10 Biggest Mistakes Main Characters Made in The Godfather

The trilogy by Francis Ford Coppola continues to be a timeless masterpiece in film narrative. It narrates the epic journey of the Corleone crime family, delving into themes such as power, loyalty, legacy, and sorrow. Despite the cold-blooded strategies and tough exteriors of the Corleones and their associates, they are not without flaws. Their choices, driven by pride, feelings, or necessity, significantly determine the destiny of their empire.

Each principal character has committed a significant blunder, be it Michael’s retreat into solitude or Sonny’s volatile outbursts. These mistakes don’t merely heighten personal risks; they alter the storyline and the destiny of the family. Some blunders lead to betrayal, exile, or even death, demonstrating that not even those with immense power are immune to human imperfections, regardless of how much is at risk.

And It Was Almost the End of Him

As a passionate cinema enthusiast, I can’t help but admire Vito Corleone, a man known for his sagacity and self-restraint, who constructed his dominion upon a foundation of honor and age-old principles. Nevertheless, one of his most significant oversights was his initial reluctance to venture into the narcotics business. He thought that drugs would tarnish the family’s political influence and moral stature, so he rejected Sollozzo’s proposition, underestimating just how profitable—and dangerous—the drug trade would eventually become.

This action led to a long-lasting conflict, revealing the weaknesses of the Corleone family. Although Vito managed to recover for a while, the harm was already inflicted. In essence, this wasn’t just a dangerous move for a character but a significant blunder by the Don himself in the ruthless, modern landscape of organized crime, where his traditional values, although impressive, became a liability instead.

It Was the Beginning of the End

Carlo Rizzi, husband to Connie Corleone, plays a significant role but unfortunately makes a fateful blunder. Feeling undermined and left out from the core Corleone family circle, Carlo resorts to violent behavior against Connie, which results in a critical turning point within their saga. His actions were not just morally abhorrent; they also formed part of a larger, complex plotline.

It becomes clear that Carlo conspired with Barzini to plot Sonny’s murder, luring him in with Connie’s abuse. This treachery against the family was both personal and tactical. Although he thought he had been pardoned, he met his end in a chilling act of retribution. The Corleones lost their heir due to Carlo’s mistake, and it cost him his life. His rash cruelty sparked a turning point that forever transformed the family.

The Family Never Recovered

Fredo Corleone, the often-overlooked and insecure middle child of the Corleone family, frequently wrestled with finding his role within their ranks. Lacking both the shrewdness of Michael and the physical prowess of Sonny, he was consistently relegated to secondary positions and kept at arm’s length. This smoldering anger and yearning for recognition eventually drove him to a fateful choice that left the family in ruins.

In a clandestine move, Fredo allied with Michael’s adversaries, which included Hyman Roth, thinking it would boost his standing. Unintentionally, he unwittingly set the stage for a lethal assassination attempt on the family. Despite Fredo stating he “wasn’t aware it was an assassination,” the harm proved unalterable. Michael’s choice to eliminate Fredo highlights the severity of his betrayal. Fredo’s regrettable mistake not only shattered the family but also signified one of the saga’s most emotional and permanent turning points.

His Most Impulsive Decision Was Also His Final One

Sonny Corleone, the eldest son of Don Vito, was not known for his patience or wise decisions. Instead, he often acted impulsively and aggressively, which frequently conflicted with the calculated, composed mentality needed for leadership in the Mafia environment. Despite his unwavering commitment to family, his tendency to act without thinking ultimately led to his undoing.

Sonny’s gravest error occurred when he instantly responded to the distressing news about his sister Connie being mistreated by her husband, Carlo. Impulsively charging towards danger laid by the Barzini clan, Sonny was caught off guard and mercilessly murdered at a toll booth. If he had taken a moment to think or sought backup, he possibly could have lived. His demise created a power void and served as a heartrending lesson that emotional choices can lead to fatal outcomes.

He Could’ve Changed Everything

As an advisor to the Corleone clan, he is cool, faithful, and tactful – a marked difference from the tumultuous environment that surrounds him. Yet, his unwavering faithfulness and timidity occasionally resulted in inactivity during pivotal moments for the family. A striking instance of this was his hesitation to oppose Michael’s progressively authoritarian choices in “The Godfather Part II”.

