The History of Literature 759 The Godfather (with Karen Spence) | My Last Book with Elyse Graham
Dec 18, 2025
Join author and scholar Karen Spence, an expert in ancient Rome and mafia history, as she dives into the cultural impact of *The Godfather*. She discusses its complex characters, the moral ambiguities that make audiences root for criminals, and how Coppola framed it as a family drama akin to Shakespeare. Spence also shares insights into production details, the influences behind iconic characters, and critiques of the trilogy's portrayal of women. Plus, Elyse Graham reveals her choice for the last book she would read!
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Late Thanksgiving Godfather Discovery
- Karen Spence first watched The Godfather on a Thanksgiving loop channel while sick at home in 1998.
- She binged the films multiple times and immediately regarded them as masterpieces.
Mafia As Family Melodrama
- The films use the mafia as context but primarily dramatize family, greed, capitalism, and succession.
- Coppola and Puzo consciously reframed Puzo's novel into a Shakespearean family melodrama.
Sympathy Through Moral Codes
- The Godfather elicits sympathy for criminals by presenting a consistent internal code and limits even within corruption.
- That structure lets audiences project moral order onto immoral characters and root for self-control over greed.