Some on these boards believe Michael is a tragic figure. Yes, there’s a ton of tragedy in his life—all self-inflicted.
Absolutely correct. To me Michael is likened to Shakespeare's character McBeth. Not exactly like him, but yet very similar in the sense that he was a highly intelligent man, and at the same time a self destructive man.
First: He was right to think Sollozzo would try to kill his father after the failed hospital attempt. He was wrong to believe that only he could save his father, by killing Sollozzo and McCluskey. ...... The Corleones could have fed the newspapermen on their payroll the story about McCluskey being a dishonest cop mixed up in drugs and murder before, not after, the trigger was pulled........
Difficult, but not impossible. Maybe that strategy could have worked. However it could have also backfired. It is my opinion that if they chose not to kill Sollozo, then it would have still left some kind of an opening for Sollozo to kill, or have Vito killed, in some other manner.
Second: He could have resumed the legitimate life after returning from Sicily. He could have said to Vito: “Pop, I was wrong to distance myself from you. But I atoned: I saved your life. And I paid a heavy price: two murders, abandoned my beloved fiancée, lost months out of my life in Sicily, lost my beloved bride to a bomb intended........
You are right. Upon his return from Italy there was still that window of opportunity for Michael to refuse to continue in the life. But at that point, after his handling a possible confrontation with the hitmen outside the hospital, followed by his confrontation with McClusky, his killing Sollozo and McClusky, and then the murder of his brother and his wife, he had grown into a hardened man who was now seeking vengence. And I believe that it gave him self gratification knowing that he was capable of committing murder in cold blood and not having any guilt about it. I believe that he "got himself off" from that feeling of being able to kill. Having this lust to avenge the murder of Appolonia and Sonny combined with his ability to commit murder is what became the driving force in him. It became an ego trip, a power trip. A "yeah, I can really do this" feeling.
Third: After moving to Tahoe, Michael could have retired behind the walls of his compound and invested his wealth legitimately—even putting money up-front in the legal casinos of Nevada.
Instead, he chose to hide his ownership or controlling interest in three hotels; muscle Klingman out of his interest in a fourth hotel; dominate the New York mob scene
The key word being "controlling." He had now reached a point that he had become so consumed with achieving more power. Almost obessessed with wanting to control everyone and every situation that he could.
Fourth: he was “legitimate” in GFIII—but was he? He whines, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” But he was never out. He either was still a member of the Commission or influential enough to keep Zasa from rising (so Vincent tells us). He laundered his Mob cronies’ money through his “legitimate” businesses (maybe through his foundations) and cut Zasa out of his share. Result: the machinegun attack in Atlantic City that.......
At this point Michael is trying to convince himself that he has become legitimate. The Papl honors ceremony, his dealing with the Vatican and Immobiliare. It was a facade that he put on that really only was done for his own satisfaction. Done to justify to himself that the the all powerful and mighty Michael had finally brought the family into legitimacy. A way to find self redemption for all the terrible things that he did in his life. The terrible hurt that he caused to those around him that loved him. But deep down Michael really knew that no matter how many legitimate business deals he made, or how many honors that he recieved, or how many dollars he raised for the foundation, he was not really out. Could never really be out. Deep down he knew that in his own lust for control and power, in his journey to feed his own ego, he did not and could not ever truely bring the family to being completely legitimate. He knew, inside himself, that this was the business
HE had chosen.
Don Cardi
