... Vito never would have done anything to cause his brother to resent him. He would have known better how to manage him, to make him feel loved and included, part of the Family and the family.
Actually, by naming Michael his successor over Fredo while still alive, which of course was the right thing to do (That's the way pop wanted it...), Vito DID initiate and plant the seed of Fredo's resentment toward Michael. The
least of Vito's concerns would've been that Fredo should one day be Don.
All he probably would've asked was that Fredo be 'taken care of', included in as much as he could possibly handle. Which was exactly what Michael did. Whether it was meeting people at the airport or running some Mickey Mouse joint, Fredo was given work to do within the Family and most likely on a payroll & provided very well for by his brother. Someone as 'simple' as this should've been very grateful and happy with what he had.
After Vito's death, Michael had a powerful Mafia Family to run. Not being the same man as his father, he did all he could in terms of handling Fredo. The idea of 'spending more time with his brother' throughout all this is frankly, absurd. Nothing Michael did warranted the resentment and selfish betrayal to the extent Fredo acted.
No matter how you slice it...Fredo deserved what he got. You can certainly feel sorry for him as a stupid human being who got
taken advantage of and was in WAY over his head...but after all is said & done he had to go.
Apple
