Previous
Chapter 4
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Godfather, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Crime and Justice
Power
Masculinity and Patriarchy
Family
Loyalty and Betrayal
Summary
Analysis
Hagen tells the other men that Sollozzo let him go after he convinced the Turk that he could get Sonny and Don Corleone to make a deal on narcotics. When Tom learns that Sonny wants revenge, he warns him that he should make a deal, especially if the Don dies. Without the Don’s political contacts, Hagen states, “the Corleone Family loses half its strength” and risks losing support from the families who will want to avoid a destructive war. Sonny ponders Tom’s advice but emphatically orders Clemenza to kill Paulie Gatto. The men also wonder what has happened to Luca Brasi.
Hagen provides the necessary voice of reason who warns Sonny that negotiation is preferable to revenge because it would be less damaging to the Family business. His temper notwithstanding, Sonny shows restraint by pondering Tom’s advice, but gives into his bloodlust by ordering Paulie’s immediate murder. This suggests that Sonny requires some level of violence to function as a Mafia leader.
Themes
