The Corleone Family's Underworld Earnings: Beyond Gambling and Bootlegging
Though Mario Puzo’s novel, The Godfather, offers a comprehensive view of the Corleone family's operations, specific details, such as the exact income from illegal activities, are often left unexplored. However, intriguing hints and contextual clues provide valuable insights into their immensely complex and profitable operations. This article explores the misunderstood income sources of the Corleone family, focusing on phoney businesses like gambling and bootlegging and the crucial role of the olive oil business as a code term for illegitimate activities.
gambling and Bootlegging: Beyond the Surface
When discussing the Corleone family’s income, it is essential to recognize that the portrayal in literary works like The Godfather sometimes diverges from historical realities. In the book, the Corleone family's illegal empire is portrayed as including loan sharking, union protection, docks protection, and gambling. However, it’s crucial to note that during the time period depicted in the book, illegal liquor production was not a major factor. Interestingly, narcotics and prostitution were entities that came much later and were markedly different from the realities depicted in the book.
Despite these legal constraints, it’s evident that the Corleone family’s operations were far more extensive and covert than met the eye. The family’s involvement in prostitution, for instance, was subtly alluded to in conversations. Don Vito Corleone, the patriarch, was not inherently against prostitution but was wary of his family’s direct involvement. This point is highlighted in a conversation where he jokingly remarks about the Turk obtaining his income before the war, implying the family’s dual stance.
The Sicilian Culprit: Highbrow Disdain for Prostitution
Mario Puzo introduced the concept of Sicilian honor, a cultural element that somewhat mitigated the family’s involvement in such morally dubious activities. According to the narrative, young Sicilian men considered prostitution beneath their honor, ostracizing those who engaged in it. This cultural phenomenon is a key factor in understanding their strategies and the code words used in their underworld dealings, such as the olive oil business.
The Olive Oil Business: A Code Term for Underworld Operations
One of the most intriguing aspects of the Corleone family's operations is the use of the olive oil business as a code term for all illegitimate activities. This business played a dual role in the narrative, serving as a cover for the family's other ventures.
Michael Corleone’s transition to the family business was marked by his engagement with the olive oil business, initially seen as a legitimate enterprise. When Michael tells Kay that he is being trained to take over the family’s olive oil business, it is clear that this is a euphemism for a broader and more complex set of illegal activities. This is further evident in Michael’s discussions with other characters, where the concept of selling the olive oil business is presented as a final move to divest the family’s illegal operations.
The olive oil business also serves as a metaphor for the family’s broader network of corrupt dealings and dubious partnerships, such as real estate investments, Wall Street dealings, and garment industry ventures. When Michael announces the family’s intention to move operations to Las Vegas, planning to sell off all interests in the olive oil business, it signifies their detachment from the New York underworld and shift towards a more secure legal environment.
Furthermore, the olive oil business also serves as a symbol of acceptance and integration into the underworld culture. When Al Neri, a former criminal, is courted by the family, his introduction to the Corleones is facilitated through this business. Vito’s statement about teaching Michael the olive oil business and Al Neri's understanding that the Corleone family values him in a way society doesn’t, illustrates the family's ability to create a parallel universe where illegitimate activities are not only accepted but also protected.
Conclusion
The Corleone family's income from gambling, bootlegging, and other illegal activities was far more diversified and extensive than superficially perceived. The olive oil business, a seemingly legitimate enterprise, served as a crucial code term for their illicit undertakings. By understanding these nuances, we gain a deeper insight into the family’s operations and their ability to navigate the complex world of organized crime, blending reality with myth.