The Sopranos: Tony and Family Ties
There is plenty of stereotyping in "The Sopranos," and it begins with the very first episode, that indicates how important family ties are to Tony, and to Italian-Americans.Tony denies having panic attacks because that would indicate he is not strong and in charge of his organization. Appearing weak to others in the mob would make him vulnerable, and he knows it. Mob members have to be "tough guys" who do not succumb to pressure, and if Tony is having panic attacks, that means he cannot handle the pressure and must be eliminated. The mob weeds out any weak members, and Tony knows that as well, he is one of the "weeders." He even tells his psychiatrist that is model man is "strong and silent," and is not in touch with his feelings. Therefore, his panic attacks go against everything he believes a strong Italian man should be, and this illustrates one of the stereotypes in the show, that Italians are all rough, tough, and unfeeling - strong enough to lead a mob.Tony feels depressed after the ducks leave because they remind him of his family, who is falling a
The ducks also represent his inability to please his mother, who idolizes his father. He loves his family and his afraid to show it, but he is afraid they will leave him, as well. As a leader, Tony must exhibit all the qualities that Italians admire in men and leaders, and the stress of his job is leading to his difficulties, panic attacks, and fears, which all point to a man who is "weak" in Italian culture. He worries he cannot measure up to them, but the church reassures him and makes him long for a time when he did not have to make all the decisions and keep the families together. He cannot get her to go to a nursing home (retirement community), which graphically illustrates his lack of control over the family. Friends are part of Tony's extended family, as well, and since this episode centers around family, and the difficulties with maintaining a family, it makes sense that he would want to protect his childhood friend and his livelihood. In a sense, the ducks are free, and free to fly, while Tony is tied to his family, his gangster family, and all of the many twists and turns the family business takes. Thus, Tony worries about losing his family, but he also has the underlying worry that his gang family will see him as so weak, they will remove him altogether. Tony feels nostalgic when he sees the church his great-grandfather helped build because he longs for the "good old days," when someone else was in charge and everything just seemed to work. He also breaks the stereotype (again) of the tough Italian male when he cries in his psychiatrist's office and then admits to his wife that he is in therapy. This episode has all been about family - the good and the bad, and the many currents that swirl around a family. The church signifies the strength of his family and its roots, and remind him of how strong his father and grandfather were. People tend to look back on the past with nostalgia, just like Tony's mother looks back and makes her husband an idol, when in life, she did not support him nearly as much. Artie is a childhood friend of Tony's, and so he owes him loyalty and friendship, which is one reason he wants to protect him from a hit occurring in his restaurant. In addition, he knows it will hurt or even end his business.
Common topics in this essay:
Italian-Americans Tony,
Friends Tony's,
,
panic attacks,
nursing home,
tony feels,
mob tony,
sense ducks,
childhood friend,
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