The Godfather trilogy has an extraordinary appeal to movie audiences. The first Godfather movie narrates the later years of the aging family patriarch, Don Vito Corleone. His son, Michael, succeeds him as head of the Corleone crime family. In the final movie, Don Michael Corleone is constantly frustrated in his attempts to move from organised crime to legitimate business. For the aspiring `wise guy’, there are numerous practical life lessons we can learn. In the words of Don Vito Corleone, I will `make you an offer you can’t refuse’ by exploring the practical wisdom of the Godfather.
Fictional characters as `mentors’ and role models.
Whether they are aware of it or not, viewers mimic the attitudes, values, and behaviours of fictitious characters. Many young guys were drawn to gangster-like figures, I observed in my past work in the criminal justice system. One young Australian man expertly mimicked the accent of Tony Montana from the film “Scarface” with an almost faultless imitation Cuban accent. He was the typical Australian “Larrikin.” He had a provocative sense of humour, was very honest and despised authority. His enormous strengths and magnetic personality had a drawback.
Violence/aggression as a `strategy’.
He was a staunch advocate of using aggression and violence to get things done. It is simple to pass judgement on this young man’s practical outlook on life. Although I don’t support violence, the young larrikin didn’t try to hide his opinions. I admired his honesty. There is something appealing about the raw exercise of power that is attractive (and disturbing). The Don was infamous for promptly enforcing “justice” using brutality and bloodshed to further his goals. In awe of the Don’s strength, it’s easy to “turn a blind eye” to his “the ends justify the means’’ approach to life. It’s like seeing a reflection of our darker selves in a mirror.
What Mafia style fantasies reveal about human needs.
Daydreams and imaginations are excellent sources of knowledge and a terrific way to become more aware of oneself. Imagination can be one way to reclaim our power. There are many situations in life that might make us feel helpless and with no or little control. Bosses that micromanage our work, receiving a ticket from an over-zealous parking inspector or a loud neighbour’s late-night music playing. We may have a sense of powerlessness and disdain in any of these circumstances. As Don, we can “send the boys around to rough up” challenging bosses, the irate parking inspector, and challenging neighbours in our imaginary world.
Self-awareness and re-directing our impulses towards peaceful behaviour.
Self-awareness is crucial while attempting to decipher the meaning of our daydreams. Non-violent communication practitioners think that emotions like anger or irritation point to deeper unmet needs. It is possible to understand the motivations behind these wants and use them for good. By acting, whether it’s having the honest talk with a neighbour or supervisor or strategizing about how to locate a new job, we may make use of the Don’s power and resolve. By being self-aware and bringing our desires to light, we gain the ability to make stronger decisions.
Being conscious of our genuine emotions and wants is the first step to becoming more fully alive. Even when they stem from the “evil side,” those emotions and impulses. We can learn a lot about ourselves by examining our feelings and wants. I’ll discuss the importance of having a “consigliere,” a reliable advisor, or getting smart advice from a wise guy, in my next blog entry.
Foolish Times 