Offers a distinctive interpretation of The Godfather as a novel and film sequence.
In this interdisciplinary work, Raymond Angelo Belliotti presents an interpretation of The Godfather as, among other things, a commentary on the transformation of personal identity within the Sicilian and Italian immigrant experience. The book explores both the novel and the film sequence in terms of an existential conflict between two sets of values that offer competing visions of the world: on the one hand, a nineteenth-century Sicilian perspective grounded in honor and the accumulation of power within a culturally specific family order; and on the other, a twentieth-century American perspective that celebrates individualism and commercial success. Analyzing concepts such as honor, power, will to power, respect, atonement, repentance, forgiveness, and a meaningful life, Belliotti applies these analyses to the cultural understandings transported to America by nineteenth-century Italian immigrants, casting fresh light on Old World allegiances to l’ordine della famiglia (the family order), la via vecchia (the old way), and the patriarchal ideal of uomo di pazienza (the man of patience), as well as the Sicilian code of honor. The two sets of values―Old World Sicilian and twentieth-century American―coalesce uneasily in the same cultural setting, and their conflict is irresolvable.
Author(s): Raymond Angelo Belliotti
Series: (SUNY series in Italian/American Culture)
Edition: 1
Publisher: SUNY Press
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 192
Tags: Film Criticism, Cinema Studies, Cult Movies
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter One The Passions and Limitations of Honor
A Mortician Seeks Justice
A Philosophical Analysis of Honor
The Case for Honor
Capitalism and Honor
A Man of Business Is Overwhelmed
A Philosophical Analysis of Respect
The Limitations of Honor
Chapter Two The Sicilian Family Order
Leading a Meaningful Human Life
L’ordine della Famiglia
The Ideal of the Uomo di Pazienza
The Historical Roots of Don Vito Corleone
Sicilian Culture and Organized Crime
Roman Oppression
The Sicilian Vespers
The End of Feudalism
Protecting Wealthy Landowners From Desperados
As Accompaniment to Italian Unification
As an Economic Industry Focused on Private Protection
The Mafia’s Self-Image
Chapter Three Power, Destiny, and Evil
Interpreting The Godfather
A Philosophical Analysis of Power
Don Vito’s Will to Power
Destiny and Evil
The Degeneration of Michael Corleone
The Return to Sicily
The Godfather II
Chapter Four Repentance, Atonement, and Redemption
Reality Configures Art
Rustic Chivalry
The Godfather Trilogy
Family and Religious Ceremonies Seasoned with Music
Private Meetings with the Head of the Corleone Family
Romantic Liaisons and Lost Love
Generational Disagreement
Business Transactions and Major Trouble
Deceptive Confederates
Conferences with the Wider Network of Crime Bosses
Dominant Enemies Shrouded by a Veil of Guile
The Vagaries of Illness
Shadow Dons and Questionable Decisions
Return to Sicily and Subsequent Deaths
Deaths of Valuable Confederates in Crime
Ersatz, Strategic Betrayals
Distinctly Formidable Antagonists
Passing of the Torch
Bloody, Vengeful Climax
Parallel Murders
Michael’s Plight
Philosophical Analyses of Atonement and Repentance
The Elements of Atonement
A Philosophical Analysis of Forgiveness
The Futility of Michael Corleone’s Quest for Redemption
Appendix A Summarizing The Godfather
Appendix B Summarizing The Godfather II
Appendix C Summarizing The Godfather III
Notes
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
