A brief overview
"The Godfather" by Mario Puzo is a novel about the powerful Corleone family, an Italian-American Mafia clan in New York. The head of the family, Don Vito Corleone, is a wise and respected leader who helps people in return for their loyalty and favors.
The story begins with the wedding of Don Vito's daughter, Connie. During the celebration, Don Vito listens to requests for help from friends and associates. His youngest son, Michael, is a war hero who wants to live a normal life, away from the family's criminal activities.
A drug dealer named Sollozzo asks for the Corleone family's support in his narcotics business. Don Vito refuses, believing drugs are too dangerous. This leads to an attack on Don Vito, leaving him seriously injured. To protect his father and the family, Michael kills Sollozzo and a corrupt police officer who works with him. After the murders, Michael flees to Sicily to hide.
In Sicily, Michael falls in love with and marries a local woman named Apollonia. However, she is killed in a car bomb intended for Michael. Heartbroken, Michael returns to New York. Meanwhile, Michael’s older brother Sonny is brutally murdered by rivals.
With Don Vito recovering but still weak, Michael takes control of the family. He plans a series of violent actions to solidify the Corleone family's power. He orders the killing of the family's enemies, including those who betrayed them. Michael's transformation from a reluctant outsider to a ruthless leader becomes clear as he secures his family's dominance.
In the climax, Michael orchestrates the murders of the heads of the other Mafia families, as well as his brother-in-law, Carlo, who betrayed Sonny. After these killings, Michael becomes the new Godfather, taking over the role from his father.
By the end of the novel, Michael is firmly in control, but he has lost much of his humanity. His rise to power comes at the cost of his moral integrity, showing the corrupting influence of power and the sacrifices made for loyalty and family. The novel explores themes of power, loyalty, and the clash between personal desires and family obligations.