Keith Shamburger
April 25, 2001
Summary: In the essay, “The Godfather’s Essential Morality” by Louis Baxter it explains how The Godfather is very honest. Baxter states that this book is moral because it doesn’t portray the world to be something its not. It is very straight forward and shows human beings as they are. Baxter gives different examples of why he feels The Godfather is completely moral. In The Godfather Puzo presents several different social ironies, according to Baxter. His opinion about this book being moral came from the different accounts of social irionies that Puzo put forward. Things such as the family unit being key to surviving in the world, a poor immigrant that is truly honorable, or even characters not wasting time on the wishing wells of life. Baxter also elaborated on how The Godfather is often remembered as a story about criminals but with all the lessons taught in the book it is way more than that. Baxter’s review of this book shows how the story is much more complex than just a story about criminals. It shows how Baxter see’s the deep point of the book and its morality.
Response: I agree with Baxter that The Godfather is a book based on morals and honesty. Puzo shows us many things that can coincide with my agreement. This novel is moral because it shows that having a family unit is very important to survival. From my own experience I can vouch that this is true, Without my family i woulnt have any support system and i would be on my own. I wouldnt be where i am today without my family. In The Godfather the parents take care of the children and the rest of the family, while the children must obey the parents while helping one another out. This is the reality of life, aside from the novel. I also agree that this novel is moral and honest because it shows the world how it really is and not for what we want it to be. We usually are blinded by the impurities of life and dont see the world for what it really is but in The Godfather...