A Brief Analysis of Vito Corleone’s Character英语专业毕业论文.doc

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1、A Brief Analysis of Vito Corleones CharacterByYe AnranA 2006 Undergraduate of the School of Foreign Languages of Anqing Teachers CollegeSupervised by Associate Prof. Deng LiJune 1, 2006 A Brief Analysis of Vito CorleonesCharacterThesis statement: Vito Corleone is a man with conflicting personality:

2、a ruthless criminal and also a warm, loving father and husband.OutlineI. Introduction:A. Background of the bookB. Brief introduction of the storyII. The factors that affect Vito: A. The factor of societyB. The factor of familyIII. Main characters of VitoA. A skillful leaderB. A powerful manC. A good

3、 family manIV. ConclusionA Brief Analysis of Vito Corleones Character I. IntroductionIn 1972, there was a film directed by Francis Ford Coppola that won 3 Oscars: the best picture, best script, and best actor. Rarely can it be said that one movie can define a genre, but never is that more true than

4、in the case of The Godfather. Since its release gangster movie has been judged by the standards of this one. Maybe its not very fair to say that, but the movie is really an exquisite Mafia classic that constructs a compelling saga from outstanding performance. The famous actor Marlon Brando got his

5、second Oscar by his excellent show of playing as Vito Corleone or the Godfather.Before the film has become famous is the popularity of the book: The Godfather. It was published in 1969, in America, written by Mario Puzo, the son of Italian-born parents. The book was an instant bestseller, which stay

6、ed at the “New York Times” best-sell list for 67 weeks. Mario Puzo set out to write this book at the age of 45, and at first he was supposed to make himself rich by the novel he was to write. To his surprise, the book not only let him realize the financial goal, but also achieved worldwide fame. In

7、1972, the story was adapted for film by Puzo and Coppola. Its obvious that the film was a big success, so was the book.The Godfather shows us a world within a world; it is about an underworld story. The Mafia system has its own laws and its own brutal punishment for transgression of those laws. The

8、characters in the book are enormously colorful, and the plot is melodramatic yet entirely believable. The reader must not forget that the novel is a book about cold treachery. The writer said: “The Godfather is about more than the Mafia; it is about a powerful man who builds a dynasty through crime,

9、 but who wants his son to be a senator or a governor. Its about the very nature of powerI think its a tragedy.”1 The themes of love, crime, family bondage and Old World values are further developed in Puzos book. It is related to the root of Mafia, corruption, violence, obligation, justice and honor

10、. It is also an insightful sociological study of those in America. So it has a deep impact on American society through the original book and its film adaptation. The saying: “Ill give him an offer he cant refuse” has become a clich. Readers, who once read the novel will be impressed by its narration

11、, attracted by its plot and will also feel pitiful for its unwillingness and its desperateness. The Godfather touches everyone who reads it by the authors good description.The Godfather is an epic tale about a mighty Mafia family. It is based on the late 1940s in New York City. The story is about th

12、e Corleones family. The head of the family or the Godfather is Vito Corleone, who is the boss of a vast criminal empire. He was born into a poor family in Sicily, Italy. But he had to immigrate to New York and he has built up the criminal empire by sending his underlings to wound and murder people,

13、but only when it is “necessary”, when his opponents are not “reasonable”. In this way, for behaving honorable with the standards of behavior of Mafia, he has earned the respect of the other five Mafia families in New York City. Vito Corleone has 4 children, 3 sons and 1 daughter. His eldest son, Sat

14、ino, is a violent and impulsive man, without his fathers farsighted genius. His second son is weak. The youngest, Michael doesnt want to take part in his fathers criminal activities. Other Mafia families, sensing the internal conflicts in this family, almost succeeded in assassinating the Godfather.

