Choose a MINOR character from Godfather and explain why s/he got your attention.
For example: why did you like/dislike him/her?
Was it well fleshed out or s/he deserved better treatment by Puzo?
Did it provide a different insight into the unusual dynamics of the family?
Did it provide a different perspective about the psychology of a main character?
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Kay Adams became one of my favorite characters, aside from Michael. When she was first introduced, they describe her as the "American Girl" who was too skinny, too fair with a name that didn't sound nice to the ears?..
ReplyDeleteI think I like Kay simply because of that. Not because I feel bad that Michael's family may not accept but because they're judging her so quick. She's so interested and intrigued to know about his family. Her open mind and eagerness makes me like her as a character. I also find it astonishing how well she takes all the events that start occurring- She may know exactly what's going on but is still so understanding towards Michael and when they'll see each other again. How will she act when he's gone for a whole year though..
Kay represents the innocent that is dragged into danger all because of her love.
I also liked the fact that Kay was open minded and wanted to know more about michale's family.It show's that she is genuinely interested in the family. She didn't really have to ask all those things she wanted to from Micahel but she still did. It made her understand michale's family.
DeleteKay Adams is another solid character from the novel. She is Michael's wife. Kay is the only one who never accepts the Mafia way of life. Kay moves in the opposite direction.In The Godfather, she does not consent to it, but neither does she strenuously object. Instead, she ignores the truth, using her love for Michael as an excuse to avoid seeing the truth that stares her in the face.
DeleteLuca Brasi got my attention because he has a reputation for being violent but fears and loves the godfather. He personally wanted to thank the godfather for the invitation so he made sure he gave the biggest envelope.
ReplyDeleteLuca did have a sort of violent side to him but when he meet the Godfather he seemed a little different then how he usually is. Probably the fact that he loves the godfather so mch and that the godfather is so respected.
DeleteI found it ironic how Don Corleone feared Luca Brasi, and Luca Brasi feared the Don.
DeleteThey were both scared of eachother, which made their relationship that much stronger. Fear has power, and power is respect.
One character that got my attention was Johnny Fontane. The reason being that his character was unique from the rest in my opinion. At first i thought he was a really bad guy for beating up a woman. then he left his wife and kids for another woman. At the same time, he was humble in a way. He came back to his friends and his Godfather.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Johnny Fontane's character as well. I thought he was hard working and grateful for his Godfathers help. I thought he was trying his best to be happy again and continue his career, since things were going down hill. Of course I agree and didn't like the fact that he beat his wife.
DeleteJohnny's character annoyed me, especially when he was adamant that he should get the lead role in the movie.
DeleteHe annoyed me too, all he did is complain about his own misfortunes he caused himself.
DeleteI'm a bit on the fence about Mr.Fontane to be honest. I don't agree with his actions as a father and husband, but I do applaud him in a sense that he has loyalty. I am torn.
DeleteOne character that got my attention is Luca Brasi. Luca Brasi was a feared personal enforcer for Vito Corleone, known as one of the most dangerous men in the eastern underworld. He was able to handle himself in any fight, he had a dark reputation among the underworld as a savage killer. He was the muscle, the bodyguard, the enforcer for the Corleone family. He was very loyal to the Corleone family. He would do anything for Don Corleone. He was a minor character that should of had a somewhat longer role within the story. He is this big, intimidating man with a soft heart.
ReplyDeleteLuca Brasi was an interesting character. He was definitely strong and powerful for the little bit that he was mentioned. He didn't fear anything except for Don who he respected and he was loyal too. It would have been interesting if he did have a larger role in the story.
DeleteI agree, I find him to be an interesting character who makes impressions onto the other characters. I also think you're right it seems like he may have a larger role to play in the story.
DeleteVery good description. It's hard to believe that they were able to kill him. He should have stuck around because he's such an important asset to the Family. He could have stuck around for the "Five Families War" that's coming.
DeleteA minor character that stood out to me was Captain McCluskey. At first he was portrayed as on of those mean strict cops when he was confronting Michael for being in front of the hospital, which I didn't like. But once I read further I learned more about him. He is not much different then anyone else. He is a hard working experienced cop doing his job. He protected his sons and was hard working trying to earn as much money as he could. Just like any working man would do for their family and I respect that about him. The only reason he was disliked was because he was working for Sollozzo. I wouldn't say I gained to like him or think he was the best person but if it wasn't for Sollozzo he was just minding his own business and doing his job. I think his part as a character played out correctly because if it wasn't for Sollozzo he wouldn't of been mentioned or a part of the story.
