposed to make himself rich by the novel he was to write. To his 4 surprise, the book not only let him realize the financial goal, but also achieved worldwide fame. In 1972, the story was adapted for film by Puzo and Coppola. Its obvious that the film was a big success, so was the book. The Godfather shows us a world within a world; it is about an underworld story. The Mafia system has its own laws and its own brutal punishment for transgression of those laws. The characters in the book are enormously colorful, and the plot is melodramatic yet entirely believable. The reader must not forget that the novel is a book about cold treachery. The writer said: “The Godfather is about more than the Mafia; it is about a powerful man who builds a dynasty through crime, but who wants his son to be a senator or a governor. Its about the very nature of powerI think its a tragedy.”1 The themes of love, crime, family bondage and Old World values are further developed in Puzos book. It is related to the root of Mafia, corruption, violence, obligation, justice and honor. It is also an insightful sociological study of those in America. So it has a deep impact on American society through the original book and its film adaptation. The saying: “Ill give him an offer he cant refuse” has become a clich. Readers, who once read the novel will be impressed by its narration, attracted by its plot and will also feel pitiful for its unwillingness and its desperateness. The Godfather touches everyone who reads it by the 5 authors good description. The Godfather is an epic tale about a mighty Mafia family. It is based on the late 1940s in New York City. The story is about the Corleones family. The head of the family or the Godfather is Vito Corleone, who is the boss of a vast criminal empire. He was born into a poor family in Sicily, Italy. But he had to immigrate to New York and he has built up the criminal empire by sending his underlings to wound and murder people, but only when it is “necessary”, when his opponents are not “reasonable”. In this way, for behaving honorable with the standards of behavior of Mafia, he has earned the respect of the other five Mafia families in New York City. Vito Corleone has 4 children, 3 sons and 1 daughter. His eldest son, Satino, is a violent and impulsive man, without his fathers farsighted genius. His second son is weak. The youngest, Michael doesnt want to take part in his fathers criminal activities. Other Mafia families, sensing the internal conflicts in this family, almost succeeded in assassinating the Godfather. Then Michael is sucked in to a whirlpool of murder and violence, which eventually disobeys Vito Corleones original thoughts. And Michael finally takes over his business and to be the godfather. In this story, there are nearly 100 characters, 20 of which are dwelt on by Puzo. One of the most important characters is the Godfather, Vito Corleone. He is a complex man who has a conflicting personality. He is 6 cruel while kind-hearted, powerful while weak. He is crafty while clever, shrewd while sympathetic. He is a murder, a cold Mafia boss, a diplomat, and a good father. When we finish reading the novel, we will find a dilemma. Our minds tell us this man is a bad man. He is a murder who kills and wounds others. But our hearts tell us he is a good man. He helps others and loves his family. What makes him so different? II. The factors that affect Vito Sicily is an island in southern Italy where is the hometown of Vito Corleone. In the past time, the only law there was revenge -an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. And Mafia was an old organization in this land. This famous crime corporation has law instead of the common law as we called. They can sentence one to death if he violates their law. In the book, Puzo said: “in Sicily at the turn of the century (19th century to 20th century) the Mafia was the second government far more powerful than the official one in Rome.” Living in such a place, first people should learn how to protect themselves. Then learn how to live. Unluckily, Vitos father killed the local Mafia chief, and a week later he himself was found murdered. The local Mafia gunmen also wanted sentence Vito Corleone to death for avoiding his avengement when he grows up. In the film, Vito lost all his families in Sicily, and then he immigrated to America with the help of his fathers friends. Sicily was so terrible; there, Vito witnessed blood and murder, which made him know how cruel the 7 life was. If he wanted to live better, he should be crueler. Meanwhile, from his fathers death, he learnt that one should be calm, so when he first killed a man called Fanucci, he showed no fears, but was quite and unhurried. He began to own a man who cherishes his own wife and children. He must love his mother, in the film, when she shouted: “Vito! Go! Vito! Go!” he hesitated. But he knew he couldnt give her any favor, instead he might lose his life too. So he ran without fear and finally fled. At that time, Vito Corleone was 12 and he became a real man. The United States is a huge nation, the fourth largest country in the world. Within its borders, there are vast regional differences in climate, geography and historical experience. Each section of the United States is often thought to have its own customs and attitudes. Within the vast landscape, there are many people in different