Tom’s decision not to speak up or offer guidance when Fredo was being targeted revealed a deeply tragic inaction. While Hagen prioritized harmony and order, his lack of challenge towards Michael at crucial moments may have significantly accelerated the family’s emotional breakdown, which ultimately led to its strategic collapse.

He Became a True Don in the Making

A person who had no desire to be associated with his family’s illegal business empire. However, when his father became the target of an assassination attempt, Michael resorted to extreme measures by killing drug lord Sollozzo and corrupt police captain McCluskey. This decisive act signaled his transition from a remote war hero to an inevitable heir in the mob world.

The assassination marked a turning point for me as it reshaped my perspective, solidified my ethics, and drew me further into the family business I had initially shunned. Hiding in Sicily and returning changed were inevitable consequences. The act, while strategically smart, came at the cost of my soul and set me on a path to becoming a detached, solitary figure. This decisive action defined me, forging both the brilliance and darkness that would propel this legendary saga forward, whether for good or ill.

It Was the Ultimate Betrayal

Through the course of the series, Kay Adams, Michael’s spouse, found herself grappling with feelings of love and disenchantment. Initially smitten by Michael’s charisma, she later came to understand the extent of his metamorphosis into a criminal. In a decisive act, she confessed that she had terminated their unborn child, correcting her earlier statement about miscarriage; this revelation served as a bold protest against the life Michael was pushing her towards.

Kay’s action, undeniably a desperate move, shuts off any possibility for reconciliation and pushes Michael further into solitude, making it an emotionally crushing moment in the entire trilogy – a move that felt like both a personal betrayal and a threat to their family heritage.

He Lost Her and the Possibility of a New Life

In Sicily, while he was in hiding, Michael encountered and wed Apollonia Vitelli. Their brief yet intense relationship gave a peek into the life Michael might have lived away from the mob. Unfortunately, his past reemerged when enemies of his placed a car bomb intended for Michael, resulting in the unfortunate death of Apollonia.

In a more natural and easy-to-understand manner, the statement could be rephrased as: Michael’s error stemmed from his abrupt carefree attitude. Assuming he was secure in Sicily, he became complacent. He unwittingly dragged an innocent woman into his perilous life without providing her adequate safeguards, not considering the potential outcomes. Her demise underscored the lesson that no one near Michael can ever truly be safe. It was a significant loss that further eroded his innocence and made him realize the high price of his choices.

This Was the Final Straw for the Corleones’ Bond

Tom Hagen, one of the rare individuals who embodied composure, logic, and loyalty, stood out. His keen legal intellect and tactful diplomatic abilities made him indispensable not just as a character but also as a family member. Nevertheless, in “The Godfather Part II,” Michael opted to exclude Tom from the family’s most significant decision-making processes, regarding him as “not a wartime consigliere.” This exclusion left Michael lacking his most balanced advisor during some of the family’s stormiest periods.

The act of excluding Tom from the inner circle left a space that was filled with suspicion, secrecy, and unrestrained power in Michael’s reign. Although Tom still performed duties for the family, this diminished role removed a vital and rational check on Michael. This move further alienated Michael and sped up the family’s emotional and tactical disintegration. In the end, Michael’s distrust and dismissal of Tom marked a significant change toward his autocratic and ultimately disastrous leadership approach.

Everything He Dreaded Finally Caught Up to Him

The transformation of Michael Corleone from a hesitant bystander to an unyielding mafia boss is among the most captivating character developments in movie history. What made him strong – his tactical genius – ultimately turned into his downfall. In his quest for power, Michael mercilessly disposed of dangers, both actual and imagined.

He resorted to deceit, manipulation, and even took the life of his own brother in the name of safeguarding the family, showing there were no boundaries he wouldn’t overstep.

Through his actions, he ultimately forfeited everything that defined him as human. His marriage disintegrated, he lost custody of his children, and was left desolate in a bleak, barren existence he had orchestrated himself. The closing moments of “The Godfather Part III,” where an aged Michael is shown alone and forsaken, were the grim result of his decisions. His descent was heartbreakingly predestined, serving as a chilling finale to both his constructed empire and its eventual ruin, leaving one of the most poignant and moving moments in film history.

2025-07-05 05:36