The Godfather Morality

Each and every family consists of many different morals and characteristics. Within each family resides members and their own moral guidelines. Their are "golden children", "black sheep", and then their are the people that start as one and transform to the other. In the novel, The Godfather, by Mario Puzo, Michael Corleone exemplifies a transition of drastic polars. Working in a family business could be a tough occupation, especially if it consists of illegal schemes or actions. One may be hesitant to continue their family business if this is the case, and The Godfather truly emphasizes this through Michael Corleone's life. In the beginning of the novel, Michael had no intentions on joining the family business. Michael attended an Ivy League school, was a decorated war hero, and lived a traditional American life. During one of the most telling scenes, the wedding scene, Michael is clearly steering away from the family business when he shows up in his military uniform. By dressing in his military uniform it showed
This brought attention to Michael, realizing he had to fulfill a void. By Vito nearly being killed, Michael began to join the underworld of the Mafia. Later, Tom Hagen and Michael discussed the necessary repercussions that needed to be taken towards Sollozzo and Tattaglias for attempting to assassinate Vito. This is when the switch in Michael occurs. Michael felt the only punishment acceptable would be death, and the poetic justice would be served by Michael. Hagen quickly refuted, "What are you going to do? A nice college boy, eh? Didn't want to get mixed up in the family business? . . . You think this is the army where you shoot'em a mile away? You gotta get up close like this, and BADA BING!!! You blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit." However, Michael did just that. He "made his bones" when he murdered for the family and thus, becoming one of the