When I Get Lonely and Bored
I have a strong passion for The Godfather I and The Godfather II. Recently, I've been listening to the new audiobook "The Godfather: A Film We Can't Refuse." One of the recurring themes discussed in the audiobook is family loyalty, a theme that is also heavily emphasized in Mario Puzo's original novel. However, I've always found it contradictory that Michael, despite the emphasis on family loyalty, ends up killing his brother Fredo. So I decided to seek some therapy from Eliza, I mean ChatGPT. If I begin posting more blogs like these, please help me and pull me out of the abyss.
First Question:
Why did Michael kill Freddy in Godfather 2?
In The Godfather Part II, Michael Corleone orders the killing of his brother Fredo because of Fredo's betrayal, which endangers both the family and Michael's safety. The decision is deeply rooted in the themes of loyalty, family, and power throughout the Godfather saga.
Here are the main reasons why Michael has Fredo killed:
1. Fredo's Betrayal
Out of resentment and a desire to be more respected within the family, Fredo secretly collaborates with Michael's rival, Hyman Roth, and the corrupt mobster Johnny Ola. Although Fredo insists that he "didn't know it was going to be a hit," he still gives information that allows Roth to make an assassination attempt on Michael at his home. This betrayal is unforgivable in the world of the Corleones, where loyalty is the highest virtue.
The Assassination Attempt: Fredo's actions indirectly lead to an attack on Michael's life, putting not only him but his entire family at risk. This betrayal crosses a line for Michael, who feels he can no longer trust Fredo.
Fredo’s Weakness: Fredo's motivations are driven by feelings of inferiority and jealousy toward Michael, but these feelings lead him to betray the family, which Michael cannot overlook.
2. The Code of Power and Loyalty
Michael lives by a strict code where betrayal, especially within the family, is considered the ultimate sin. Fredo’s actions not only undermine Michael’s leadership but also show a lack of loyalty that, in Michael's eyes, threatens the very survival of the Corleone empire. In the mafia world, any sign of weakness, especially betrayal from a close family member, can open the door for further attacks or rivalries.
Michael’s Promise to Their Mother: Michael holds off on killing Fredo as long as their mother is alive. However, once their mother dies, the last emotional tie preventing Michael from acting is gone.
3. Michael’s Ruthlessness
Michael’s character throughout the Godfather series becomes increasingly cold and ruthless, even toward those closest to him. Though he hesitates, showing moments of inner conflict about killing his own brother, in the end, Michael’s need to protect his power and eliminate any potential threat overrides his personal feelings.
"I know it was you, Fredo.": This iconic line signifies Michael's realization of Fredo's betrayal. Despite the pain of this revelation, Michael’s decision is made: Fredo’s betrayal must be punished.
Michael’s Transformation: By the end of The Godfather Part II, Michael is shown as a man consumed by power, willing to sacrifice even his own family to maintain control. This decision reflects his complete descent into a darker, more isolated existence.
4. Symbolism of Fredo's Death
Fredo's murder is symbolic of Michael’s transformation from the more reluctant, morally conflicted leader he was in the first film to someone fully embracing the dark, ruthless role of a mafia don. It also highlights the tragedy of Michael's life: in securing the Corleone family's power, he loses the essence of what family means, becoming increasingly isolated and cut off from the very thing he once sought to protect.
In the end, Fredo’s betrayal and subsequent death serve as a powerful illustration of the corrupting influence of power and the tragic consequences of betrayal, even within one’s own family. Michael's choice shows how far he's willing to go to maintain control, and it ultimately leaves him more alone than ever.
Follow Up Question:
Does this imply loyalty is more significant than family?
In The Godfather series, particularly in The Godfather Part II, loyalty and family are closely intertwined, but loyalty is often portrayed as more significant than the bonds of blood when it comes to preserving power, control, and the survival of the family empire. This dynamic becomes most apparent in Michael Corleone's decision to kill his brother Fredo. Here’s how the film grapples with this question:
1. The Mafia Code of Loyalty
In the world of the Corleones, loyalty is the bedrock of power and trust. Loyalty to the family’s business and its leader is paramount, and betrayal, even by a blood relative, threatens the entire structure of their criminal empire. Michael sees Fredo’s betrayal not simply as a personal affront but as an existential threat to his control and the safety of the family as a whole.
In this context, loyalty to the family’s interests and survival comes before family ties. For Michael, Fredo’s act of giving information to a rival, which almost results in Michael’s assassination, makes Fredo’s presence a liability, regardless of their blood relationship.
2. The Complex Nature of Family in the Mafia
While The Godfather presents the Corleones as a family in both a biological and business sense, these two aspects are often in conflict. The mafia family relies on blood ties for its strength, but the preservation of that "family" often demands ruthless decisions. In the case of Fredo, his lack of loyalty to Michael and the family’s interests places him outside of the family’s protection.
The killing of Fredo demonstrates that, within the mafia world, family ties are conditional—they are secondary to the loyalty required to maintain the power structure.
3. Michael’s Perspective on Family and Loyalty
Michael initially wants to protect his family, but as he becomes more consumed by power, his vision of "family" shifts. He begins to prioritize the survival and strength of the Corleone empire above the emotional or traditional bonds of family. Fredo’s betrayal cuts deep, but from Michael’s perspective, loyalty to the family’s power is more important than any sentimental attachment to his brother.
