THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE MAFIA SYSTEM IN MARIO PUZO'S NOVEL THE GODFATHER
Abstract
Mario Puzo’s The Godfather is a seminal work that provides a profound exploration of the Mafia as a socio-political entity. The novel illustrates the Mafia not merely as a criminal organization but as a parallel governing body that emerges in response to institutional shortcomings. By analyzing the formation and development of the Mafia system through the lens of Vito and Michael Corleone, the novel offers insight into the intricate mechanisms of organized crime, its hierarchical structure, and its adaptability to socio-political challenges.
References
• Puzo, Mario. The Godfather. G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1969.
• Gambetta, Diego. The Sicilian Mafia: The Business of Private Protection. Harvard University Press, 1993.
• Paoli, Letizia. Mafia Brotherhoods: Organized Crime, Italian Style. Oxford University Press, 2003.
• Dickie, John. Cosa Nostra: A History of the Sicilian Mafia. Hodder & Stoughton, 2004.
• Shaw, Mark. Hitmen for Hire: Exposing South Africa's Underworld. Jonathan Ball Publishers, 2017.
