The "Sicilian Thing" in The Godfather

In The Godfather, the term “Sicilian thing” refers to the cultural mindset and behavioral code that governs the actions of the Corleone family and other Mafia members. It is not just about being from Sicily, but about upholding certain values—loyalty, honor, family, revenge, and silence—that originated in the old world and were transplanted into Italian-American organized crime. This Sicilian ethos runs like a spine through the narrative of The Godfather, shaping characters’ decisions, relationships, and sense of justice.

    

At its core, the “Sicilian thing” is a way of life. It places immense value on family loyalty and personal honor, often above legality or morality. The Corleones, like their real-life counterparts in the Mafia, operate under their own moral code. Their actions may be illegal or violent, but they are justified within their own system of values. For example, when Amerigo Bonasera asks Don Vito Corleone for justice for his daughter, he does not go to the police first because he understands that real justice, in their world, is personal and must be handled within the family structure. This reflects the traditional Sicilian distrust of institutions and belief in taking justice into one’s own hands.

One of the most significant elements of the Sicilian code is omertà, the vow of silence. Omertà is more than just not talking to the police; it’s about loyalty to the family above all else. To betray the family by cooperating with authorities is considered the gravest sin. This code of silence sustains the Mafia’s power structure, allowing it to exist parallel to the legal system. In The Godfather, this silence and secrecy are central to the family’s operations. Business is never discussed in front of outsiders, and even within the family, information is tightly controlled. When someone breaks this code—like Paulie Gatto, who is suspected of betrayal—he is swiftly and ruthlessly eliminated.

    

Another cornerstone of the “Sicilian thing” is revenge. In Sicilian culture, particularly in its more traditional and feudal roots, offenses against one’s honor or family must be avenged. This is a deeply personal matter and often spans generations. In The Godfather, the murder of Don Vito’s son Sonny leads to a carefully calculated response, not just to punish the killers, but to reestablish the family’s strength and honor. Later, when Michael Corleone’s wife Apollonia is killed in Sicily, the event hardens him and sets him more firmly on the path of vengeance and power. Vengeance, in this world, is not just about retribution—it’s about maintaining the balance of power and ensuring that no slight goes unanswered.

The idea of family is perhaps the most sacred part of the Sicilian mindset portrayed in The Godfather. The family is everything—it is your identity, your protection, your purpose. Don Vito Corleone sees himself primarily as a father and protector, not just to his biological children but to the entire extended network of friends and associates. In return, he expects loyalty and respect. Even his criminal enterprise is built around a fatherly role—people come to him for help because they know he will act as a just patriarch. Michael Corleone, initially distant from this world, eventually becomes the ultimate embodiment of the Sicilian family head: cold, calculated, and willing to do anything to protect and preserve the family.

    

Sicily itself also serves as a symbolic and literal turning point in the film. When Michael flees to Sicily after killing Sollozzo and McCluskey, he is physically removed from his American identity and immersed in the ancient values of his ancestors. The scenes in Sicily are quiet and pastoral, contrasting sharply with the violence of New York. But the values there are just as brutal, only cloaked in tradition and honor. Michael’s time in Sicily solidifies his transformation—when he returns to America, he is no longer just the college-educated war hero, but a man shaped by Sicilian ideas of power, loyalty, and revenge.

The Sicilian code also permeates the film’s structure of respect and fear. Respect is a currency as important as money or violence. When Don Vito is disrespected, he does not respond with outburst but with a quiet resolve to assert his power. Even his enemies respect him. Michael learns this as well; by the end of the film, he has become a figure to be feared and respected, not just for his ruthlessness but for his adherence to the code. His final act of becoming The Godfather—literally and symbolically—shows that he has fully embraced the “Sicilian thing.”

    

In conclusion, the “Sicilian thing” in The Godfather is a powerful cultural framework that explains much of the behavior in the film. It is about more than heritage; it’s about a way of seeing the world where family, honor, loyalty, and vengeance matter more than law or morality. The characters live by a code that is centuries old, one that values silence, repays disrespect with violence, and holds family above everything else. It’s this code—the Sicilian code—that gives The Godfather its depth, its tragedy, and its e

nduring power.