Throughout the 1971 classic Mario Puzo’s The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Corleone, is seen transforming from the assimilated American to a cold-blooded Sicilian gangster. This essay will analyze the various events that changed Michael and detail his transformation. The shooting of Vito Corleone is Michael’s motivation behind the assassination of Sollozzo and McClusky. Michael’s subsequent exile to Sicily is followed by the incidental murder of his wife. These major events in Michael's life lead to Michael’s inevitable transformation as the new leader of the Corleone crime family.
Michael Corleone is first introduced at his sisters wedding; he is seated, dressed in his military attire, beside him is his girlfriend, Kay Adams. Michaels unconventional outfit is a form of protest, his unwillingness to participate in his family's business. This is later emphasized when Michael tells Kay the story of how his father, Vito helped Johnny Fontane with his singing career. “Luca Brasi held a gun to his head, and my father assured him that either his brains, or his signature would be on the contract.” ( ) After explaining the event, Michael clarified, "That's my family, Kay. It's not me". ( ) This is suggestive of his disapproval of the illegal activity associated with his family. Ironically, later in the movie, Michael becomes what he loathed. One’s initial view of Michael is that of a humble, heroic mild mannered man that does not want anything to do with the family business.
The first significant event that leads to Michael’s transformation was the attempted assassination of his father. After his dinner with Kay, Michael visits his father in the hospital. As Michael realizes that his father is alone, and he predicts that w...
... middle of paper ...
... decision to become his father’s successor was inevitable. He was forced into the position due the mafia war he had started. If he has not taken over upon his return from Italy, there would be no suitable candidates to run the family, leaving his family defenseless at the hands of the other families. Michael’s act of taking over as Don was a good decision as a security measure for his family. However, Michael’s hit on Sollozzo and McClusky would cause a snowball effect, had he not committed the murders he would never had be exiled to Sicily where he would be the indirect cause of his wife’s death.
Michael Corleone's transition from an honest, American war hero, to a ruthless mafia boss is initiated by attempted murder of his father. Michael’s reaction in his defense for his father would cause a chain reaction of events that lead to his eventual transformation.
Michael was loyal and dedicated when he shocked Clyde, the guy that was trying to rob his mother. in that scene he was showing loyalty to his mother by Shocking Clyde, his mom became safe from hid gun.
Mike was also a paranoid person. For example, he gave the wrong address and phone number to the school so if something happened they could not contact him.
TS: The role that Leigh Anna and Michael’s real mother play in his life is like day and night.
As Micheal stares aimlessly into the sunset with the camera strapped around his neck. after a few minutes, he decided to go back to his old run down apartment Michael's apartment was an old wooden piece of work and was full of rubbish from his reckless lifestyle. The phone rang it was his boss John
Michael’s life began in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17th, 1963, where his parents James and Delores always stood by his side. His father, known for his unending support, always gave Michael advice on what to do, never letting him down. His mother made sure Michael headed in the right direction with everything he did. As a child he enjoyed athletics, engaging in basketball, baseball and football. He practiced baseball with his dad, persistently playing catch whenever time allowed. Baseball was his favorite. Even at a young age he had already tasted success by being voted Most Valuable Player on his team. “That was the first big accomplishment in my life,” Michael recalled (Harris, Laurie).
The Godfather is most notably one of the most prolific films of its time. This "gangster" film displayed many transformations of permeating color to give the viewer observable cues in its mise en scene that drew one right into the movie. The dramatic acting set the tone of the film with a score that lifted the viewer right out of their seat in many scenes. The directing and cinematography made The Godfather ahead of its time. The nostalgic feel of family importance and the danger of revenge lets us into the life of the Mafia. Even though no other techniques would have given the viewer a feeling of inside the mob like the mise en scene of the power the godfather held, the characters are reinforced literally and figuratively because the story views the Mafia from the inside out, and the cinematography of the film gives it a dangerous and nostalgic feel.
