Made Men

Antonio Nicaso, Marcel Danesi

Despite depictions to the contrary, the mafia is not a cadre of noble and righteous warriors, a class of citizens working in the shadows but upholding traditional values. Instead, the authors argue, it is a brutal, violent, and ignoble organization that ultimately violates the boundaries of acceptable behavior both within the family and without. "The novel The Godfather (1969) and the movie of the same name (1972) entrenched the myth of the Mafiosi as valiant knights, men of honor, and defenders of the traditional concept of family. As a result of this movie and other popular portrayals, the image of mobsters as "men of honor and tradition" has become iconic throughout America. Yet the truth of the matter belies this more noble image. The Mafia is a ruthless organization. Their concept of family is a twisted one. But viewed through the lens of popular culture, it is often difficult...