Based on the assignment for May 3, in your COMMENT:
mention the quotation from the book where we learn how Mafiosi see themselves;
or how they justify their way of life;
or even what is appealing to the public at large of their lifestyle.
No repetitions. Be original. The text offers plenty of examples.
REPLY: pick the best COMMENT and explain the reason of your choice.
ReplyDeleteFor me this quotation from the book is where we can learn how Mafiosi Don Carleone made his business and “helped” others such as his godson Johnny Fontane :
“At the end of the month you can go back to Hollywood and this pezzonovante,this .90 caliber will give you that job you want. Done?” Johnny Fontane could not altogether believe that the Don had such power. But his Godfather had never said such and such a thing could be done without having it done. “This guy is a personal friend of J. Edgar Hoover,” Johnny said. “You can’t even raise your voice to him.” “He’s a businessman,” the Don said blandly. “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.” And when Hollywood producer Jack Woltz tried to refuse Don Catleon’s offer he woke up in the morning all in a blood and with the head of his prized horse in his bed.
I choose this quote from the book because of the last phrase which repeats several times in the book and which on a first look doesn’t sounds dangerous, but if to combine the first words about 90 calibre, the bed covered by blood from horse's head and the last words that nobody can’t refused Mafias offer we receive brightl example how Mafiosi see themselves so powerful that nobody in a world do not have the right to tell them no, but if somebody decide to say no he may be deprived the most precious in the life or his own life. But what struck me the most is their ability to cover up their violence behavior behind such values as friendship, faith in God and family bonds. In the book Mafioses put the facade of good citizens and human beings with strong values, but if take a closer look at their personalities and the way how they made their “business” it would be look like a death machine.
I like your choice of the passage from the book, I chose part of your passage and focused more on the "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse" because to me it screams Mafiosi. I didn't realize that you had chose it before posting mine but the reason I loved your comment so much was how you brought up how the Mafia can cover there tracks and leave no trace of crime and with the help of the community and the lifestyle they surround themselves with (family, god, friendship). I believe you truly hit the nail on the head by pointing out how the Mafia values the friendships, the church and family bonds and that is what keeps all of the bonds so tight between the family and keeps everyone safe.
DeleteThis is John Giannusa.
DeleteI like your comment because the dynamic between Don and Jack is very tense and interesting.
The following quote is emblematic of how the Mafia justify their business practices. It all comes down to the monetary value rather than the ethical value. It's safe to say that most members of the Mafia have very little ethics to begin with, but as Don Corleone mentions, the narcotics businesses is a risky one that endangers the his other businesses.
ReplyDelete(referring to accepting Sollozzo's business proposal)"I think you should say yes, Hagen said. You know all the obvious reasons. But the most important one is this. There is more money potential in narcotics than is any other business. If we don't get into it , somebody else will, maybe the Tattaglia Family. With the revenue they earn they can amass more and more police and political power. Their Family will become stronger than ours. Eventually they will come after us to take away what we have. It's just like countries. If they arm, we have to arm. If they become stronger economically, they become a threat to us. Now we have the gambling and we have the unions and right now they are the best things to have. But I think narcotics is the coming thing. I think we have to have a piece of that action or we risk everything we have. Not now, but maybe ten years from now".
This is an interesting quote for multiple reasons. Firstly, it's coming from Tom Hagen, who isn't technically a member of the Corleone family. The way he talks of family here really exemplifies that although they don't share blood, they are family by a much stronger means, by choice. I think Hagen really shows how committed he is to seeing that the Corleone family thrives in every aspect, even if it is dangerous. I also quite enjoyed the analogy of countries at war. Like the Arms Race or Space Race. There is a need to constantly outdo the "competition" because if one overpowers the other, they can possibly put an end to their competition permanently as Hagen suggests.
One specific passage that comes to mind when thinking about what represents the Mafia’s ideology is when Fontane comes to Corleone crying and tells him “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse”. I know this specific moment does not seem like much but I see much further into the words. In this moment the true ideology of the Mafia is expressed, by Fontane saying this to Corleone it reinforces the ideology that the Mafia always gets what they want, and by any means necessary. In simpler terms this pretty much means ether he will take the offer being given or he will die. Nothing in the world screams “Mafia” more than that passage. The Mafia’s ideology is strong arming thugs, who dress well, they are Italian, and they always get what they want no matter the obstacle. This passage represents the strong armed-ness of the Mafia and how the Mafia refuses to be told no, the Mafia always gets what they want and no one stands in there way.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree! The passage you chose to discuss, has to be one of the most evident representations of the Mafia's ideology. The Don's ability to speak so confident and without hesitation, truly shows how powerful he feels. You bring up a great point by mentioning "the Mafia always gets what they want, and by any means necessary", since we all know how that infamous negotiation ends! Thank you for sharing!
DeleteYou picked a really good example. Additionally, I think that it speaks to the strength of the mafia. They know that they are in control so they are comfortable making sentiments like this. They seem to have everything on lockdown and people have to respect them. This kind of control is what made them strong and actually was the backbone of the entire organization. Without this level of demand and control the mafia would not stand a chance. Of course, there are other forces but the fear and control that they incited speaks volumes.