This is where he fell in love with the game of football and he knows that to play in the pro league, he had to improve his education. He received educational support and it was critical since he did not develop education prior to living the the Tuohy’s. Moreover, when having a conversation with Leigh Anne Tuohy, his adopted mother, about his football decision, she replies: “It’s your life, Michael, it’s your life” (Hancock, Netter, Smith,..., 2010). Michael comes to the understanding that his identity as a Tuohy, a black male, and a football player, does not have to come with any pressures or expectations (Kim, 2017). He realizes that he is able to decide for himself who he wants to be, and chooses to attend University of Mississippi and accept his football scholarship . This is essential on his development because his choice to focus on athletics, improve his GPA, and choosing a school to attend and play football allows Michael to develop a sense of identity and
Many of the film’s important scenes begin with one key character, Don Vito Corleone and the word “Godfather…” The setting is very dark as the film opens and a man is asking for the Godfather’s help. Though the Don is not happy about the request he grants it, letting the man know that when the time comes he will have to do him a service as well. As the movie continues the audience is shown that it is a very special day; it is Connie Corleone, the Godfather’s daughter’s wedding day. This is an important factor in understanding why Corleone has granted this request, because of the tradition that “no Sicilian can refuse anyone’s request on his daughter’s wedding day.” With this line comes the insight that the family and the culture find old world tradition very important. Throughout the movie several people come to Vito Corleone asking for favors and services to be rendered.
In the fairy tale “Godfather Death” contained in the book Grimm’s Tale for Young and Old: The Complete Stories as translated by Ralph Manheim, the central theme is betrayal. The apparent betrayals take place seven times in the course of a man’s life, mainly for personal gain. Each person doing the deceiving, whether for the good of the family or kingdom, truthfully ends up lying to others in order to gain something of significant value. In the end, a father deceives his son twice, the son deceives his royal family and his own godfather twice and the godfather deceives his godson once.
After Michael Mulvaney Sr., the father, find outs about the rape, he becomes starts to drink heavily, become silent and angry with his family and consequently he loses all connection to his family. When Michael Sr. found out who did this to his daughter, he broke Zachary Lundt's, the rapist, nose and cracked a couple of his ribs. Since Michael Sr. did that, he realized that he could not charge Zachary with sexual assault, without being charged himself. Michael soon realized that he screwed up, and shouldn't of went after Zachary. After the fight, Michael Sr. stopped coming home for dinner and always went for drives late at night. He started to drink a lot, too much, and kept on getting angrier. His attitude towards work changed too. He started showing up at jobs late and didn't care what his workers were doing. His business started to decrease and slowly he was going bankrupt. He failed to tell his wife Corinne important information, like their money, and how they were slowly losing it, and how he was angry all the time. He also started to avoid looking at his daughter Marianne, the victim, because he said: ."..I'm not strong enough, I'm a coward. How ca...
Josie's father, Michael Andretti, has only recently come back into life. He is introduced to us in Chapter six. While Josie's mother was still pregnant he left Sydney for Adelaide. He return comes with the assertion that he does not "want a complication in his life" and again he seems to be deserting Josie. She confronts him about this, and his attitude does not win her affection. It seems that Michael cannot provide to Josie what she needs - a stable father figure that might h...
Soon after the story begins we get an insight into who Michael truly is. One could easily describe him as a Meek young man, as the narrator states Michael is very unsure of himself while asking the townspeople questions on the subject of the whereabouts of the Hangman. Though, his insecurities do not stop him from his ability to do his job. To be a decent writer you have to be observant, which fits Michaels personality perfectly. While describing the Hangman's appearance he notices small details that most people would skim over. Describing him as “a little fellow, without
It is the Godfather that demands the family stick with family and never side with any one out side of the family no matter the situation. Vito the Godfather would remind them family is family and no one will miss treat or use any member of the family. He proves this point when his godson comes to him about a problem with a director name Jack Woltz. Because Jonny Fontane is the godson the Godfather Corleone will send his step son who is consigliere to the family to California to advise the director to hand the part over to Fontane.
could not withstand Michael’s living conditions, so she took him in because she wants to help
I believe the reason that, 'The Godfather', is such a great film is because it lets audiences decide whether they like the characters or not. Too many movies made about organized crime begin with some seemingly random act of violence. 'The Godfather', however, lets it be known from the start to judge the characters in the film based on what type of person they are instead of the criminal activities they may engage in.