Aim How is Michael Corleone a Machiavellian villain

Aim: How is Michael Corleone a Machiavellian villain?

Michael’s Progression Respected Vet Killing Sollozzo Italian Influence Fredo’s Betrayal Fredo’s Death Lonely Don

Godfather II (1974) • Typically, the villain is someone who acts as an evil foil to the hero’s personality? However, the Godfather does not follow the Hero’s Journey? Nevertheless, to whom is Michael Corleone a foil? • The Godfather films can essentially be seen as depicting the origin story of a villain – Michael Corleone.

Michael’s Demise • “The film has one of the most effective final images ever produced. The flashback ends and the image returns to Michael's face. Middleaged, prematurely old Michael, now a ruthless, soul-less, power-mad and paranoid gangster in the year 1959, sits quietly and introspectively on a Tahoe estate lawn chair as the cold winter approaches. He is once again alone and fully damned, with all family loyalties dissolved. He is wearing his wedding ring, although he has separated himself for his WASP-ish, estranged wife Kay. In the disintegrated aftermath, the Machiavellian figure is isolated from everyone and emptied, with dark, brooding, hollow eyes. His own worst enemy, he has either murdered or alienated himself from those closest to him, including his brother Fredo and faithful consigliere Tom Hagen. The camera slowly zooms in for a closeup before fading to black and the film's credits. ” – www. filmsite. org

The villain… 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Is a wounded individual. (physical or mental) Is an evildoer in the extreme. does what we can never imagine ourselves doing. Is a social misfit. Is rich. Has a contempt for society, but especially for the “little guy. ” 7. Has no conscience and no limit to what they will wreak. 8. Final evil more seductive than good. 9. Falls on his sword in some way. 10. Ends up losing.

Machiavellian – the ends justify the means • belief that public and private morality had to be understood as two different things in order to rule well • a ruler must be concerned not only with reputation, but also must be positively willing to act immorally at the right times • emphasizes the occasional need for thel use of brute force or deceit including extermination of entire noble families to head off any chance of a challenge to the authority. • Sound like someone we have watched?

Still not convinced? Think back to Vita Corleone. Yes, this is the man who started the family business. However, consider how Michael has taken things too far. Would his father have approved of the way Michael did business? Would he have respected the type of man Michael became?