15、 Then Michael is sucked in to a whirlpool of murder and violence, which eventually disobeys Vito Corleones original thoughts. And Michael finally takes over his business and to be the godfather.In this story, there are nearly 100 characters, 20 of which are dwelt on by Puzo. One of the most importan

16、t characters is the Godfather, Vito Corleone. He is a complex man who has a conflicting personality. He is cruel while kind-hearted, powerful while weak. He is crafty while clever, shrewd while sympathetic. He is a murder, a cold Mafia boss, a diplomat, and a good father. When we finish reading the

17、novel, we will find a dilemma. Our minds tell us this man is a bad man. He is a murder who kills and wounds others. But our hearts tell us he is a good man. He helps others and loves his family. What makes him so different?II. The factors that affect VitoSicily is an island in southern Italy where i

18、s the hometown of Vito Corleone. In the past time, the only law there was revenge -an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. And Mafia was an old organization in this land. This famous crime corporation has law instead of the common law as we called. They can sentence one to death if he violates th

19、eir law. In the book, Puzo said: “in Sicily at the turn of the century (19th century to 20th century) the Mafia was the second government far more powerful than the official one in Rome.” Living in such a place, first people should learn how to protect themselves. Then learn how to live. Unluckily,

20、Vitos father killed the local Mafia chief, and a week later he himself was found murdered. The local Mafia gunmen also wanted sentence Vito Corleone to death for avoiding his avengement when he grows up. In the film, Vito lost all his families in Sicily, and then he immigrated to America with the he

21、lp of his fathers friends. Sicily was so terrible; there, Vito witnessed blood and murder, which made him know how cruel the life was. If he wanted to live better, he should be crueler. Meanwhile, from his fathers death, he learnt that one should be calm, so when he first killed a man called Fanucci

22、, he showed no fears, but was quite and unhurried. He began to own a man who cherishes his own wife and children. He must love his mother, in the film, when she shouted: “Vito! Go! Vito! Go!” he hesitated. But he knew he couldnt give her any favor, instead he might lose his life too. So he ran witho

23、ut fear and finally fled. At that time, Vito Corleone was 12 and he became a real man.The United States is a huge nation, the fourth largest country in the world. Within its borders, there are vast regional differences in climate, geography and historical experience. Each section of the United State

24、s is often thought to have its own customs and attitudes. Within the vast landscape, there are many people in different races; religious, political beliefs and nations from other countries who consider themselves Americans. Almost everyone living in the United States is descended from immigrations.

25、For 300years, immigrants to America shared common experience. The English, Dutch, and French of the 18th century and 19th century, the Italian, Slav, Hungarian and Greek of the 20th century, all had to uproot themselves from Old World homes, break away from familiar folk ways, and adjust themselves

26、to a new environment and new institutions in the New World. Vito Corleone was one of the Italians of the 20th century. He was sent to America not only because of fearing for his own life in Sicily, but also because of the attraction and opening of America-vast land, work for all who was willing to w

27、ork, a higher standard of living for ordinary folk than it was known in Europe, religious freedom, political democracy, social equality, a second chance for the young-these were the guides that drew millions from the old World to the new. But the young Vito Corleone was not exactly one of those youn

28、g men. He was unique. He came to American first for survival and then for living. New York City is a city full of chances while full of crimes. If it can be said that young Vito Corleone behaved himself at first ten years, and he also had his own American dream, then he changed when his life was bro

29、ken by 2 men, Fanucci and Clemenza.When 12-year-old Vito came to America, he was weak and silence. After hiding out for a few years with relatives, Vito went to work in a grocery store whose owner was Mr. Abbandando in New Yorks Hells Kitchen, and he made friends with Genco Abbandando, the son of th

30、e owner, who later became like a brother to Vito. Vito Corleone worked hardly, and married, having a son named Santino in1916. If his life had kept going like this, Vito would have had a peaceful life like other immigrants. But life would not let people in a comfortable way. It is like a ruthless ma

31、n that always makes people difficulty. In the street where Vito Corleone worked , there was a man called Fanucci who related to the underworld ,and he collected protection fee from the shopkeepers to earn his livingAll the people in that street knew him and were afraid of him because of his brutal l

32、ooking and behavior. And it was he that played a very important role in pushing Vito Corleone into and eventually helped him win neighbours respect. Fanucci forced Gencos father, the owner of the grocery to give Vito Corleones job to Fanuccis nephew. Mr. Abbandando had to fire Vito Corleone and felt

33、 sorry. But Vito Corleone forgave him, and told him that he understood that Abbandando had no choice, and that he wouldnt forget how good Abbandando had been to him. As to Fanucci, Vito Corleone kept, silent knowing its no good talking with him. He chose to leave the grocery. But the problem still e

