Syntax: The Godfather

Syntax

• “Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than the government. It is almost the equal of family. Never forget that.” (46).

Don “Vito” Corleone uses an anaphora in this example of one of his many verbally expressed life lessons, by repeating the word friendship in the first two sentences. The quote is regarding the role of family and friendship in both his mafia life, as well as his personal life. He shows the monumental importance of this to him by stressing this particular example with an anaphora, as well by orchestrating his thoughts into exceptionally short, telegraphic sentences. The use of such a syntactical device punctuates the unity amongst family that the godfather feels is necessary to lead a successful crime syndicate. The lovingness of such a motto seems oxymoronic in the context of the violent tone that Puzo uses throughout the novel, yet is kept consistent by his inclusion of his sentence regarding the importance of friendship over the government, as the Corleone family is not one to heed much notice of conventional governments.

• “Leave the gun, Take the Cannoli” (325).

Said by Clemenza immediatley after watching one of the family bodyguards being murdered, this incredibly short and clear sentence illustrates the ruthless and violent tone of the novel through its syntax because the short structure of the sentence shows the lack of emotion about murder, along with the strictly business attitude of the Corleone family. Rather than showing any concern about the death of one of his lifelong friends, who, in fairness to Clemenza, had been proven a traitor, he is much more concerned with the immediate procession of the events at hand, which as explicitly stated are to leave the gun in the vehicle, not forgetting to take with them the Cannoli pasta, as requested by his wife.