Misa, Ryan Heynrich The Godfather Ms.

Yellowbelle Duaqui
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Summary
The story begins as "Don" Vito Corleone, the head of a New York Mafia, oversees his daughter's
wedding with his wife Wendy. He and Tom Hagen, the Corleone family lawyer, are hearing requests for
favors because, according to Italian tradition, "no Sicilian can refuse a request on his daughter's wedding
day." His dear son Michael had just come home from the war, enlisted in the Marines, but does not
intend to become part of his father's business. Through Michael's life the nature of the family business
becomes clear. The business of the family is just like the head of the family, caring and compassionate to
those who give respect, but given to ruthless violence whenever anything stands against the family. Don
Vito lives his life in the way of the old country, but times are changing and some don't want to follow the
old ways and look out for community and "family". An up and coming rival of the Corleone family wants
to start selling drugs in New York, and needs the Don's influence to further their plan. The clash of the
Don's fading old world values and the new ways will demand a terrible price, especially from Michael, all
for the sake of the family.
Critique
The novel seemed to be told from the inside out; he didn’t give us a world of global conspiracy.
Everybody knew everybody else and had an appealing perceptive hunch what they were up to. The
movie gets the same feel. We tend to identify with Don Corleone’s family not because we love gang
wars, but because we have been with them from the beginning, watching them wait for battle.
“The Godfather” is not even the central character in the drama. That position goes to the
youngest son, Michael, who understands the nature of his father’s position while changing his old-
fashioned ways. The Godfather’s role in the family enterprise is described by his name; he stands
outside the next generation which will carry on and, hopefully, position the family into genuine
enterprises.
5 Concepts involved
 Social Control
- Social Control was witnessed throughout the entire film in a specific form, namely,
violence. Violence was the primary control of the “families” in the film. They gained
respect and influence by gunning down those who stood in their family’s way.
 Deviance
- Another concept involved is deviance. Deviance was observed when Michael
Corleone defied his father by enlisting in the Marines and not joining the “family’s
business”. He was expected to act the same way as his father yet he acted
differently, therefore showing deviance.
 Conformity
- Conformity is another concept shown in the film. It was perceived when the rival
mafia of the Corleone Family asks for the permission of Don Vito to expand the drug
deals, yet he does not approve of it and the rival mafia just submitted to the Don’s
decision.
 Crime
- Crime was obviously involved throughout the film since the film was about a mafia
and the term mafia is often associated with organized crime groups.
 Organized Crime
- Organized crime was witnessed in the film when Don Vito Corleone killed Don
Fanucci, after that he then proceeded to use an oil company as a front for crimes.