Why Michael Corleone’s Quest for Legitimacy Might Shock You

In the movie “The Godfather,” Michael Corleone’s determined efforts to transform the Corleone family from a criminal empire into a legitimate one might seem surprising, but upon closer inspection, his motivations run deeper than they initially appear. Despite being considered one of the greatest gangster films ever made, “The Godfather” stands out from other mafia stories because it shows Michael moving away from a life of crime, rather than succumbing to it further. Throughout all three parts of the “Godfather” series, Michael strives tirelessly to convert the Corleone family’s illicit activities into a legitimate business.

In numerous aspects, this trip or journey is what truly molds Al Pacino’s character more than any other factor. The memorable scene in “The Godfather Part III” where an angry Michael exclaims, “I thought I was out, but they dragged me back in,” encapsulates the don’s resentment towards being trapped within the mafia world that his family once dominated. At first glance, it might appear that “The Godfather” provides insight into Michael’s reasons for steering the Corleones towards legitimacy; however, a closer look uncovers complex layers in his personality that are not immediately apparent.

Turning The Corleone Empire Legitimate Is Michael’s Way Of Proving He Isn’t Like The Rest Of His Family

This Is How Michael Corleone Lived With His Actions For So Long

In the movie The Godfather, there comes a point where Michael Corleone breaks with tradition by letting his wife, Kay played by Diane Keaton, inquire about his line of work. It is during this conversation that Michael reveals his ambition to transform the Corleone family into a legitimate entity within five years. The films The Godfather Part II and Part III then depict Michael’s efforts (either successful or unsuccessful) in achieving this goal. Upon watching this scene, it seems plausible that Michael is striving for legitimacy to protect Kay from the dangerous world of crime and violence. Throughout the trilogy, Michael makes a conscious effort to keep his wife safe from such an environment.

To put it simply, Michael Corleone’s pursuit of professional respect isn’t primarily influenced by how Kay perceives him, but rather by how he sees himself. This notion is strongly emphasized in the iconic wedding scene from “The Godfather.” When speaking to Kay again, Michael famously says, “That’s my family, Kay, it’s not me,” which might seem like him trying to comfort his girlfriend about his actions as a mob boss. However, on a deeper level, Michael is yet again reassuring himself.

In a different phrasing: The movie “The Godfather” shows us how Michael Corleone initially distanced himself from his family, focusing on education, military service, and business or political pursuits. From a young age, Michael seemed to yearn for separation, both physically and morally, from his kin. It’s clear during the wedding scene that Michael perceives himself as an upstanding person, while viewing his family as criminal elements.

Transitioning to the restaurant scene in “The Godfather” – the instant Michael fully morphs into the future Don – his hesitation is evident. Clemenza orders Michael to storm out of the bathroom, but he instead slinks away, indicating that even at the last second, a part of Pacino’s character resists taking the irreversible stride towards becoming like the other Corleones. Michael’s pursuit of legitimacy in “The Godfather” represents his attempt to rationalize his actions and maintain a shred of the notion that “that’s my family, it’s not me” remains valid.

To demonstrate this point, simply look at Michael’s behaviors in “The Godfather Part II” and the interval before “Part III.” In Coppola’s sequel, Kay and the children depart from Michael. If Michael truly wanted to make the Corleone family legitimate for her sake, he would have abandoned his mission as soon as their marriage disintegrated, recognizing that even keeping a promise made years ago wouldn’t reconcile with his wife. However, Michael persisted in steering the Corleone ship towards the island of professional respectability. He made this choice on his own, not Kay’s, since it was only in the latter half of “The Godfather Part III” that Michael finally admitted to his wrongdoings.

Going Legitimate Was Vito’s Vision For The Corleone Family

The Original Idea Was Not Michael’s

It’s my belief that Michael was driven primarily by guilt over his own actions, which led him to strive for a legitimate empire for the Corleone family. However, it’s important to note that there are additional factors at play. For instance, Michael was essentially carrying on the plan his father had begun, hinted at in The Godfather and even suggested explicitly, if not directly stated, that Vito intended for the family to gradually distance itself from criminal activities.

In the story of The Godfather, a crucial event revolves around Vito choosing to abstain from drug trafficking and instead focusing on building political ties and legitimate businesses. This decision underscores Vito’s initial reluctance towards illegal activities that could yield significant profit, and Michael reinforces this aspect later in the movie.

In conversation with Kay, Michael, the future Godfather, expresses, “The old way of handling things is no more. It’s done. Even my father acknowledges this.” This statement suggests that Michael has been preparing for a time when the Corleone family would step out of obscurity, and by carrying on in this manner, Michael is honoring his father’s legacy.

The Corleone Family Made Way More Money As A Legitimate Enterprise

Crime Did Pay, But Not As Much As The Legal Stuff

Following Vito’s departure, Michael diligently builds up the Corleone family, and his influence and riches skyrocket with each new installment of the Godfather series. Transitioning into legitimate businesses significantly contributes to this growth. The amounts of money Michael negotiates with the Vatican in The Godfather Part III dwarf the transactions his family handles in the initial film, which seem insignificant in comparison. This level of prosperity is only attainable because Michael shifts the family’s resources into positions of authority and respectability. It’s challenging to envision Vatican officials engaging in deals similar to those conducted by Virgil Sollozzo in the original movie, within Vito’s office.

It’s plausible that Vito comprehends legitimacy as the path ahead, and he instills this mindset in Michael. The original Godfather’s aspirations surpass the limitations of the mafia structure. He aims to manipulate the threads of power sustaining not just the United States, but far beyond. Over time, Vito’s criminal counterparts and the Five Families led by The Godfather crumble, either in the first film or definitely by the third. Vito demonstrates an uncanny ability to read the signs of change before anyone else among his peers.

Regardless, his decision to go legitimate doesn’t diminish the fact that Michael relies on this intention as an emotional prop. It gives him a sense of moral superiority – a barrier separating him from alleged criminals like his father, Sonny, and Barzini. This is why Michael grapples so intensely with the consequences of his actions when he confesses in “The Godfather Part III“. Prior to this revelation, a tiny piece of Michael still clings to the words he said at the start of “The Godfather“: “my family, it’s not me“.

2025-04-20 20:41