DeleteI found several references to the Mafia’s “ideology”, expressed throughout “The Godfather”. One of the most evident expressions, for me, was when Don Corleone was speaking to Bonasera, and said “you shall have your justice. Some day, and that day may never come, I will call upon you to do me a service in return. Until that day, consider this justice a gift from my wife, your daughter’s godmother.” (Puzo, 46). I felt this passage expressed just how confident and powerful the Mafia felt within their community. Bonasera tried to be a “law abiding citizen” and searched for justice within the judicial system. However, after the two defendants bribed their way through a corrupt judge, Bonasera turned to the Mafia for justice. Seeing as the courts and overall judicial system was so corrupt, the Mafia had to take matters into their own hands. Afterall, the judge was too weak to grant justice for Bonasera, but the Mafia was strong and capable. By stepping in and granting Bonasera the justice he deserved, the Mafia validated just how strong and powerful they were. Even before the justice was vindicated, the Don felt confident enough to actually say, Bonasera would one day owe him “a service in return”. This line alone emphasized the Mafia's "ideology" and overall attitude, regarding their "services".
ReplyDeleteYour analysis of their justification of the "services" they provide makes a lot of sense. I feel like in life so many people feel let down by our legal system that sometimes they feel like justice through other means is the only and correct option.
Delete“Michael said slowly, “OK, it’s an extreme. But there are times when the most extreme measures are justified. Let’s think now that we have to kill McCluskey.”
ReplyDeleteThis quote shows that the mafia thinks that murder is acceptable in some cases and that it can be justified. The cop, McCluskey because he is guarding Sollozo. Micheal accuses McCluskey and Sollozo for wanting to kill his father. Micheal knows that in order to get to Sollozo, he has to get to McCluskey. This is why he says that there are times when you have to take extreme measures. Additionally, this shows a justification of their actions because they have a “get them, before they get me” mentality. Normal citizens, would summon law enforcement if they felt that their relatives or lives were in danger, but in this case they don’t trust the law (McCluskey, a racist and corrupt cop serves as more reason of why they should not trust the law) so they have to take matters into their own hands — no matter how extreme.
Very good point when you stated that the mafia accepts and justifies murder. The scary part about being in the mafia is doing one little mistake and you can get killed for it. Someone is always on the hunt and these people murder in the most mysterious ways that they don't get caught. Everything must be the way of the Don and all orders must be completed with specific instructions or they are in big trouble and there is no way of getting out.
DeleteThe comment above is from Adriana Zuccardi!
Delete"The Don always taught that when a man was generous, he must show the generosity as personal." This quote represents the Don's ideals that his negotiations will just be simple business affairs and his family/gang is his business and that if their family chooses to make a generous offer to someone the other should also be generous and take the generosity with no questions asked. However some things occur like Jack Woltz rejecting the Don's offer in spite of Johnny Fontane and if the offer was refused they would go to other means since they didn't take the best offer they gave.
ReplyDeleteReading through the first two chapters alone I can tell that men are higher ups and control their women. They are to meet certain standards especially in the mafia or else their life is at risk. I got the impression of this ideology when the narrator speaks about Don Corleone. He would not let anyone in the way of his friendships and cared for anybody even the poor. He made it known that he was the “boss” and no one could go against him. However, debts are to always be paid for. He is highly respected and admired by his fellow Italians. Johnny Fontane hitting his wife being aggressive was another detail that stood out to me because it’s all about being “macho” or a “big shot”. The Godfather, just like most other mafia’s see themselves as a tribe, meaning they stay together of the same ethnicity and work together to get business done. While it is illegal activity comprised mostly of selling drugs and murder, they rake in tons of money to keep all members happy. In addition, the narrator mentions Luca Brazzi who did not fear police, society, God, hell, fellow men and was devoted to Don Corleone. The narrator describes each man mentioned with careful, precise detail which is something we don’t really notice with the women in the book. They have a point because having honor and honoring others is a very important concept in the Sicilian and mafiosa culture. They want justice and respect. Anyone who does not give this or accepting becomes an enemy. “An eye for an eye” is a powerful notion they follow. This is who they are and how they succeed without getting caught by police. We can learn that things have to be done in secret for a mafia to even exist which is why it is almost impossible for law enforcement to stop them.
ReplyDeleteThis is John Giannusa.
ReplyDeleteWhat's appealing to them from a public standpoint is their big "family" and the connections they have. At the wedding, Johnny Fontane show's up and it's such a big deal because of how famous he is. People probably see that and want to marry into the family.
The quote I chose was "Lawyers can steal more money with a briefcase than a thousand men with guns and masks." This quote shows that the mafia and Don Corleone see their method of law and order as more just than the American legal system, ultimately that they and their organization are above the law. Although the mob life is corrupt, they focus on the fact that there is corruption everywhere to justify their lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteInstruct my sons, all three of them, that they will accompany me to the hospital to see poor Genco. I want them to pay their last respects. Tell Freddie to drive the big car and ask Johnny if he will come with us, as a special favor to me.” He saw Hagen look at him questioningly. “I want you to go to California tonight. You won’t have time to go see Genco. But don’t leave until I come back from the hospital and speak with you. Understood?”
ReplyDeleteThis quote in particular is not an obvious one but it shows how efficient and comfortable they are. There's a level of confidence that always seems to get them their way, knowing how to plan things out and executing them.
"A man who doesnt spend enough time with his family can never be a real man" This Quote from the book really symbolizes loyalty and how everyone in the mafia are very loyal to eachother and their families.
ReplyDelete