Hi,

i'm just wondering what makes Vito an anti hero?

It's for a assignment and any help will be greatly appreciated...

Thanks
Astro

The members here can be pretty helpful, but there's usually a fee for completing homework assignments.

Why don't you post your basic premise and maybe we can expand on it.

In your paper, touch on the basic points. Vito exists within his own world, the criminal world. He does not believe in society's laws nor in its justice. Vito believes that no good deed should go unrewarded, while no evil deed unpunished. I think that due to the fact that he operated a criminal empire is what makes him an anti-hero. On these boards, many (myself included) tend to glorify Vito Corleone and we sometimes overlook that his brand of "justice" involves murder, bribery/corruption, illegal gambling, and using the threat of, or actual use of, violence to intimidate others.

I think if you read the novel you can get some more background into Vito's psyche and how he became to be the character we know.

i'm not saying that i want someone else to do it for me...all i wanted was just a few pointers...i'm sorry if i implied that i wanted the members to do the paper for me

And thanks goombah for your help...also would his belief in family values attribute to his somewhat, heroism?

Astro, I think of an "anti-hero" as someone who does good in unconventional--even wrong--ways. Clint Eastwood in "Dirty Harry," and Steve McQueen in "Bullitt" and "Sand Pebble" come to mind.
Vito Corleone doesn't qualify by that definition. We all idolize him because he was so brilliantly portrayed by Marlon Brando, because he was a "good father," and because he was against drugs. But he opposed drugs not because he was concerned with the welfare of his community, but because he saw drugs as a threat to his regular businesses--gambling and unions. And those weren't "harmless vices," or "victimless crimes."
The big money in illegal gambling doesn't come from the odds favoring the house, but from loansharking--a business of broken kneecaps or worse. And every dollar that Vito got out of his corrupt unions was a dollar lifted from the pockets of some working stiff.
An "anti-hero"? I don't think so.

Maybe this would be a good time to define "anti-hero". I'd say its a notable person who has no heroic features (ie. bravery, or someone who is completely noble). I agree with your take on Vito Corleone, Turnbull, that Vito was "out for himself", and because of that I WOULD consider him to be an anti-hero.

Loanshark people are usually of what rank in the Mob? Captain, Soldier or Associate

[/QUOTE]I agree with your take on Vito Corleone, Turnbull, that Vito was "out for himself", and because of that I WOULD consider him to be an anti-hero. [/QB][/QUOTE]

A good quote to include to back that up would be when Vito & Michael were talking in the garden, and Vito states that he "doesn't apologize ... and I refuse to be a fool ... dancing on the strings of those big-shots."

Also, here's what it says in Webster's for "antihero"
Main Entry: an·ti·he·ro
Function: noun
: a protagonist or notable figure who is conspicuously lacking in heroic qualities

So, then - what is a hero?
Main Entry: he·ro
Etymology: Latin heros, from Greek hErOs
1 a : a mythological or legendary figure often of divine descent endowed with great strength or ability b : an illustrious warrior c : a man admired for his achievements and noble qualities d : one that shows great courage
2 a : the principal male character in a literary or dramatic work b : the central figure in an event, period, or movement
3 plural usually heros : SUBMARINE 2
4 : an object of extreme admiration and devotion : IDOL

I think you could work this into an interesting paper. Good luck!

I think characters like Michael Corleone or Tony Montana from Scarface are better representatives of anti-heroes or tragic heroes. Sure Vito wasn't Superman, but really, he wasn't tragic or evil, he just existed in his world and succeeded.

There is a formula for tragic heroes I learned in Grade 10 english class. I can't remember...

Something like:

1. Hero of great importance
2. Has tragic flaw
3. Flaw effects several other people
4. Flaw destroys hero
5. Hero dies.

Something like that...

Deathbyclotheshanger what you described was a tragic hero not an anti hero

Loanshark people are usually of what rank in the Mob? Captain, Soldier or Associate [/QUOTE]
Loan sharks could be any rank. But, since they're basically "working stiffs," they're usually at the lowest level. Most of the loan sharks I've read about are ordinary soldiers, or more often, unmade associates.

This is really an interesting topic...the idea of Don Vito being an anti-hero!

My thoughts are that he is an anti-hero because he draws on many great things that we associate with ourselves. For example, his love for his family and children, his love for his wife and his will not to cheat on her despite his wealth, his calmness and coolness when dealing with difficult negotiations, and his ruthlessness and destructive capabilities when threatened.

These concepts are really present in every human being, and we tend to idolize Don Vito because we know his story of humble beginnings and thirst for vengeance for his mother and father calming him until he could murder the murderers. We see a bit of ourselves in this quest.

His role of anti-hero really comes into play because of HOW he achieves these ends. He does not rely on the law for his vengeance, he relies on his own inner code of conduct. This code falls outside the boundaries of firmly established American justice (consider the first scene with Bonasera...."I believe in America. America is my home...") and how much he detests this sham of law.

In addition, he comes into his role of life through accident, and not through his own actions. He befriends Tessio and Clemenza and they are the "thugs" while he continues his search for the American Dream. It is when Fanucci comes into the picture, threatening his existence (as in losing his job) that he begins to exact his vengeance on him and amassing the wealth that he wished for his family.

Notice how we realize that Don Vito Corleone must be ruthless, must be cold, must be vengeful, but do not see this in the movie. His tactics are off-screen (Michael telling Kay the story of Luca Brasi, or the horse-head being seen in Woltz's bedroom) and this maintains our angelic treatment of the character.

Hopefully this will bring up further discussions!