What Notion Of Masculinity Do The Lawbreakers In Goodfellas Represent? Essay Example

portrayed generally as protectors to the helpless woman, like in the case where Henry beats the man who violated his wife.

Scorsese has clearly demonstrated the concept of violence and criminality which is being associated with masculinity. The men character in this film plays the role of ganisters and they believe is that, for you to be recognized as a man one must have money. The means of obtaining the money is unfair and it has led to increased crimes. In addition, the possession of money leads one to live in a life full of crimes. The ganisters in Goodfellas symbolize violence and the involved characters seem to confront the police and claim the dominance of the whole community. Morrie one of the male characters pursuits his group of gangsters not to surrender in their mission of by showing their weakness. Criminality also reflected in the context where Jimmy who was nicknamed as (the gent) reacts violently to the police officers who wanted to confront him concerning the previous cases being reported regarding his wanting behavior in the society (Hill 16-17).

In process of seeking authority and power to control and overrule the resources, men demonstrate rudeness and uncaring character to their women, therefore, this direct reflect the idea of masculinity. Concerning the ownership and possession of the important items which are rare within the society is left to men who seem to have power and ability to protect them from even the hands of the government. In other words women have no authority and whoever dares to raise such idea is silenced by the group of men in brutal beating. Henry gets frustrated for selling cigarettes

in far town where the community is claiming that he broke a cherry, even after the arrest, he seems not to care or mind on what may happen next (Hill 15). This symbolizes masculinity in his altitude and behavior which is common for the whole team of gangster.

With regard to the film, Scorsese definitely does not endorse much such aspects of manhood, yet in various ways he does not look too expressively critical either, but given such affinity for such characters as well as his real life associations with such persons, there can be slight disbelief that he is at least making comments with regard to their own behavior as well as this way of life (Hill 9-10). For instance, trying to keep more or less goals and objectives, Scorsese argues with respect to the characters own destruction that this is not an ideal way expected to live. The power as well as the glamour that are depicted to go along with such masculine views and notions, and the subsequent criminal and violent actions that regularly follow often does not last long.

Scorsese shows fear which confronts his attitude due the way the society is interpreting the concept of manhood. The film claims this is ideal life and it threaten lives of others especially women who may be oppressed. The idea of masculinity is supposed to be eliminated from the society; otherwise the trend of bloodshed which is demonstrated by Tommy in the effort of expressing manhood or masculinity is the breach for the code of masculinity (Hill 7). Inside the context of expressing power of masculinity there is violation since things are being overdone especially

in the aspect of ownership and resource control.

Work cited

1. Hill, Henry. Gangsters and Goodfellas: The Mob, Witness Protection, and Life on the Run. M. Evans, 2007. (PP. 4-27)