A motif that I noticed in The Godfather was the contrast between light and dark. It seems that most of the mafia related work happens in dark settings and the normal family life happens in brighter settings. This motif acts through the literary features setting and suspense. Setting is where a scene in a movie or a book takes place. Suspense is a state of uncertainty while waiting for a decision or action. Both suspense and setting help convey the motif of the contrast between light and darkness throughout the film.
Setting is all about what other objects are in the scene that adds to the scene meaning. An example of this is in the beginning of the film when Bonasera is in the Godfather’s dark office. Francis Ford Coppola specifically situated the Godfather to be sitting by the window that contained most of the light present in the room. This shows the contrast between light and dark, but also shows the contrast between the hopeful and the hopeless. In the Godfather’s office, Francis Ford Coppola placed Bonasera placed Bonasera in the dark to show that he was hopeless and was in need of help. On the other hand, the Godfather was placed in the light of the window to symbolise that he held the power and key to happiness.
Suspense is omnipresent in the film The Godfather. The use of suspense throughout the film lets Francis Ford Coppola keep his audience on the edge of their seats until an epic scene. An example of the use of suspense is when Jack Woltz finds his prize horse’s head in his bed. The suspense starts to build up during dinner between Tom Hagen and Jack Woltz. Tom Hagen and Jack Woltz are having a nice evening negotiating until Jack Woltz turns down Tom Hagen’s offer to let Jonny have the part in the movie. Looking back on previous scenes, we can confirm that the Corleone’s will get what they want no matter what. In the morning, Jack Woltz wakes up to a bloody bed. He quickly checks if it is his blood but finds out that it was the blood of his prize racing horse. This goes to show that most of the mafia business happens during the night time. Tom Hagen did not retaliate what Jack Woltz refused his offer but waited until night time to make his statement.
Overall, the contrast between light and dark is a powerful symbol throughout the film The Godfather. The contrast is seen through the setting and the suspense that Francis Ford Coppola implicates throughout the film.
I agree with your connection of light and dark settings, and how they are utilized by Francis Ford Cappola. Just to add another point from the previous viewing session, when Tom Hagen is with Sollozzo, someone brought up the point that half his face was lit, and half was too dark to see. This directly relates to your connection of Mafia scenes in the dark, and family related scenes in lighter settings. Since half of his face is dark, this shows that half of Tom is thinking of the Corleone's mafia life will be changed from the deal with Sollozzo. The light half of his face is because Tom is also thinking about how the family life will be changed from the deal with Sollozzo. Overall, the split lighting of his face shows his uncertainty with the whole situation, and how his decision will affect both the Corleone family and Mafia life.
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