races; religious, political beliefs and nations from other countries who consider themselves Americans. Almost everyone living in the United States is descended from immigrations. For 300years, immigrants to America shared common experience. The English, Dutch, and French of the 18th century and 19th century, the Italian, Slav, Hungarian and Greek of the 20th century, all had to uproot themselves from Old World homes, break away from familiar folk ways, and adjust themselves to a new environment and new institutions in the New World. Vito Corleone was one of the Italians of the 20th century. He was sent to America not only because of fearing for 8 his own life in Sicily, but also because of the attraction and opening of America-vast land, work for all who was willing to work, a higher standard of living for ordinary folk than it was known in Europe, religious freedom, political democracy, social equality, a second chance for the young-these were the guides that drew millions from the old World to the new. But the young Vito Corleone was not exactly one of those young men. He was unique. He came to American first for survival and then for living. New York City is a city full of chances while full of crimes. If it can be said that young Vito Corleone behaved himself at first ten years, and he also had his own American dream, then he changed when his life was broken by 2 men, Fanucci and Clemenza. When 12-year-old Vito came to America, he was weak and silence. After hiding out for a few years with relatives, Vito went to work in a grocery store whose owner was Mr. Abbandando in New Yorks Hells Kitchen, and he made friends with Genco Abbandando, the son of the owner, who later became like a brother to Vito. Vito Corleone worked hardly, and married, having a son named Santino in1916. If his life had kept going like this, Vito would have had a peaceful life like other immigrants. But life would not let people in a comfortable way. It is like a ruthless man that always makes people difficulty. In the street where Vito Corleone worked , there was a man called Fanucci who related to the underworld ,and he collected protection fee from the shopkeepers to earn 9 his livingAll the people in that street knew him and were afraid of him because of his brutal looking and behavior. And it was he that played a very important role in pushing Vito Corleone into and eventually helped him win neighbours respect. Fanucci forced Gencos father, the owner of the grocery to give Vito Corleones job to Fanuccis nephew. Mr. Abbandando had to fire Vito Corleone and felt sorry. But Vito Corleone forgave him, and told him that he understood that Abbandando had no choice, and that he wouldnt forget how good Abbandando had been to him. As to Fanucci, Vito Corleone kept, silent knowing its no good talking with him. He chose to leave the grocery. But the problem still existed. He was kind, and hard working. But the society or the community didnt give him the chance to be a good citizen to realize his own American dream later, Peter Clemenza turned up. He was a person who first led Vito Corleone to crime and finally became the underling of Vito. Vito soon learned to survive and prosper through petty crime and helping others by performing favors in return for loyalty. He committed his first murder, killing Fanucci. Because this man planned to rob him of the money he had risked his life and freedom to earn. Then, as a young man, he started an olive business with his lifelong friend and advisor Genco Abbandando. Over the years he used it both to amass a fortune and as a legal front for his organized crime syndicate, while he oversaw a business 10 found on gambling, bootlegging and murder, he was knows as a kind, generous man who lived by a strict moral code of loyalty to friends and, above all, family. In the paragraphs above, we can see that its the experience in Sicily and the hard time in New York that made Vito have a conflicting character. III. The main characters of Vito: The oldest Godfathers of American Mafia were mainly born in the late 19th century. They were born into poor families of the peasants in Sicily, and educated little or not. However, they become the famous “Godfather”. Its not because of education, but because of their character. Most of them are brave, calm and crafty. They dont smile often, but with keen observation, they are not impulsive but resolute and decisive. Compared to the second generation, these Godfathers are more simple and unadorned for the purchase of material life, they are not extravagant. Whats more, these men think highly of their family and friendship, to their wives and children they love and respect, to the happiness and harmony of the family, they value and cherish, to the poor or helpless, they are dignified protector; they are good at making others feel easy yet still respectful. People smile to them with gratefulness, as if they are the Kings who stand for justice and fairness. But, at the place where the people cannot see, their enemies fall down and die off with scars and holes left by knives and bullets. 