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
- 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
The Don’s Three Sons
- Sonny’s nature
- Eager to use force
- Reactive
- Non-compliant
- Lack of self-control
- Fredo’s nature
- Eager to comply
- Agreeable
- Affectionate
- Michael’s nature
- Independent, intentional
- Partially agreeable
- Thinker, planner
The Outsiders
- Luca Brasi
- Should not be there
- Difficult to control
- Pure force
- Kay Adams
- FBI agents