In a different argument Tony says to Carmela "You equate love with money." Then Carmela responds, "No, you equate love with money!" This issue is brought up again in the Whitecaps episode when Tony mentions how Carmela would have never been happy without a wealthy husband and nice home. I think they both equate love with money, but Carmela in particular. I actually think this is one of her worst qualities. A few examples of her greed....
1) Tony buys her a new Porsche. Carmela is excited but says, "I still wish you had talked to that building inspector." As if she can't just say thanks for the new Porsche without complaining about more.
2) When Tony wants to move back in after they were separated. As part of the deal, Carmela basically requires that Tony buy her a property for her to build a spec house on. This was pretty awful. If you get back together, do it because you love each other, not so you can build a house and have a project.
3) Carmela's therapist tells her to leave Tony and get a divorce. Carmela goes home and tells Tony to donate $50,000 to Meadow's school and says "You have to do something nice for me today Tony." Even though Tony doesn't know what she means, she is contemplating divorcing Tony unless he ponies up 50k.
4) Tony buys Carmela something nice (the fur jacket I believe). Carmela tells Tony, "I love you Tony. I should tell you that more often." Tony responds, "Nobody's stopping you." She only thinks of saying this after Tony buys her an expensive gift.
I always thought one of the most telling scenes was the therapist who said to Carmella that he wouldn't accept payment from her because it was "blood money." He also said that she could never again claim "that she hadn't been told" of what she was doing.
Carmella had a penchant for turning a blind eye when things suited her, yet taking shots at Tony when she wanted to take a moral stand. She was a hypocrite, much like Tony, but in a different way.
Even Meadow saw through Carmella's superficiality on more than one occasion. In one moment of candor, Carmella confessed to knowing what she was getting into when she married Tony. She wanted the money and the gifts that came from the illegal income, but she vehemently protested the other women.
When Tony & Carm were separated, I thought AJ's teacher really put Carm in her place when he boldly stated that the only thing she had to offer was between her legs. Harsh, but probably true.