This is reflected in Michael’s statement, “Don't ever take sides against the family,” which indicates that in his mind, the true betrayal isn’t a violation of familial love but a violation of the family's business interests. Once someone—family or not—chooses to act against the family's interests, they are no longer part of it.
4. Tragedy of Prioritizing Loyalty Over Family
Michael’s decision to kill Fredo reveals the tragic side of prioritizing loyalty over family. While Michael upholds the mafia’s code, he loses his deeper connections, becoming isolated. He sacrifices his brother, his marriage (with Kay), and eventually his relationship with his children. The irony is that, in his attempt to strengthen the family by upholding loyalty, he ends up destroying the family in a more fundamental, emotional sense.
5. Loyalty and Survival in the Mafia
In the world of The Godfather, loyalty is more significant than family because it ensures survival. The Corleone family can’t afford any weak links, and a betrayal from within is seen as the greatest threat. Michael believes that protecting the family’s business interests and maintaining loyalty among its members is the only way to secure their power and future.
Ultimately, in the Corleone world, loyalty is the glue that holds the "family" together, and without it, the entire structure collapses, even if that means eliminating a blood relative to preserve that loyalty.
Conclusion
While The Godfather is about family, it presents a world where loyalty to the family's power, business, and survival trumps the emotional or biological bonds of family. Michael’s decision to kill Fredo suggests that, in this world, loyalty is a more significant value than family ties. The result is a complex, tragic portrayal of how the pursuit of power can erode the very family it is meant to protect.
My Final Observation:
In the end, power was more significant than loyalty
Yes, in the end, The Godfather Part II reveals that power becomes more significant than loyalty, even though loyalty is initially portrayed as the foundation of the Corleone family's strength. As the story unfolds, Michael's actions show that his ultimate priority is maintaining and consolidating power, even at the expense of loyalty—both to his family and to the values he once upheld. Here’s why power eventually eclipses loyalty:
1. Loyalty as a Means to Power
Loyalty serves as a tool to preserve the Corleone family’s power. In Michael’s view, loyalty is vital, but only insofar as it helps secure control. When Fredo betrays him, it demonstrates a crack in that loyalty, which Michael perceives as a direct threat to his power. In the mafia world, power is fragile, and any sign of internal disloyalty could lead to the downfall of the entire empire.
Fredo’s betrayal is seen not just as a personal slight, but as a dangerous weakness in the power structure Michael is building. For Michael, Fredo's disloyalty endangers the family's ability to maintain power, and therefore it must be eradicated, even though it means killing his own brother.
2. Michael’s Shift Toward Absolute Control
As Michael's character evolves, his pursuit of power becomes absolute. Initially, his goal is to protect his family and ensure its survival, but over time, this goal becomes more about his own dominance and control. The further he goes, the more he sacrifices loyalty, family, and personal relationships to secure his place at the top.
By the end of The Godfather Part II, Michael has become isolated, having sacrificed everything for power. His wife, Kay, leaves him; he distances himself from his children; and he orders the murder of Fredo, his own brother. These acts demonstrate that power, for Michael, becomes more important than the very family he was once trying to protect.
3. The Corrupting Influence of Power
Michael’s story illustrates how the pursuit of power can corrupt and distort one’s values. In the beginning, loyalty is seen as essential to maintaining the family’s strength and unity. But as Michael grows more powerful, he becomes increasingly paranoid and authoritarian. His need to control everything leads him to abandon the notion of loyalty altogether, as he can no longer trust anyone—family members included.
This is evident in his decision to kill Fredo, despite Fredo begging for forgiveness and the family’s long history. Michael’s paranoia and hunger for power override any sense of familial loyalty. Power becomes the ultimate goal, and loyalty becomes a casualty in its pursuit.
4. The Price of Power
By the end of the film, Michael has successfully consolidated power, but at a tremendous cost. He has betrayed his own values, and his isolation reflects the emptiness of his success. His pursuit of power has led him to a place where loyalty, family, and emotional connections no longer matter. The symbolic final shot of Michael sitting alone underscores the fact that power has consumed everything else.
Michael’s loneliness is a direct consequence of his prioritization of power over loyalty. While he has achieved dominance, it is a hollow victory. The tragedy of his story is that the very things that once mattered to him—loyalty, family, love—have been sacrificed for the sake of power.
5. The Inevitable Supremacy of Power in the Mafia World
The world of The Godfather is one in which power is the ultimate currency. Loyalty, while important, is always subordinate to power. In a mafia dynasty like the Corleones, everything revolves around maintaining control, and any threat to that control, even from within, must be eliminated.
Michael’s killing of Fredo is symbolic of how loyalty is only valued as long as it serves the quest for power. When loyalty threatens power, it is cast aside. Michael’s relentless pursuit of power reveals the dark reality that, in this world, power is the most significant force, and all other values, including loyalty, can be sacrificed to maintain it.
Conclusion
In the end, Michael’s actions demonstrate that power supersedes loyalty. While loyalty is critical in the mafia world, it is ultimately a means to an end: maintaining power. Michael’s tragic journey shows that when loyalty conflicts with power, power wins, even at the cost of family, relationships, and emotional fulfillment. The pursuit of power consumes everything, leaving Michael alone and isolated, with nothing but the empire he fought to protect.
