I just finished this book for the second time and have a few other questions/comments.
Although the events and times are quite different one can make an argument that Puzo just created different versions of the same character in Don Vito Corleone/Don Domenico Clericuzio/Don Raymond Aprile.
All three are throughly practical, extremely ruthless men who nonetheless have an odd sense of humor or irony, especially around their children.
But it seems that Puzo made each Don more "evil" in some respects.
Don Vito Corleone hesitates to avenge his son by murdering his son-in-law.
In the same situation, Clericuzio does not waver from the act. He is not only willing to put his daughter's life at risk but says later that Pippi made a mistake by not murdering her.
Don Raymond Aprile can not even conceive of mercy and makes it a point of honor to eliminate the friends and family of his enemies. Even the people who insult him unknowingly place their lives and those of their families in forfeit.
Which one was the worst? Which Don was the most realistic?
Why would Don Clericuzio say such a thing about his daughter?
Would his sons REALLY have killed their sister on Pippi's orders or watched as Pippi did it?
"When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives."
Winter is Coming
Now this is the Law of the Jungle—as old and as true as the sky; And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die.
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back; For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.
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