Lessons from The Godfather

The Godfather is a crime novel written by Mario Puzo and first published in 1969. It is on the basis of this novel that the present article was created. Highlighting this point is important since most people associate The Godfather with the 1972 movie starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. There is nothing wrong with that since the movie is a masterpiece in itself and is widely viewed as a great cinematic classic. However, nothing beats the novel in terms of providing an unfiltered version of the world within which the characters of the story operate. Many details tend to be left out when a novel is transferred to a different medium. This is especially the case if the characters of the story are complex and have personalities that cannot be fully captured by images alone. In terms of complexity, Don Vito Corleone, the protagonist of The Godfather, certainly delivers.

It must be noted that several elements of the novel were inspired by real-life mobsters and mafia organisations. This feature means that the high-intensity drama that flows through The Godfather is not as fantastical as it looks. Consequently, many situations that are described in the book can qualify as life lessons. The three lessons presented below are those which struck me as the most relevant.

1. Age and wisdom are not always linked to each other.

When Tom Hagen, the right-hand man and adopted son of mafia boss Don Vito Corleone, meets Jack Woltz to ask him for a favour on behalf of Don Corleone, he is completely shocked by Woltz's attitude. At this point of the story, Jack Woltz is assumed to be the most powerful man in Hollywood and his intervention is needed to resurrect the acting career of Johnny Fontane, the godson of Don Corleone. Tom Hagen rightfully expected the meeting to be difficult but he was taken aback by the childishness of Jack Woltz. It is understood that Woltz hates Johnny Fontane but the reasons that he puts forward to blacklist the actor are as silly as they are dangerous. Hagen wonders how a man of Woltz's age and stature can fall into such pettiness when the discussion involves the most feared Don of the country. The movie producer seems incapable of seeing the big picture and is instead only preoccupied with his ego and insecurities. Hagen eventually realises that he is wasting his time and proceeds to inform Don Corleone on Jack Woltz's lack of cooperation. The consequences are as swift as they are brutal: Woltz wakes up at night and sees the head of his favourite horse chopped off and staring at him. Key Lesson: Age is not a reliable indicator of maturity and good character. It is safer to focus on an individual's actions and on how he or she handles important issues. These actions will reveal all there is to know.

2. Sentimentality must be banned from high-stake negotiations.

Don Corleone had a deep understanding of the consequences of his actions and knew that the strength of his empire depended as much on what he did as on what he did not do. So when Virgil Sollozzo, an ambitious and ruthless mobster, invites him to participate in the rising drugs trade, Corleone immediately recognises the danger that Sollozo represents. The balance of power among the reigning mobster families of New York is a delicate one and Don Corleone correctly deduces that it is not worth upsetting this balance for the sake of quick profits. The meeting with Sollozzo would have gone exactly according to plan except that another man was present: Sonny Corleone, the eldest son of the Don. A hot-headed young man with big plans for the family business, Sonny does not understand his father's reluctance to take what looks to him as a golden opportunity. He makes the terrible mistake of opening his mouth at the worst possible moment and gives vital information to Sollozzo. Don Corleone is angry but can only blame himself: he knew how rash Sonny could be but still brought him to the meeting because of his affection for his son. The consequences are disastrous. Sollozzo calculates that the best way to get what he wants is to eliminate Don Corleone and force Sonny to agree with his terms. Shortly afterwards, the Don is ambushed and shot five times. He survives the attack but this incident ignites a terrible war between the Corleones and the other mafia families. Sonny Corleone leads the charge but is eventually killed. Had he kept his temper under control, things could have been very different. Key lesson: Mixing family with business is very risky. It can lead to the best and the worst outcomes. Only proceed if you are 100% sure that every member involved is entirely committed to achieving the same result.

3. Unfinished business can finish you.

Shortly after Don Corleone is attacked, Michael Corleone, the youngest son of the mafia boss, consults with his father's associates and comes up with a plan to eliminate Virgil Sollozzo and Mark McCluskey, the corrupt police captain who protects the interests of Sollozzo. This time, there is no mistake. Michael kills both men in a restaurant and quickly leaves the United States for Sicily where he has been instructed to hide for a few years while the Corleone family takes care of business at home. Michael is told that he will eventually return to New York but it is impossible to tell when. Under the protection of local mobsters connected to Don Corleone, Michael adapts to his new life in Sicily. The large distance between New York and Sicily does not, in any way, disconnect him from his past and the affairs of his family but Michael believes that he can overcome that. He decides to marry a Sicilian woman called Apollonia and is determined to build a future with her. Everything goes well for a while, but Don Corleone's enemies eventually learn about Michael's whereabouts. They plant a bomb in his car but the explosion fails to eliminate Michael. It is Apollonia and Michael's unborn child who are killed. Key lesson: Critical matters that have not been dealt with and completely closed can reappear in the most unexpected ways. They can remain invisible for years before causing serious problems.

Conclusion: It is easy to dismiss crime novels as books that are nothing more than the result of fertile imaginations. Many of them are exactly that, but The Godfather's link to a generation of real-life mobsters is what made it an enduring classic. The dialogues and story were created by the writer but the book's spirit is from a criminal underworld that existed not that long ago. This world is one where actions and their consequences must be taken very seriously. All things considered, there are only two ways to assess the wisdom of The Godfather: with casualness or with pragmatism. It is up to you to decide which approach is best.

Good luck,

Ashley Boolell | www.ashleyboolell.com

My latest novel is called Market Dystopia. It is available on Amazon.