Literary Features Hunt in "The Godfather"

        "The Godfather" is a film that has been directed with the use of many different literary, or in a film's case, "filmic" devices. This is a film that audiences of every age, background, and gender can watch various times throughout their lives, and pick up different symbols and ideas from every time they watch it.
        The directing style of Francis Ford Coppola is very different from the styles of movie directors today. For one, Francis Ford Coppola is able to characterize the characters of the story in a very realistic manner; I personally find that I am able to relate to each character in the film. This helps me feel compassionate with many of the characters as well.

        One character that I found exceptionally characterized was the Godfather himself, Vito Corleone. Don Corleone has been done up and set differently from the rest of the characters. A few ways he has been differentiated include through speech, appearance, and body language. His character has been created on screen to portray a very powerful presence. There are many points that back up this statement. For one, the mere action stroking a kitten in the very first scene seems to bring about a fear within the audience. As one looks around at the scene where Bonascera demands justice for his daughter, they'd be able to see that the Don is in the center of the tensed room. Everyone and everything revolves around him. The word of the Don is never questioned, and he's never looked in the eye by anyone in the room. All these facts add to the impression of exactly how much power the Don possesses.
        The body language Don Corleone uses is key evidence of the amount of power the Don has. He walks around very calmly and collectively. He always has a very deep, insightful look in his eyes, and the rest of his facial features are not only sharp, but seem to be pulled into an expression which seems relaxed. However, to even further the understanding of the amount of power the Don has, one should lastly think about the words that come out of his lips.
        The Don talks in a very diplomatic manner. He is never straight to the point with what he says. In one way or another, he manipulates the people that come to him for help, and gets what he wants from them (in Bonascera's case, friendship, and an on-call favour in return.) However, starting off, the audience notices Don Corleone's hoarse, quiet voice. That barely audible voice literally cuts the audience, as viewers take in just how impressive and intimidating a man must be if his quiet voice is enough to scare off even the bravest of men.

         The film "The Godfather" portrays many different characterizations for many different characters throughout the very first scenes of the film. Viewers really get to see characters, judge them, and understand them from only ten to fifteen minutes of footage. However, the characterization of Don Corleone specifically intrigues me, and there is a lot more I wish to see, to further analyze his character.