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
The narrative shifts backward in time. The night before Don Corleone is shot, Luca Brasi meets with Bruno Tattaglia (the son of the head of the Tattaglia family) in the latter’s nightclub as part of his spy mission for the Don. He discusses “joining” the Tattaglias as the Family’s new enforcer. Sollozzo emerges from the shadows and guarantees Luca millions of dollars if he joins his drug operation. Luca says he will give his answer in a few days, but before he can leave, an assassin wraps a silk cord around his neck, strangling him to death. “It’s important that he not be found right now,” Sollozzo states.
For all of Luca Brasi’s brute strength, and despite his terrifying reputation, his lack of intelligence leads to his swift demise. Sent by Don Corleone on a spy mission, Brasi is unable to recognize that he walked into a trap set by Tattaglia and Sollozzo. By attacking this major source of the Corleone Family’s strength, Sollozzo gains the upper hand in his negotiations with Sonny.
Themes
