The Don is a thug, a criminal, a murderer (he killed Fanucci, didn't he?), but he coats his true identity under a veneer of respectability and moralistic principles.
And we fall all for it.
COMMENT: two separate paragraphs.
- Was he your hero while you were READING THE BOOK?
- WHICH of his many immoral acts received your most enthusiastic approval?
REPLY: choose a comment from a classmate that posted AFTER your comment. Choose something that YOU ALSO liked but didn't comment about?
1) As much as I don't like to admit it, the Don was a sort of hero figure for me while reading the book. I believe that because of his circumstance, which started in his early days while living in New York, he learned that he had to protect himself and his own. Of course, he did not have to commit to a life of crime, but it appeared to be the most viable option for prosperity for him, especially with all the injustice that was happening where he lived. His methodical and professional ways of going about his business make him a likeable character, even though he is brutal. In that regard, however, his brutality is only a last resort, limited to situations that he believes it is necessary. Because of this pseudo-justice system, he was, in a way, a hero.
ReplyDelete2) I believe that his act of getting his men to beat up the girl that was attacked in the beginning received the most of my approval, simply because he was punished those that preyed upon a weak person. Even though it was a favor for someone else, I believe that the Don carried out his command with the belief that it was the right thing to do.
1) Yes, the Don was considered a hero in my eyes. I know that Don had done unspeakable things, but it all seemed necessary somehow in the book. I believe that the Italian immigrants living in America were treated unfairly, and the Don helped bring them some justice (even if it was a little unethical!). The Don seemed to genuinely care about the people he was helping, and he went about helping them in a way in which every one respected him. The respect that the Don had was just insane, people from all over knew his name and admired who he was as a person, and I believe that should be a good representation for who he is.
ReplyDelete2)Like Andrey, I also believed the Don getting his men to beat up the boys who assaulted Amerigo's daughter received the most approval in my eyes. Amerigo Bonasera was a poor Italian immigrant just trying to make a good life for his family in America and the American court did not give him justice; the Don ultimately did.
1) I would not necessarily call the Don a hero in my eyes, but in no way is he a complete villain. Yes he got caught up in the wrong life style, but that does not make him a bad person... he was just dealt a bad card. The Don cared so much for his family and would do anything to protect them. He helped, cared, and saved the people he cared about most but in the wrong ways.
ReplyDelete2) Just like my two classmates, the Don's immoral act that stood out to me the most is when he helped Amerigo. He go his men to beat up the boys who assaulted his daughter. Although I would not approve that this is the best way to handle something, this immoral act is the most approved one in my eyes. He was selfless and helped an innocent girl. That is what the Don is all about to me, he handles things in the wrong way but everything he does is for the good of his family and friends.
1) I would definitely consider Don Corleone a hero in my eyes throughout the book. Although his actions were at times extremely unethical, it was his intentions, which were to help the people he loved and cared for, which makes him more of a hero than a villain to me.
ReplyDelete2) Out of all the immoral acts Don Corleone led, I would agree that the one that i approved of most was getting his men to go after the men who took advantage of Amerigo's daughter. He did this in spite of feeling that Amerigo did not treat him like a friend and this action was an act of justice.
1. I did not envision Don Corleone as my hero while reading the book. Although he is depicted as a man who cares and does a lot for others, he still killed people in his life to get to where he is. If you take someone’s life, it doesn’t matter how many nice gestures you do for others. A hero to me is a person who does favors for others without asking for anything in return. In Don Corleone’s case, he does favors for others and expects to get the favor returned “if need be.” Additionally, Don Corleone’s way of doing favors for others is through cruelty and hate. A real hero will do favors for others in harmless ways.
ReplyDelete2. Out of all Don Corleone’s immoral acts, I would have to say that the situation with Amerigo Bonasera received my most enthusiastic approval. This particular immoral act received my most enthusiastic approval because I felt that Amerigo Bonasera’s daughter deserved justice. It is a sin to put your hands on a woman and no man should be able to do that without suffering severe consequences. I also heavily disapprove whenever a judge's ruling is obviously skewed. Personally, I was glad to read that those two boys were sent to the hospital. Justice definitely needed to be served in that particular situation.
