Examples Of Stereotypes In The Godfather

Italian Americans have been portrayed wrongly because of the movie The Godfather. This movie has caused multiple false stereotypes, because the movie is extremely popular and is from 1972, all mafia movies that are made after use the same stereotypes that are in The Godfather. For instance Italian Americans are portrayed as violent or greedy. There all also multiple stereotypes that are found in The Godfather that are wrongly presented. Violence is a huge part of The Godfather, Most of the scenes in this movie are violent. Since most of the characters in this movie are Italian Americans, people stereotype them as abusive criminals. The University of Purdue did a survey on this stereotype, asking people the first three things that come to

“Those with Italian-American ethnicity replied with: "good food, intelligent, charming, easy to get along with, etc" (Web). While the non-Italian-American heritage replied with: "Mafia, greedy, sneaky, good food, New York, violence, accents, etc." That is proof that Italian Americans are stereotyped against. Just because the movies portray them as criminals type people does not mean that they are all actually criminals. Another stereotype found in this movie is about one of the main characters Michael, he was the youngest son of the head of the Corleone family. Since Michael is the youngest son his father Vito Corleone does not want him to be a part of the mafia’s criminal activities. This stereotypes that the youngest child is not ready for to do what there brothers do. In a scene Johnny Fontane complains to Vito saying that he didn’t get a part in the movie and Vito responds “I’m going to make him an offer that he can’t refuse”. It is pretty much Vito threating the guy to get what he wants, stereotyping that Italian Americans are very greedy as if they want what is not there’s. Another stereotype used in this movie is when sonny is murdered. This stereotype is that mafia families overkill and use extreme violence. In this scene

There only roles in The Godfather is to cook and do family stuff. When something bad happens all the wives do is cook for their husband. This is a popular stereotype in lots of movies where they limit the roles of women, but what makes this stereotype really significant is that Italian American women have no voice, but an American Women does. For instance Kay was allowed to talk to Michael about work. For example Kay says “Who is he, what’s his name” (Coppola)? Michael says “His name is Luca Brasi and he helps my father out sometimes” (87:00). There is another scene that Kay ask about how Johnny Fontane got out of his contract and Michael told her that they put a gun to the guy’s head and forced him to sign the paper. This is so stereotypical that since she is a white American she can talk about work but none of the other Italian American women characters can talk. Also how Tyra Banks from Americas Next Top Model wanted models to act the stereotypical way, Francis Ford Coppola made Italian American women in his movie a lesser role. In the Godfather there is this Stereotype that portrays that Italian Americans only eat pasta and cannoli. In all of the scenes that have food in them all of the dishes are pasta based dishes. That is stereotyping that all Italian Americans eat is pasta and that is incorrect. There are several types of Italian food and also they don’t just eat