It’s interesting how movies use certain techniques to emphasize the power of certain characters. Some films use clever symbolism, while others use direct characterization to state the obvious. Film such as The Lion King showed Mufasa’s dominance over scar with his masculine body and authoritative voice; while Scarface conveyed Sosa as a powerful man with intimidating dialogue and a big fancy mansion. All of these things point the audience to the fact that these characters are powerful, and should not be messed with. The Godfather uses several of these techniques to emphasize Don Vito’s power, and how it suddenly shifts to Michael when he becomes the Don.
Through first scene of the film the audience can already interpret that Don Vito is the boss who runs the family. The man asking for a favor is acting as submissive as possible, trying to please Don Vito into helping him. Vito is simply slumped in his chair, deciding whether to act or not. The Don’s decision is finally made; he will help unless the man shows him respect and befriends him. This use of indirect characterization shows the audience the Don’s principles, how he will only help people who respect him for who he is, a mafia boss. He won’t help people who ask a favor as if he was just some hit squad. Just by the way he looks you can already tell Don Vito is powerful. He is regularly seen in a black suite, representing professionalism and importance. Don Vito is also usually backed up by several men as body guards, and travels in expensive cars showing his wealth. These visual signs help establish the fact that Don Vito is the head of the family.
Michael on the other hand, is a civilian. Early in the film, it’s stated that he is a well known war veteran and is not involved in the family business. He is usually scene getting bossed by his older brothers, such as in the scene when he devices a plan to kill Sollozzo and McCluskey; where Sonny chuckles at his involvement with the family business. He is also never seen wearing a suite when he was still a civilian, further establishing he is not part of the family business.
The sudden shift in power is first seen in the hospital scene. Michael, a lowly civilian, is looking down on his inured father. The scene almost gives a foreshadowing of the events to come, how Michael will soon become the Don of the family.
As the story progresses, we see the Don losing his power, until he ultimately resigns and put Michael in charge. In this part of the story, it’s a complete opposite of we were seeing previously. Don Vito is now the one not in a suite, while Michael is. Michael is also the one overseeing operations, and handling what the other men do. When Don Vito finally dies, it’s up to Michael to continue leading the family. Michael’s dynamic character also changes, prior to getting involved he was calm and easy tempered. When he became Don, his attitude quickly switched to an intimidating personality, and short tempered.
The way The Godfather conveyed to the audience the power of Don Vito is established effectively. Just from the opening scene, the audience has a clear interpretation that he is in charge. The film also interestingly shows us how the power shifts from Don Vito to Michael, and also gives us clever visual hints to emphasize it.
It reads like a first draft on an essay without a clear thesis on symbolism.
ReplyDeleteSuppose you are writing a blog post on symbolism. Explain it in an informal way, kinda like a Cracked article. That way, it will be interesting and you won't have to research other original research material.
@Will I wish it were more like a Cracked article. It could use more of a sense of humor--that would make the writing seem more whole and organic, rather than the string of thoughts here. Like the connection to The Lion King, for example--I think there are deeper connections to be made about the Alpha Male concept.
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