The Godfather is a 1972 film detailing the disasters and triumphs of the Corleone family, a family of Sicilian-Americans who make their living from organized crime. Michael is the youngest son of the Corleone family and the focus of the plot. The story begins shortly after Michael returns home after serving in the Second World War. The viewer first sees him content with his decorated uniform and sophisticated girlfriend (who is not Sicilian). Shortly after the brutal assassination of his father, the criminal boss of the Corleone family, Michael decides to take over the family business. The more involved he becomes, the more he discovers that he has a talent for criminal activity. By the end of the film, Michael successfully overcomes his family’s enemies and replaces his father as the criminal kingpin of the Corleone family.
A major theme throughout the film is the idea of loyalty. The veteran Michael, once loyal to country, becomes loyal to his family. To Michael, going against the law is a minor offense compared to going against the family. It seems only reasonable to the viewer to support Michael’s decision. The family enjoys a luxurious lifestyle consisting of beautiful homes, extravagant weddings, and plenty of children. The women of the Corleone family, who are not allowed participation in the family’s “business”, appear happy to enjoy a rich lifestyle they do not have to work for. Underneath this façade, however, lies an ugly reality. The majority of men in the Corleone family do not live into old age. In fact, most of them meet incredibly violent deaths. The pressure of death in one case causes a man to physically abuse his wife. This causes even more violence and tension within the family. Michael’s choice to take over the family business, therefore, seems like an unwise choice. He was a decorated soldier with a loving girlfriend. Why would he give up everything going for him to become a criminal? The answer is simple – family.
Michael’s actions prove that he is loyal to his family above all else. It does not matter if his family is full of ruthless criminals destined to die gruesome deaths. This prompts the viewer to question their dedication to family. What lengths I would I go to protect my family? Is loyalty to family a just cause? At what point does loyalty to the family become harmful? These questions have no simple answers; it is up to the viewer to determine. The concept of loyalty also applies to communities outside the family. Michael Corleone was once a soldier fighting for the United States military. In a sense, the military was once his family – the American family fighting the German family. The film often hints at the similarities between the New York mafia and the US government.
The Godfather challenges the viewer to question the legitimacy of their loyalties. These loyalties can be towards family, country, or something else. In the case of Michael Corleone, his loyalty to his family overrides his own personal ambitions. He transforms from a carefree soldier and boyfriend to a mob boss characterized by violence and deceit. In class, we have discussed the idea of an archetypal hero: a crusader who is loyal to king and country. Oftentimes this loyalty is disguised by the term “patriotism”. The fact that it shows the negative consequences of this loyalty is what makes The Godfather significant to our class and to modern culture. It is a warning to viewers that, should they follow Michael’s example, they too can become lost.
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