The Godfather Flashcards
Who is Vito Corleone?
Mafia boss from Corleone, Sicily, who establishes a criminal empire in America.
What motivates Vito Corleone?
A desire for wealth and respectability, and to protect his family.
How does Michael embody Machiavellian philosophy?
By using cunning and deceit to gain power, disregarding morality.
What is Michael Corleone’s initial stance on family crime?
He distances himself, seeking assimilation into American culture.
What leads to Michael’s downfall?
His obsession with power and the resulting immoral choices that destroy his family.
What event triggers Michael’s entry into the family business?
The attempted assassination of his father, Vito.
What is “enracinement” according to Simone Weil?
The need to feel rooted in a community for individual fulfillment.
What is the puppet metaphor in The Godfather?
It represents power and control, either pulling the strings or being manipulated.
How does Saint Augustine’s view of redemption apply to Michael?
Michael struggles to find redemption due to his inability to sincerely repent.
What is the significance of the baptism scene?
It contrasts Michael’s religious facade with the violent actions he orders.
What does Michael say about his crimes?
He justifies them as necessary to protect his family, not as voluntary evil.
What ultimately happens to Michael’s family?
His actions lead to the death of his brother Fredo and his daughter Mary.
How does Michael feel at the end of his life?
He is burdened by guilt and seeks redemption, ultimately dying alone.
What does the phrase “the end justifies the means” signify in Michael’s context?
Michael’s willingness to do anything, regardless of morality, to achieve his goals.
What lesson does Michael’s story convey?
Power pursued without moral limits leads to self-destruction and loss.
