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Hi,
I took another look at this episode, and I think I have a little more
insight into this Johnny character.
You know how Tony is constantly complaining about the new generation
not being dependable and not having honor. If you analyze that
statement, it is actually very ludicrous. They're thieves, murderers
and con-men. They think nothing of whacking someone. So, what's honor
got anything to do with it. Yes, they draw parallels with the military,
and they pretend that they're soldiers in a war. To justify that kind
of illogical thinking, these mobsters have to draw very strict lines
between "work" and "family". At "work", they can whack people, especially
civilians, but to "family" they have to act with utmost honor.
Johnny is someone who still buys into this BS, a system in which they
themselves just happen to benefit at every turn presumably by coincidence.
In order to justify such an illogical system to himself, Johnny has to
really keep everything black and white because gray requires thought.
So, that's why he was so upset with the "off-color" remark. He has to
respond to the slightest insult to his "honor" as if by reflex and
instinct because he has to live by the code. This is the reason why he
was so upset at Jenny when he found out she was cheating. He was
suddenly confronted with some shades of gray in his life. His wife
could no longer be portrayed as a pure victim whose honor needed avenging.
So, shades of gray requires thought and when he engaged his brain instead
of working on pure emotion, impulse and instinct, he realized or sensed
that he had gotten himself into some serious trouble with Carmine and
with North Jersey. Such a realization of shades of gray is rather tough
on someone who believes in rules and regulations and absolutes. Such
revelations can be life changing and can easily justify Johnny's calling
off hit on Ralphie.
Also, there is a weird parallel between relationship of Carmine with
Johnny and relationship of Tony with Carmela. Johnny at one time asks
Carmine if "It's all about money.", and Carmela and Tony accuse each
other with equating money with love. This may be a theme that may play
out for the remainder of the season.
thanks
Jae
posted by 172.193.221...
, Mon, 7 Oct 2002 20:16:11, Mon, 7 Oct 2002 11:00:38
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