I did feel as if Don Corleone was a hero while reading through Puzo's work. Although he used questionable means to accomplish his goals, every action he took centered around the love he had for his family and friends. He displayed courage, loyalty, and respect throughout the pages of the book, and those are essential qualities of a true hero. The Don proved that if anyone or anything, including society itself, came between him and his family, then it would be his duty to stand up for who and what he believes in, showing the integrity possessed by him as well.
ReplyDeleteA prime representation of this can be found in the scene in which Don Corleone sends his crew to rough up the boys who had savagely beaten the daughter of Amerigo. These boys took advantage of a young and innocent girl, only to get off with a slap on the wrist from the criminal justice system. Amerigo was of course distraught at the treatment of his daughter and the "punishment" given to her offenders, and the Don steps up to ease his pain when nobody else in society will. To me, that showed heart and loyalty, presenting the DOn as a hero of sorts to those he truly cares for.
The Don gave the poor and down trodden a hero to go to. He gave them power and respect. He listened to their issues, no matter how small, and he gave them what they wanted. The Don gave these immigrants what they wished America would give them - a voice and justice.
ReplyDeleteI think the idea that bothers me the most about the Don is the fact that no matter how noble his acts seem, he is still part of a tangled web of violence, deceit and danger. The other families may not be as noble as he and so by default, his actions will always be drowned out by their treachery as he is entangled with them as well.
The scenario with Amerigo's daughter is by far the one that we were all rooting for. He showed us that he has a heart and will not stand for any violence against a young woman.
Don was a hero to my while I was reading the book. It was interesting that I knew that he was doing so many bad things, killing people and lies but all of this at the end came out as if it was necessary for everyone and outcome bring peace to them. Also his brain always made me jealous he was so smart and knew how to act in different situations. Not everyone knows what to do in hard times of their live but Don would handle any tragedy and be smart always.
ReplyDeleteThere was a lot of immoral actions of the Don but did not feel that they are can be approved. Most of his action was based on helping people but by hurting the others. So I have to agree and also choose that punishing those two boys that made Amerigo Bonasera’s daughter to be in hospital was one of his actions that I approved. These type of people should be punished so that there will be no abuse in the world. But all other Don’s actions could be solved in more peaceful way rather than just killing or beating up.
I completely believe the Don is a hero. He does not just act (like his son Sonny). Everything is carefully thought out and planned. His calm manor also is what makes me enjoy his presence and story. Don Corleone is a hero for all because his beliefs and actions are grounded in moral thought. He provides aids for all, not a select few. This emphasizes how just he is as a character and hero for the people. I reason I truly believe he is a hero is the fact that although he does commit crimes, his man concern is for is family. All that he does is for them. His actions are to insure that after he is gone, the family is well taken care of.
ReplyDeleteUnlike my other classmate, the immortal act that received the most enthusiastic approved to me was when he sent Tom Hagen to speak with Johnny Fontane' movie producer to let Johnny have the lead role. When Woltz said no, his beloved horse Khortoum was beheaded. Johnny the received the lead part. This shows how powerful he is, but also how much he is willing to exert his force for his godson.
I believe that Don Corleone was a hero in The Godfather and it was heartbreaking when he died in the garden. He is a man who thinks things out thoroughly before taking action unlike Sonny who eventually is killed due to his temperament. Don Corleone looks out for the people who respect him and builds an empire where people owe him due to his services. He dedicates his life to helping others which makes him a hero.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to many of my classmates, I also agree that his service to Amerigo Bonasera is justifiable. Don helped him when the American justice system did not. Even though Bonasera asked for the two teenage boys to be murdered, Don did not believe that was the right thing to do. He made sure that they were taken care of and sent to the hospital for a very long time but they both were alive. Many acts of his are immoral however, the ends justify the means in my opinion.