ReplyDeleteI honestly didn't even think to look at him as an example, I think your right about how he is only mentioned for Sollozzo's sake of the story, mainly because I didn't think twice about his character.
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DeleteGood example for a minor character within the story. I think your opinion is correct when he is only hated cause he works for Sollozzo because if he wasn't he would be a better person.
DeleteA minor character that stood out to me was Hagen; he is a loyal and trusted person inside the Corleone family , yet had never been adopted. My first impressions of who he was as a character was that he is loyal and working to pay back Don for what he had done for him throughout the years of giving him a home. His character made me think differently about Don, I see Don as a powerful man who is generous for a purpose; knowing he helped out Hagen all those years makes me think that maybe theres a different side to him.
ReplyDeleteHagan's loyalty to Don impressed me greatly, and his back story also intrigued me as well.
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DeleteHagan seems a little weak to me. He is involved in the family business but yet doesn't get violent or his hands dirty.
DeleteI feel like Hagen is a guy who loves Don and says he would do anything for him, but when it came time to deliver his promise he wouldn't do it, I almost view his character as one who is sort of a parasite or clinger or a lackey. He is there and around and trusted and loved, but can he deliver when the dirty work is to be done?
DeleteI agree! I think Hagen is an awesome character. He is the perfect person to be Don Corleone's right arm. He is truly loyal and an intelligent man.
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ReplyDeleteA character that really impressed me was Santino “Sonny” Corleone. For me, Sonny reminds me of the overprotective big bother in the family. I really enjoyed his character because he reminds me of his father, Don Corleone. His temper makes people fear and respect him more
ReplyDeleteThe undertaker caught my attention almost instantaneously. He seemed to be a simple man, trying to live the American dream. He never asked Don Corleone for help and always tried staying out of trouble. His character intrigued me because it was quite shocking to see such a humble man turn to such a powerful guy for 'Justice' which involved an 'eye for an eye'. His character also showed that no one was too good, or too bad to seek help from the Don.
ReplyDeleteAfter hearing the verdict "The undertaker" was displease with the judge verdict. He then seek to the godfather for vengeance. I am sure that that this character shows how some of us may react when we have done good and in return we get served with injustice.
DeleteI think his character represents that even when you abide by the rules things do not always go right. He tried using the legal system to resolve his issues but it proved to be unfair. I think his character is showing that even if you live according to the law sometime you need some outside help to get justice.
DeleteThe thing about the undertaker's role in the novel that struck me the most was when Don initially hesitated to help him out and instead went after him by questioning his loyalty. In the previous situations, he had treated the other men differently and I thought that was very interesting.
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ReplyDeleteA minor character of my choice is Don Vito Corleone daughter, Connie it seemed to me that her character is not given as much importance, as the males have throughout this chapter. Since her father arranged who she was going to marry gives an impressions that she had no saying in anything.
ReplyDeleteI agree that she's not talked about nearly as much as most of the male characters. But I don't think her father arranged the marriage to Carlo. In fact, the Don doesn't really like Carlo and won't allow him any part in the family business.
DeleteI agree. I didn't really understand her personality or her role. The author didn't mention any details about her.
DeleteLuca Brasi is a force to be reckoned with. He fears no one except the Don, and the Don fears no one but him! Puzo created a very scary character in Luca, a fitting enforcer for the Corleone family. It's just that if he's so unstoppable and so deadly, I find it hard to believe that Sollozzo could have killed him as easily as he did.
ReplyDeleteI think that if he was the tough character that i imagine it to be he would always be on guard. He must of had a lot of enemies so I agree it hard to believe Sollozzo killed him so easily.
DeleteI was going to chose Brasi for the same reason! I was very shocked that he was killed off so easily. But it was also noble of him to take a a risky position for The Don...if it was up to me I would not send my most valuable man to the other side and risk his life.
DeleteJohnny Fontane’s wife stood out to me. She was the first characters in the book that I disliked. I think her personality is one sided as a sadistic promiscuous American. I think the insight that she brought to the family was about Johnny Fontane’s weakness. I think her character was also meant to show that Italian woman make better wives. When Johnny told Don Corleone about her he was angry and suggested that he was weak for allowing this woman to hold such an importance in his life and that it was no wonder that she laughed at him. This gave a better insight to Don Corleone because you can see his ideas that woman are inferior to men and real problems.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I had a different reaction about her, i thought that she loved Johnny and she was a strong women who wanted to protect her family.
