Originally posted by cannoli:
If you extrapolate, just a little, it's easy to see how a guy like Fredo -- dutiful and obedient as he was -- would absolutely go WILD the first time he was away from the strict family environment. I mean, come on! Hasn't anyone ever heard of COLLEGE???
Fredo or Sonny never went to college, they both went into the family business right after HS. Mike was the first to go to college, unless you count Tom, but he's not a real Corleone.
The way I see it, Fredo wasn't "stupid" he just didnt have the personal force to make it to the top in that world. All throughout his life Fredo has just been trying to prove himself to his father, to show that he was as good as anyone else.
I've got some time on my hands so I'll fabricate a story.
Sonny probably knew Fredo had a weak personality and from a very early age took advantage of that,making him feel stupid. With the influence an older brother has on a younger one, Fredo started to think he was stupid.
