Content

1. Mario Puzo, The Godfather (1969)

Mario Puzo

The Godfather (novel)

The Godfather’s Father

The Basic Elements of Chapter 1

Three Situations > Three Favors

• Amerigo Bonasera, the undertaker
  • The issue
    • Americanized daughter harassed and beaten up
    • Lack of control over family and outcome
      • Justice for the common man
  • The ask
    • Justice for his daughter
    • Revenge for himself
  • The price
    • Respect for the Don
      • Getting priority straights (hierarchy of power)
    • Re-admission into the clan
      • follow the rules of the clan first
      • return a “favor” when asked
  • The means
    • Force = violence
    • The execution of the plan shows that material force is not enough
      • The levels of the organization
      • Control of information
• Johnny Fontane, the singer/actor
  • The issue
    • Failing career (weak voice, blacklisted by producer Woltz)
    • Failing second marriage with American actress Margot
  • The ask
    • Support
    • Help with his career
  • The price
    • Proximity to the Don = influence
    • Re-build his masculinity
      • Confidence
      • Strength, force and control
  • The means
    • Influence
      • Unions
      • Drug addiction
    • Deterrence
      • Calculated use of force
• Nazorine, the baker
  • The issue
    • Daughter’s growing relationship with an Italian prisoner of war, soon to be repatriated
  • The ask
    • American citizenship for Enzo
  • The price
    • $2,000
    • Loyalty to the Don
    • Respect
      • The clan is his priority
      • Willingness to return favors
  • The means
    • Political influence
      • Using a Jewish senator

The Don’s Three Sons

• Sonny’s nature
  • Eager to use force
  • Reactive
  • Non-compliant
    • Hard to “instruct”
  • Lack of self-control
    • Sexual prowess
• Fredo’s nature
  • Eager to comply
    • Amoral familism
  • Agreeable
  • Affectionate
• Michael’s nature
  • Independent, intentional
    • Leadership
  • Partially agreeable
  • Thinker, planner
    • Reason and determination

The Outsiders

• Luca Brasi
  • Should not be there
    • The Don’s image
  • Difficult to control
    • Fear
  • Pure force
• Kay Adams
• FBI agents