DeleteThe character that stood out to me was the Don's wife. I didn't really understand her personality, if she really loved the Don and was upset about him being shot or not, if she supports his work or if she was against it. The author didn't talk about her that much or even mentioned her name, he didn't talk about her role in the family and how she treated her children ,he only mentioned her when Sonny told her that the Don was in the hospital and got shot and even her reaction was a little cold she went to the room to get ready to visit him she didn't cry or scream for example. I think if the author mentioned more details about her and how she treated the don and her children it would also help us understand the Don and his children personalities more.
ReplyDeleteI agree - I also found the author's characterization of his wife to be very interesting.
DeleteKay Adams is definitely my favorite character so far. When the reader is first introduced to her in the novel during the wedding reception, she is painted as an outsider who is quite passive and does not entirely approve of the family's business. Her curiosity in this scene is what initially made me interested in her; she carefully observes Michael's friends and family members and inquires about them and shows a genuine interest in getting to know them. My initial impression of her was very positive and she seemed to be very gentle and warm, which was the exact opposite of the feeling I got from Sonny, for example.
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time in trusting Kay Adams because she tends to ignore the violence around her. I feel like she's playing "dumb".
DeleteI feel like Kay Adams is also likable, I do find it off putting that she is described as unimpressive and plain. In all reality she seems strong and lively, but understandably not the ideal Italian woman.
DeleteI don't really like Kay and I don't understand how she doesn't understand what Michael tells her or why she ignores it I guess. I also don't understand why Michael stays with her if he knows she doesn't fit in with his family.
DeleteI must comment on the mother with the dragon eyes. Her role may have been overwhelmingly small but she speaks loudly for what I think is an enormous part of the show business population. This woman who forces her child to partake in immoral actions, to gain fame/fortune is an example of the corruption. It is also impressive that Hagen foresaw her evil treacherous ways. It is small characters like this that can define, and justify certain actions...like The Dons decision to threaten Woltz' life. If it were not for the young girl and her mother maybe The Don would not have found such disgust with Woltz.
ReplyDeleteMichael grabbed my attention most, because I felt as if he were the only one of the family with a serene idea of how to live life in a good way and at the same time be apart of his family, to me Michael is a character who has no choice but to be apart of his family, even though he doesn't act like the rest of them. Fore instance, One scene that caught my attention was when Michael said: "You lousy bastard, he’s my father. I’m not supposed to help
ReplyDeletehim? I can help. I don’t have to go out and kill people but I can help”.
Reading that told me immediatley about the kind of person Michael was in comparison to his family. Michael like a good kid, would do anything to help his family, anything to keep them safe and keep a good name for them, but he wouldn't kill or commit crimes in that nature. It speaks volumes to the person that he is portrayed to be, he is a family man per say, but at the same time, he has morals, and its an ethical guy, he will do anything to help his family, but he wont cross certain bridges to do so. It really makes him one of the stronger characters to me.
He seemed like the only REAL man in the line of brothers. I too found him to be an interesting character.
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ReplyDeleteSonny got my attention towards the scene where Sollozo is trying to negotiate with Don Corleone. He opens his big mouth and because of that Sollozo takes advantage of his outburst and tries to reason with him rather than his father. Which leads to the attempted assassination of Don Corleone. Sonny has some interest in the drug industry because of the profits, however he is not fully thinking things through. I dislike Sonny mainly because he's always trying to act like the bigger person but deep down inside he hasn't fully matured. He is still a child who is not yet ready to take the Mafia business seriously. It made me curious why Don Corleone would take him into the meeting knowing that Sonny has a short temper. Sonny is the type of guy who would shoot first and then ask questions later.
ReplyDeleteI agree Sonny doesn't really belong in this lifestyle because it seems like he can't handle it, he isn't mature enough.
DeleteSonny caught my attention because he tries to act as if he is in charge and half the time he is the one to mess things up. He has a big mouth and acts as if he is a know it all but in reality he is ignorant and just really annoying.
ReplyDeleteI truly dislike Sonny. I agree with you, he has a big mouth and he is constantly making hasty decisions. He is nothing like his father.
DeleteKay Adams, Michael Corleone's girlfriend, is an interesting character. I believe that she is smarter than people realize. She loves Michael so much that she doesn't care about what kind of people his family members are. I think that she is intrigued by Michael's family and enjoys finding out new information about them. I am curious to find out what will happen with this character, especially with Michael now hiding in Sicily.
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