Family in The Godfather

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Does family matter? Yes- family always matters. It is necessary to have some sort of family structure in order to have a stable foundation. This need for stability and structure is how the family survives and the children find safety. In the movies The Godfather and Scarface we will discover how the two differ when it comes to family and family business. These two patriarchs have different views on family and how the family is involved in the business. In this discovery one struggles to gain and maintain power- but looses everything in the process. While the other maintains the family through peace negotiations and understanding business and revenge can not always go hand and hand in order for the family to survive.

Looking at the movie the Godfather here we see a man who is head of the entire Corleone family. Everyone that is family (Italian or Sicilian) and extended family comes to the Don Vito Corleone also known as the Godfather. In the beginning we are greeted in the second scene at a wedding. This wedding is significant in that the entire family is attending. This is the Godfathers daughters wedding. Yet the Godfather is busy with family business but one of the traditions at this wedding especially for Sicilian and Italian is that the bride has what is called a bridal purse where every one that attends the wedding will give money of any number to put into the purse. So even with business going on those that come to visit the Godfather still bring money for the bridal purse for the bride. This is done out of respect for the head of the family. Right here from the beginning we see that family is important and that no one disrespects any member of the family or goes against the wishes of the head patriarch.

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.

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