The fame came to Mario Puzo when he was already an experienced writer. In 1969, his novel The Godfather was published, and the whole reading world recognized the author. The approach to the topic was new. The bestseller narrated about violence and kindness, about the laws and roots of the mafia. With vivid images and sharply constructed tense plot, he instantly won recognition.
Crime and Retaliation
Reflecting reality in a literary work, the writer devoted a great place to violence, which is also present in life itself. Its main character, Vito Corleone, founded an empire in which no one dares to invade and in which he rules with an iron hand in a soft glove. He patronizes those who come and asks for help, and punishes the aggressors who dared to disturb the peace of his family, friends and subjects. Vito Corleone created a state in a state. It has the laws of inevitable retaliation for crimes committed.
The army of Vito Corleone is perfectly tuned: he himself passes his instructions to the assistant face to face, the assistant to the next person in the hierarchy, only then the order reaches the executor. An unprepared beginner will never be given weapons, they will first be strictly tested and tested many times. After all, it is being prepared for real military operations - to protect the empire from aggressive invaders.
What is the charm of the protagonist and his subordinates? The killings they commit are not an end in themselves. They are only a means of protecting their families and citizens. Only a necessary measure of security, for every man should be able to stand up for loved ones and the welfare of the state as a whole. The reader gets acquainted with how the relations of the mafia structure with the government, trade unions.
Who served as the prototype of the protagonist?
Researchers believe that since the writer’s childhood passed in the Italian quarters of New York, he knew the topic firsthand. In addition, M. Puzo studied previously published works on this subject, which contained information from the police archives. Most researchers are inclined to believe that the main image is collective, although the personalities of Frank Costello and Vito Genovese had the greatest influence on it.
Frank Castello was born in Italy, but later his family moved to the United States, where his father already lived, holding a grocery store. At the age of 13, he began to indulge in petty robbery, but, once in prison, and then released, he became a member of a strong gang.
There he found himself a business partner and friend, most of all paying attention to gambling. The introduction of Prohibition helped rapid enrichment. In addition to illegal activities, he had a legal business. Frank quickly established contacts in all circles of society and established contacts between the mafia and politicians, paying well for their services.
Vito Genovese was also an Italian who emigrated to the land of freedom. He started in Manhattan, hunting for petty theft. “Prohibition” and helped him to get rich.
Vito actively participated in various frauds and was forced to leave for Italy in order not to go to prison. He was able to survive after the fall of the Mussolini regime, with which he was close, and the landing of American troops. Moreover, Vito returned to the United States. They encroached on his life, but he survived and appointed his own son the head of his clan. These two biographies will enter the life of the literary character Vito Corleone. The prototype was not one, and their images are not as noble and romantic as the hero of the novel M. Puzo.
The life of the protagonist
Vito Andolini, who lost his father in a showdown with the Sicilian mafia, fled to America. He is growing up and getting married. But he is fired from his job. Vito, who took the name Corleone, has children who have nothing to feed. He has to earn a living with friends by petty robbery. But the gangster, the thunderstorm of the quarter, demands tribute from the brisk Italian youth.
Vito Corleone does not put up with this and, having killed him, gains authority in his quarter. Gradually, he builds his own state, in which he rules wisely and completely. The legal affair - the export of olive oil - covers various areas of illegal activity.
Thanks to his policy, Don is gaining links in trade unions, in the police, among members of parliament. Becomes a very influential person Vito Corleone. His biography contains many troubled moments. He is assisted by his adopted son Tom Hagen, who became a lawyer, as he remembered Don’s words: “A lawyer with a briefcase in his hands will pick up more than a thousand armed masked raiders.”
Don Corleone receives the Sicilian Solozzi, who offers to do drugs. But the businessman receives a polite refusal. An attempt on the life of Don is successfully organized. He is temporarily unable to do business, and the management of the empire passes to the son of Sonny. But the life of the Godfather is in danger of a new assassination attempt. The youngest son kills the police captain and hides in Sicily. Meanwhile, the eldest son of Don is being killed.
