The Godfather’s Vows
1. A man that doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.
2. We don’t discuss business at the table.
3. Women and children can afford to be careless but not men.
4. Don’t ever take sides with someone against the family. Ever.
5. Don’t apologize for taking care of your family.
6. Never tell anyone outside the family what you’re thinking.
One of the aspects I found most interesting about the Godfather is marriage because it was used on numerous occasions to romanticize Coppola's broader themes of family, religion, and Italian-American culture. Throughout the film, Don Vito Corleone gives his sons advice on how to be a man. You may call them rules, or words of wisdom, or whatever you like, but to me they are vows. This became clear during the baptism scene, where Michael is ascending to his new role as Godfather and must repeatedly affirm to the priest, "I Do." Despite there being several other weddings that take place in the film, this is the only time we hear a character take a vow, and I don't think that is a coincidence. Thus marriage is more than just a connection of characters; it is a symbolic connection of the greater themes of the film.
"A man that doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man."
The first wedding takes place at the beginning of the film, when Corleone's daughter marries a famous singer/actor. This wedding is used to introduce the audience to the Godfather, who rather than enjoying his daughter's special day, is confined to his office conducting business. The fact that he is unable to be completely present in one event or the other shows how the business and family are completely intertwined, or "married."
"Women and children can afford to be careless but not men."
The second wedding takes place in Sicily, when Michael marries Apollonia. Saddly, this marriage does not last long, when a car bomb explodes and kills Apollonia. This also shows the connection between business and family. Ironically, in the same way the family is protected by the mafia, they are also in extreme danger just by association. Family is both a gangster's greatest strength and greatest weakness, and this is the lesson Michael learns. The death of his wife is a key turning point in Michael's transition to becoming the Godfather.
"Never tell anyone outside the family what you’re thinking."
A year after returning to America, Michael goes back to Kay, the non-Italian woman he was previously dating, who agrees to marry him in spite of his new role in the family. Their relationship represents the unity of Italian and American culture, specifically the traditional family role in contrast with WASP individualism and success ethic. Kay develops a dual identity as she remains both an outsider to the culture and business, but by marrying Michael, becomes an insider to the family. This also explains Michael's identity conflict between his Italian roots and his American freedom. Ultimately of course, his cultural roots win, as we see in the baptism - the real wedding - where Michael takes his vows, says "I do," and officially accepts his role as the Godfather.
"A man that doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man."
The first wedding takes place at the beginning of the film, when Corleone's daughter marries a famous singer/actor. This wedding is used to introduce the audience to the Godfather, who rather than enjoying his daughter's special day, is confined to his office conducting business. The fact that he is unable to be completely present in one event or the other shows how the business and family are completely intertwined, or "married."
"Women and children can afford to be careless but not men."
The second wedding takes place in Sicily, when Michael marries Apollonia. Saddly, this marriage does not last long, when a car bomb explodes and kills Apollonia. This also shows the connection between business and family. Ironically, in the same way the family is protected by the mafia, they are also in extreme danger just by association. Family is both a gangster's greatest strength and greatest weakness, and this is the lesson Michael learns. The death of his wife is a key turning point in Michael's transition to becoming the Godfather.
"Never tell anyone outside the family what you’re thinking."
A year after returning to America, Michael goes back to Kay, the non-Italian woman he was previously dating, who agrees to marry him in spite of his new role in the family. Their relationship represents the unity of Italian and American culture, specifically the traditional family role in contrast with WASP individualism and success ethic. Kay develops a dual identity as she remains both an outsider to the culture and business, but by marrying Michael, becomes an insider to the family. This also explains Michael's identity conflict between his Italian roots and his American freedom. Ultimately of course, his cultural roots win, as we see in the baptism - the real wedding - where Michael takes his vows, says "I do," and officially accepts his role as the Godfather.
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