Originally posted by olivant:
Mike set himself apart from the family early on and I think that's an indication of his ability to divorce his actions from feelings. You notice that in the flasback scene from GFII, he is sitting on one side of the table all alone and that is well before his family is threatened.
Mike set himself apart from the family early b/c 1.)went to college(this can be quite taxing on relations w/others who have not) 2.)vito in a sense wanted micheal to set himself apart the 'family' 3.) joining the marines and earning metals of valor while risking his life. (Risking his life on a level that Santino or any other wiseguy could never know about.)
AS FOR THE FLASHBACK:
My favorite scene of the entire Trilogy.
I RELATE TO MIKE FEELING ISOLATED FROM HIS FAMILY. My family will never understand why I feel the way I do about life, different times different crimes I guess.
Poor Mike, tried to tell his big brothers how he felt about life and Sonny tries to beat him up. No surprise that Fredo is the only one who gives him congrats. No surprise we see him sitting alone, he was alone.
