The genre of crime fiction comprises several subgenres and is only an umbrella term for literature about crime that originated particularly in Great Britain and the United States in a time ranging from the eighteenth to the twenty-first century. When people are confronted
with the genre of crime fiction, they usually associate it with detective fiction or crime thrillers. Some of the most popular writers of crime fiction are Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Raymond Chandler and Edgar Allan Poe and their inventions of such
characters as Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple and Philip Marlowe (Priestman 2003: preface). These works have shaped our understanding of crime literature profoundly and influenced the emergence of other crime fiction genres and their authors. On these grounds this essay will mainly focus on the emergence of a crime genre that is concerned with the American gangster and the myth of the mafia. To be more precise, I will concentrate on the mafia gangster in the United States and analyze his way to success and power. To better understand the phenomenon of the mafia gangster, I will give a brief account of American crime fiction followed by a description of the typical ingredients a successful crime novel has to have. Afterwards, I will present some information on the
American gangster in general and explain the circumstances that facilitated his career in organized crime to become such an important part of American culture. Then I will proceed with the sudden appearance of the mafia gangster in the United States and comment on the etymology of the term mafia in order to explain how he became so
important to the American culture. After the background information has been covered by the first three chapters, I will go on with the analysis of the phenomenon of the mafia in literature and on television. Therefore, the very popular contributions to the mafia genre produced by Mario Puzo, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and David Chase will be discussed. The Godfather, Goodfellas and The Sopranos will be the main subjects of interest to show how these works contributed to a general understanding of the mafia in the
second half of the twentieth century. Finally, I will give a short account of the decline of the mafia in organized crime within the United States before the Conclusion will be presented.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. American Crime Fiction
- 2.1 The satisfaction of murder
- 2.2 The invention of the gangster
- 2.3 The importance of the gangster in American culture
- 3. The mafia gangster in American culture
- 3.1 The etymology of the term “mafia”
- 4. The phenomenon of the mafia in literature and on television
- 4.1 Mario Puzo's The Godfather and the film trilogy by Francis Ford Coppola
- 4.2 Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas (1990)
- 4.3 David Chase's The Sopranos (1999-2007)
- 5. The decline of the American mafia
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay analyzes the phenomenon of the mafia gangster in American crime fiction, focusing on its evolution and cultural significance. The study examines the genre's development, the role of the gangster, and the portrayal of the mafia in prominent works like *The Godfather*, *Goodfellas*, and *The Sopranos*. * The evolution of American crime fiction and its subgenres. * The cultural impact and significance of the American gangster. * The portrayal of the Mafia in literature and television. * The historical context and development of the Mafia in the United States. * The representation of power, corruption, and violence in Mafia narratives.Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter establishes the scope of the essay, focusing on the American gangster and the mafia myth within the broader context of crime fiction. It outlines the essay's structure, highlighting the progression from a general overview of American crime fiction to a detailed analysis of specific works depicting the mafia, ultimately aiming to understand the mafia's rise to prominence and its cultural impact.
2. American Crime Fiction: This chapter explores the history and evolution of American crime fiction, tracing its development from early detective stories to the emergence of the private-eye and police procedural subgenres. It emphasizes the genre's role in reflecting societal attitudes and anxieties, highlighting its enduring popularity, particularly in depicting gangster and mafia themes, as evidenced by continued success in film and television.
2.1 The satisfaction of murder: This section delves into the inherent fascination with murder in crime fiction. It discusses how elements like homicide, oppression, and corruption draw audiences in, creating suspense and prompting the reader or viewer to actively engage with the narrative to solve the mystery or understand the motives behind the crimes.
2.2 The invention of the gangster: [Note: This section's content is not provided in the given text. A summary cannot be written.]
2.3 The importance of the gangster in American culture: [Note: This section's content is not provided in the given text. A summary cannot be written.]
3. The mafia gangster in American culture: This chapter focuses on the emergence and cultural significance of the mafia gangster in the United States. It explores the etymology of the term "mafia" and analyzes how this figure became a prominent aspect of American culture, contributing to the broader narrative of crime and power dynamics in the country.
3.1 The etymology of the term “mafia”: [Note: This section's content is not provided in the given text. A summary cannot be written.]
4. The phenomenon of the mafia in literature and on television: This chapter delves into the representation of the mafia in popular literature and television, focusing on significant works like *The Godfather*, *Goodfellas*, and *The Sopranos*. The analysis examines how these works shaped public understanding of the mafia in the latter half of the 20th century.
4.1 Mario Puzo's The Godfather and the film trilogy by Francis Ford Coppola: [Note: This section's content is not provided in the given text. A summary cannot be written.]
4.2 Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas (1990): [Note: This section's content is not provided in the given text. A summary cannot be written.]
4.3 David Chase's The Sopranos (1999-2007): [Note: This section's content is not provided in the given text. A summary cannot be written.]
5. The decline of the American mafia: [Note: This chapter's content is not provided in the given text. A summary cannot be written.]
Keywords
American crime fiction, gangster, mafia, organized crime, *The Godfather*, *Goodfellas*, *The Sopranos*, cultural representation, power, violence, corruption.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the overall topic of this text?
This text provides a comprehensive preview of an essay analyzing the phenomenon of the mafia gangster in American crime fiction. It covers the evolution of the genre, the cultural significance of the gangster figure, and the portrayal of the Mafia in influential works such as The Godfather, Goodfellas, and The Sopranos.
What does the Table of Contents include?
The table of contents outlines the essay's structure, starting with an introduction and progressing through chapters on American crime fiction (including sections on the appeal of murder and the invention of the gangster archetype), the mafia gangster's role in American culture, the mafia's representation in literature and television (specifically focusing on The Godfather, Goodfellas, and The Sopranos), and concluding with a chapter on the decline of the American Mafia.
What are the key objectives and themes of the essay?
The essay aims to analyze the evolution and cultural significance of the mafia gangster in American crime fiction. Key themes include the evolution of American crime fiction, the cultural impact of the American gangster, the portrayal of the Mafia in literature and television, the historical context of the Mafia in the US, and the representation of power, corruption, and violence in Mafia narratives.
What are the chapter summaries?
The provided summaries describe the introduction as setting the stage, the American crime fiction chapter as tracing the genre's development, and the chapter on the mafia gangster in American culture as exploring the figure's emergence and cultural impact. The chapter on the mafia in literature and television focuses on key works, while the final chapter on the decline of the American mafia lacks a summary due to missing content in the original text. Several sub-chapters also lack summaries for the same reason.
What are the keywords associated with this essay?
The keywords include: American crime fiction, gangster, mafia, organized crime, The Godfather, Goodfellas, The Sopranos, cultural representation, power, violence, and corruption.
What specific works of literature and film are analyzed in the essay?
The essay specifically analyzes Mario Puzo's The Godfather and Francis Ford Coppola's film adaptation, Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas (1990), and David Chase's The Sopranos (1999-2007).
What aspects of the Mafia are explored in the essay?
The essay explores the historical context and development of the Mafia in the United States, its cultural significance, its representation in popular culture (literature and film), and the themes of power, corruption, and violence associated with it.
What is the intended audience for this text?
The text is intended for academic use, providing a structured overview suitable for researchers and students interested in analyzing themes within American crime fiction.
- Quote paper
- Diplomsportwissenschaftler David Fußinger (Author), 2012, The Mafia Gangster in American Crime Fiction: an analysis of the phenomenon of the mafia with reference to "The Godfather", "Goodfellas" and "The Sopranos", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/195612
