Give him a break. He works all day and, as far as we know, he had one night out during the entire film.

Then what is he doing running to Italian shows with Genco, and leaving his wife home alone with his son in that dumpy Ralph Kramden apartment?

He was setting us up for one of the very best scenes in the Trilogy: that splendid little Neapolitan soap opera, plus introduction of Fanucci, who in his own way set Vito on his destined path.

Now that I think of it, were there any females in the audience?

"To you, she's beautiful. For me, there's only my wife and son."

In that very scene, Vito was very clear to Genco about what his blood family meant to him.

Well, she got a pear. He didn't get a pear.

Actually, for that era, it was quite common for the men to go out together and leave their wives and children at home. I remember my mom telling me that.

Now, you mean to say that it's not common now?

Of course, in the novel Vito answers Connie's question about whether he ever beat her mother. Vito did not answer "Perish the thought." Instead, he answered "She never gave me reason to." Quite revealing, don't you think? In other words, he was prepared to engage in spousal abuse if he determined that he had a good reason. So much for depth of character.

Of course, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Then what is he doing running to Italian shows with Genco, and leaving his wife home alone with his son in that dumpy Ralph Kramden apartment?

Seriously though, when you really think about it, in a strange and twisted way, Vito actually was a good husband and family man.

It was his wanting to be a good husband and family man that made him make some of the decisions that he made. After the Fanucci debacle in Genco's grocery store, that caused Vito to lose his job, it was then that I believe that he decided that he would do whatever was neccessary to provide for his wife and his family. It was then that he realized in order to be a good husband to his wife and a good father to his children, he would do whatever it took not to have happen to them what happened to his mother and family.

I believe that deep down, Vito really was thinking of his wife and family when he came to the realization that Fanucci had to go.

Hey he could have gotten another legitimate job instead of stealing womens dresses.