34、xisted. He was kind, and hard working. But the society or the community didnt give him the chance to be a good citizen to realize his own American dream later, Peter Clemenza turned up. He was a person who first led Vito Corleone to crime and finally became the underling of Vito. Vito soon learned t

35、o survive and prosper through petty crime and helping others by performing favors in return for loyalty. He committed his first murder, killing Fanucci. Because this man planned to rob him of the money he had risked his life and freedom to earn. Then, as a young man, he started an olive business wit

36、h his lifelong friend and advisor Genco Abbandando. Over the years he used it both to amass a fortune and as a legal front for his organized crime syndicate, while he oversaw a business found on gambling, bootlegging and murder, he was knows as a kind, generous man who lived by a strict moral code o

37、f loyalty to friends and, above all, family. In the paragraphs above, we can see that its the experience in Sicily and the hard time in New York that made Vito have a conflicting character. III. The main characters of Vito:The oldest Godfathers of American Mafia were mainly born in the late 19th cen

38、tury. They were born into poor families of the peasants in Sicily, and educated little or not. However, they become the famous “Godfather”. Its not because of education, but because of their character. Most of them are brave, calm and crafty. They dont smile often, but with keen observation, they ar

39、e not impulsive but resolute and decisive. Compared to the second generation, these Godfathers are more simple and unadorned for the purchase of material life, they are not extravagant. Whats more, these men think highly of their family and friendship, to their wives and children they love and respe

40、ct, to the happiness and harmony of the family, they value and cherish, to the poor or helpless, they are dignified protector; they are good at making others feel easy yet still respectful. People smile to them with gratefulness, as if they are the Kings who stand for justice and fairness. But, at t

41、he place where the people cannot see, their enemies fall down and die off with scars and holes left by knives and bullets.Vito Corleone was one of these Godfathers, born poor, emigrated from Sicily to America, appeared serious but not brutal, hard to understand but not mysterious. He was so calm tha

42、t he could cover all the rolling waves in the sea. To the people who asked him for help, he was considerate and never put pressure on them, to the enemies, he was crafty and merciless. He is a skillful leader, a brilliant diplomat and an amiable family old man.As the head of a Mafia family, Vito Cor

43、leone is a good leader. To be a chief of such an underworld, one must have some qualities of being a head. He must be able to lead people to make others obedient. He should have a temperate to frighten or terrify others. People are afraid of him, show awe to him and respect him. Vito Corleone achiev

44、es all of those qualities.First, he is a cold but reluctant murderer. In the paragraph above, I mentioned that Vito Corleone killed Funucci. When he did the job on Funucci he was calm. He was not willing to do that, but his deed seemed popular with his neighbors. Slowly Vito realized that his neighb

45、ors viewed him differently now. Everyone treated Vito as a “man of respect” now. When a widow had a problem with her landlord who wanted to kick her out, she surprisingly came to Vito for help. When he spoke to the landlord at the widows request, the landlord was rude and insulted that Vito would ev

46、en step into his personal business. Vito remained polite and as he was leaving said, Do me this service, eh? I wont forget it. Ask your friends in the neighborhood about me, theyll tell you Im a man who believes in showing his gratitude.2 The landlord immediately made inquiries about Vito Corleone.

47、He visited Vito that very night, assuring Vito that it had been a dreadful misunderstanding and he not only let the widow stay, but he reduced her rent. The landlord was so afraid that he stayed out of town for a few weeks. Vito Corleone was reputed to be a member of the Mafia of Sicily. Men who ran

48、 card games gave him money each week for his friendship. Storeowners who had problems would ask Vito for help and paid him well. Vito gave part of his new income to Clemenza and Tessio without being asked. This is how Vito became the Godfather of all Mafia. People began to call him Don Corleone. Whe

49、n Vito spoke, people listened and understood. Vito became known as a man of reasonableness. He never uttered a threat. He always used logic that proved to be irresistible. He always made sure that others got a share of his profit. He always made it seem like a win - win situation for those involved.Second, as a respected leader, Vito Corleone was also a skillful speaker. Vitos speaking style was one of the keys to his s