11 Vito Corleone was one of these Godfathers, born poor, emigrated from Sicily to America, appeared serious but not brutal, hard to understand but not mysterious. He was so calm that he could cover all the rolling waves in the sea. To the people who asked him for help, he was considerate and never put pressure on them, to the enemies, he was crafty and merciless. He is a skillful leader, a brilliant diplomat and an amiable family old man. As the head of a Mafia family, Vito Corleone is a good leader. To be a chief of such an underworld, one must have some qualities of being a head. He must be able to lead people to make others obedient. He should have a temperate to frighten or terrify others. People are afraid of him, show awe to him and respect him. Vito Corleone achieves all of those qualities. First, he is a cold but reluctant murderer. In the paragraph above, I mentioned that Vito Corleone killed Funucci. When he did the job on Funucci he was calm. He was not willing to do that, but his deed seemed popular with his neighbors. Slowly Vito realized that his neighbors viewed him differently now. Everyone treated Vito as a “man of respect” now. When a widow had a problem with her landlord who wanted to kick her out, she surprisingly came to Vito for help. When he spoke to the landlord at the widows request, the landlord was rude and insulted that Vito would even step into his personal business. Vito remained polite and 12 as he was leaving said, “Do me this service, eh? I wont forget it. Ask your friends in the neighborhood about me, theyll tell you Im a man who believes in showing his gratitude.“2 The landlord immediately made inquiries about Vito Corleone. He visited Vito that very night, assuring Vito that it had been a dreadful misunderstanding and he not only let the widow stay, but he reduced her rent. The landlord was so afraid that he stayed out of town for a few weeks. Vito Corleone was reputed to be a member of the Mafia of Sicily. Men who ran card games gave him money each week for his “friendship“. Storeowners who had problems would ask Vito for help and paid him well. Vito gave part of his new income to Clemenza and Tessio without being asked. This is how Vito became the “Godfather“ of all Mafia. People began to call him Don Corleone. When Vito spoke, people listened and understood. Vito became known as a “man of reasonableness.“ He never uttered a threat. He always used logic that proved to be irresistible. He always made sure that others got a share of his profit. He always made it seem like a “win - win“ situation for those involved. Second, as a respected leader, Vito Corleone was also a skillful speaker. Vitos speaking style was one of the keys to his success. He was always respectful of others when he spoke in public. He used the same tone in his voice when he spoke to a neighborhood family about their meager problems as that used when he addressed a Congressman and his 13 aids about their complicated and important relationship. He made the small people feel important, which helped to keep their loyalty. When Vito spoke he took his time and looked like he really meant what he was saying. In public debates he never rushed into saying a statement that he had not fully considered. This style made him look wise and considerate. It makes him seem connected to the audience. The speaker seems not to have a bunch of preset sound-bite answers to throw at people. It makes it seem like a person is answering what he or she believes, not just what they are being told to say, or just what they think the audience wants to hear Vito only showed emotion when he spoke in extreme circumstances. Vito was able to seem composed even in dangerous or joyous situations. When he spoke to the guests at his only daughters wedding reception he barely cracked a smile. When he was told of his eldest sons death he just cringed and looked down. This public speaking demeanor trait helped him to keep the respect of his subordinates. They knew that they could trust his judgment under any circumstances. When Vito spoke he always emphasized how what he was “selling“ would be in everyones best interest. His arguments make people, whether or not they liked him, believe that his way of thinking made the most sense. Most of Vitos speeches were persuasive and this was one of his finest talents. He was even able to convince groups of men to go to prison for him. He did not threaten these men with violence, but 14 he offered the mens families wealth and security while they were gone as well as a reward when they returned from prison. He was able to convince them to do what he wanted while making them feel that both sides had won. Everyone eventually learned that when Vito spoke he was serious. Vito Corleone was an effective speaker because everyone knew that he would not say something if he did not mean it. When the drug dealer, Sollozzo, came to Vito Corleone and tried to persuade Vito to take part in the drug business, the drug dealer made his pitch to Vito, Clemenza, Tessio, and Vitos eldest son Sonny. Vito waited until the speech was over and than began his own. Vito began quietly, “I decided to meet with you because I heard you are a serious man, a man to be treated with respect. I must say no to you but I must give you my reasons. The profits in your business are huge but so are the risks. Your operations, if I were part of it, could damage my other interests. It is true that I have many, many friends in politics, but they would not be so friendly if my business were narcotics instead of gambling. They think gambling is something like liquor, a harmless vice, and they think narcotics is dirty business. No, dont protest. Im telling their thoughts, no