Corleone is forced to gather all the mafiosi and call for an end to senseless killings, dividing the spheres of influence. Don directs all his forces to the return of his son to America.
The end of the novel
Returning three years later, Michael takes over his father’s experience and connections and, after Don’s death from a heart attack, leads the family business. The youngest son took revenge for the attempt on his father’s life, for the attempt on his life, for the murder of his brother. All affairs in the east of the country Don Michael collapses and moves to the west, becoming the head of the most powerful clan of America. So ends the novel by Mario Puzo “The Godfather”.
Feature Vito Corleone
He is a true Sicilian, but knows how to keep his temperament in his hands. "Revenge is a dish served cold." The commandments of Don characterize his love of life. The main thing, according to Vito, is to stay alive. The next thing that needs to be relied on is friendship. But, trusting, he checks everyone, just in case. He is not angry and does not threaten, trying to logically come to an agreement with his opponent, and only when he refuses to accept logical evidence does Nemesis come in, which all of Don’s actions embody.
Corleone is full of sincere human feelings. And it attracts readers. He is able to leave his daughter’s wedding and sit all night at the bedside of a dying friend, pouring in him the hope that God will forgive sins. He is ready to help anyone who will respectfully ask him. Even while dying, the last thing he says is: “Life is so beautiful.”
Why is the hero called The Godfather?
In Catholic culture, relationships consecrated by the church make people very close. It is believed that life is so hard that one father is not enough. In this case, there is a godfather who takes care of the spiritual education of the child. This is one side of the issue, sacred. The other is that the mafia gave the religious name of the highest level in its hierarchy. The title "The Godfather" Vito Corleone wears with pride and dignity, overshadowing many with his patronage. This is an extremely respectful appeal to the leader of the crime syndicate.
Family members Corleone
The Corleone family is small and large at the same time.
It consists of people close to and blood relatives, godchildren and all members of his empire, for which he paternally looks after.
The eldest son is Santino or Sonny. He is not too smart, but he is too hot and does not know how to think over actions like his father. Sonny was known as the most formidable killer in his youth, and when his father was attacked, he, without hesitation, gets involved in the clan struggle that Don Corleone sought to avoid. In this fight, his sister’s husband, whose name is Carlo, betrayed him, and Sonny dies.
The middle son is Freddy. Limp and unlucky, not capable of mental activity. He obviously will never be able to replace his father.
Michael is the youngest son. The brightest of the children of the Don. At first, he decided to become an honest American, without touching the dark affairs of the family. He is a war veteran, a university student, but his affection for family members, his desire to avenge his attempt on his father’s life turn his life around. When he returns, he will avenge the death of his brother Sonny, although the husband of his own sister turned out to be a traitor. Michael will not forgive the betrayal of Tessio's old friend and destroy him. Michael will become a real Don, immediately cracking down on the heads of hostile clans.
But the family is not limited to the Corleone family. There is also an adopted son, very intelligent and devoted Tom Hagen, there is an unreasonable artist who is beginning to see his light, Johnny Fontaine, singer, movie star and America’s idol.
Vito Corleone Quotes
- I will make an offer that cannot be refused.
- Never be angry, do not threaten and make a person reason sensibly.
- With those who perceive the accident as a personal insult, accidents do not occur.
- There are things that you have to do - you do them, but you never talk about them. They have no excuses. You do them, and that’s it. And forget it.
- Each of us has something to tell about our hardships. I'm not going to do this.
Mafia romanticization in a novel
Don Corleone is so noble in his motives in this criminal story that the terrible details of the crimes are forgotten. The voice of blood and family affection weave the thread of a person’s fate. They do not allow to go beyond the boundaries of the created circle. This is very clearly seen in the life path of Michael, the youngest son, who did not want to, but continued the work of his father. He, like his father, independently administers justice and helps his compatriots to get out of people, resorting to the usual means of gangsters.