We saw in L'emigrante that the most promising path to success for an Italian was to work for Mafia.
The other Italian immigrants of that period, Pascal, Beppo, Geremio and Paul, can be hardly call successful the way Peppino was.
Now, with Don Vito and Michael, we see people who have really achieved "American" success.
Don Vito explains it clearly and explicitly: society didn't let people like us become powerful and respectable. They kept us at the margin. And we became powerful the only way we could, and we enjoy respectability among people like us.
What is wrong with this "philosophy?"
Or, maybe there is nothing wrong.
COMMENT and REPLY
In my opinion there is nothing wrong with this philosophy. He’s correct, they became powerful the only way they knew how. The same happened to Peppino. Society didn’t see him as anything but a peasant who would work for crumbs. Once he joined Norolone he gained money and status. I don’t agree with the line of work they do, but i do agree with Vito when he says they became powerful they only way they could.
ReplyDeleteI feel the line of work gave them forced power which isn't respectable to me.
DeleteI agree with your blog post. They did what they knew and that was how they survived and thrived.
DeleteI don't find this philosophy being wrong. Each person becomes powerful based on circumstances. Yes, Don was the leader of gangsters. However, he was a good man. Everyone - poor and rich, strong and weak - Don Corleone accepts with the same honor. He does not offend anyone. He was able to benefit from any business, and this was the very thing that led Don to the summit of his greatness and it wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that is wrong with this philosophy is the blame it put on society for actions of the mafia. Yes, it is harder for immigrants to make it in society however it is not impossible to be successful. Success is not measured by how powerful you are. Respect comes with your moral values as a individual. Forcing power and respect like Don Vito in The Godfather comes across as cowardly and an excuse to blame society for all their wrong doings. Having money and power in this sense will eventually get you killed or in prison and that is not consider "American Success".
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, The Godfather was just another example of failure to integrate with society instead they chose to isolate them self from society.
DeleteThis philosophy is clearly wrong. In my view even if you’re being marginalized and it’s harder to have a successful life in America as an Italian that shouldn’t result in turning to the mafia. The mafia goes against moral ethics because no matter what business is business and they will do whatever it takes to make sure they get riches and power. There are many other ways to gain fame, money, power i feel like they are just using the mafia as a easy way to get fame, power and political power the easy way. The easy way is never the right way.
ReplyDeleteI think I agree with this philosophy, even though I don't agree with the actions they take. Once you find your thing, you stick with it until you're able to make ends meat, plus more. Even though society doesn't agree with them, they still do whatever they can to stay alive. I think this mentality is so important for daily life, especially for immigrants because they start out with nothing and need to find a way to make themselves into something. I don't necessarily agree with this line of work, but I agree with the mentality.
ReplyDeleteI agree, as immigrants the path to success is much harder, and therefore they have to do whatever it takes to survive. However, the criminal acts hindered their integration into society and caused further isolation.
DeleteI'm split with this topic. On one hand, Don Vito is right, society keeps not only Italians, but minorities, at a margin and more often times that not it's hard to pass these barriers. I can say it is commendable to the fact that Don Vito, an Italian immigrant, was able to gain power and respect. Though I do not find the manner in which they went about gaining power and respect commendable. They felt the only way to move up in society was by force, but to me, none of that is worth the violence and pain that they caused.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this philosophy in the sense that Italians were marginalized and oppressed and therefore had to make their own path. Although the life of crime is not favorable by societal standards, they had to make ends meet by any means necessary to ensure the wellbeing of their families. I don't agree with the acts committed but I can understand why they had to fight the way they did to survive. By American social standards they were low class, but within their community their values and respect was much higher
ReplyDeleteI agree with your opinion. I also would not agree with the approaches taken to ensure the wellbeing of their families with violence and crime but there could have been other measures taken in order to ensure the same outcome and intentions. There have been groups people that have also done extensive things in order to survive with less blood on their hands.
DeleteI agree with Don Vito's philosophy. I think many immigrants and minority groups take on this same philosophy because America continues to exclude them in many narratives that are dominated by those in power. The any means necessary approach is taken by those that are seeking survival and protection and if that is what it takes and all that is available it is hard to argue against this notion.
ReplyDeleteto take power from the powerless proves that he cares only for himself.to care only for those that make you rich does not help those in your tribe it weakens it . It make you weak because that all you know .
ReplyDeleteThere is absolutely nothing wrong with this philosophy for many people today in minorities have to fight by any means necessary to stand victorious.
ReplyDelete