Oranges

As we all know, the oranges had been in all over our heads. As I re-watched the movie, I had spotted the fruit orange in almost every scene that involves bloodshed. One of the scenes that I find the most astonishing in the film was with Don Vito Corleone in the corn field with his grandson Anthony. It was one of the most significant and disconsolate scenes of the movie, along with his crucifixion - style near death.

Michael at first had started as a stereotype character as you can see by just his loud attire. His uniform at the start of the movie had depicted him an honorable war hero, showing that he would rather pull the trigger for patriotism and a legitimate war. As he started to develop. His character is almost but not immediately rounded as the story had progressed. Michael had the choice to do it. The sound of the train, by the look of it, given him the motivation to do it swiftly. As you can see, the way he had killed both Sollozzo and McCluskey was different than what was expected of him. What can we make of that?

In the comparison to the Heroes' Journey, the characterization between the two characters are much the same, albeit approached differently.

Vito Corleone and Michael Corleone as the Godfather

The unequivocal contrast between Don Vito Corleone and Michael Corleone in the film is the character and the portrayal in mind. Both their characters have same elements of propoganda, such as their reasonable negotiating skills. Don Vito is always known as a man of his word. He never refuses an offer, and "makes offers people cannot refuse." Michael had started out much different, as the son of the Godfather, he never wanted the life he was destined for and his father never wanted for him to live that way as well. Although Michael had learned everything from his father, such as having the reserves of politicians and judges, Michael had a hard time in gaining the better half of his life. Even the support within the caporegimes are waning. As Michael started to become head, his characterization, at first was a stereotyped character because of the attire, changed drastically when he had bonded with his father briefly in the hospital. the imagery of his facial structure and attire had become much in the style of the Cosa Nostra. I find it very interesting on how Michael would rather have people clipped immediately rather than make people suffer the way his father does business. It is an interesting nod to how each do their own business.

Women and Family in The Godfather

"A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man."

Don:"My wife is crying upstairs. I hear cars coming to the house. Consiglieri of mine, I think you should tell your Don what everyone seems to know." / Tom:"I didn't tell Mama anything. I was about to come up and wake just now and tell you." / Don:"But you needed a drink first." [Tom nods] "And now you've had your drink." / Tom:"They shot Sonny on the causeway. He's dead."

quotes from http://www.thegodfathertrilogy.com/gf1/gf1quots.html

The women of the family are considered very important and essential to a family like the Corleones. They are half of the reason for family business, and the caretakers of the men of the family.

This blog post is to discuss the many symbols within the film.

the current symbols we have are:

The Godfather himself

the picture above

Orange which apparently foreshadows death

red clothes referred to as the scarlet woman

the rose in the Godfather's hand and pocket

If there are any more symbols, please let me know by commenting on this blog.

Gracie

Kay Adams... the scarlet Woman?

as we all have talked about, Kay Adams has been wearing to much red for our tastes, lately.

We have labelled her as the "Scarlet Woman."

Now for the fun part, my only question for this topic: is she?

From the observation of the film, wiki sources, and blogs I see Kay with the style of being illustrious and un - racy to be a lady of the evening. She strays too much from the rest of the family, prays for her husband, and stands out in their crowd. her non-italian feel contradicts the Corleones. I find it very peculiar that her apparent foreshadowing is the opposite of her portrayal in the film.

Fredo

Fredo Corleone

Son of the Godfather and brother to Michael, Santino, Connie, and Tom(unofficial)

As the film indirectly implies, Fredo is the second eldest son of the Family. The only question is...

Who is Fredo Corle

one? What does he do for the family?

Fredo had very little dialogue, especially during the beginning and middle scenes. He does not get much respect. He fumbles with his gun, and family keeps saying he is stupid. As the second eldest, he would seem to be a very important piece of the family, but instead he is always pushed around, even by Michael. It boggles my mind to see that they treat their family that way. As the son of the most powerful Don, I will always wonder why he acts the way he does. We can see it in him that he envies his other family members. Why should they not envy him?

Death in the Corleone Family

Death in the Corleone Family

We have now come to the point of the movie where Sonny Corleone has been murdered trying to save Connie from her wretched and abusing bastard of a husband.

Who is to blame for Sonny's murder? Is Carlo Rizzi responsible? Is one of the five families Which of the families is to blame?

In The Godfather, Don Corleone said Tattaglia could never have outfought Sonny, coming to the point where he realized it was the doing of Don Barzini all along.

If Barzini is responsible, then how did he do it? Did Carlo and Barzini make a deal to kill Sonny?

There are multiple theories to this answer. It could have been that the assassins were waiting there all along to catch him off guard. Word could have gotten out that Sonny is leaving the Corleone compound.

additional notes

If Santino had lived and Michael had died, will the Corleone Family be in its position currently?

How about if both Santino and Michael were alive, would the role of Don be the same?

Possible realities can happen. Ultimately thrown at Michael as Don, and Santino only

viewed as a figurehead. If Santino and Michael had died, Fredo will not be eligible to be Don. What if Tom Hagen were to be the Godfather of the family, doors are unlocked for many answers. If Fredo were to be Don, would he be able to prosper as the man of the family.

The American Dream

What is the American Dream?

Definition: The American dream is the traditional social ideals of the United states, such as equality, democracy, and material prosperity..........or is it?

The American dream has been portrayed in too many ways, that its meaning is punctured to the stomach from its reality.

Whenever I see the words "American dream," It is always involved with crime, money, and lust.

to be continued...

Marlon Brando initially refused to be considered for the role of Don Corleone, saying “I won’t glorify the Mafia.” Does The Godfather indeed “glorify” organized crime?

To Glorify is to make clearer the glory or praise of one's actions. In my eyes I see the Godfather indeed glorifying what he does. Although, the way he glorifies his ways were within respect and loyalty. Don Corleone himself initially glorifies the "American dream." However, he prefers the methods of glorifying organized crime and most likely change the american dream into power, freedom, loyalty, respect, honor, family, and possibly infinite prosperity. many of his methods were that of vengeance towards his past.

"After all, we're not murderers, in spite of what this undertaker thinks."

weekly poem

Oh I long for the dream

the dream of America

but I am alone, a sicilian

mia madre mio padre

mio fratello

lost in the fatherland

la mia famiglia

andata....

I step on the APPLE

no bread and no fare

I ardor for vengeance.......

I lead my kin to walk this land

and my nemico to die

I squeeze the trigger

and the color of lust comes splashing down

never again will my family lie

I am a Don

I am the Godfather