Passion versus Reason

Perhaps the central theme of the book, the main characters all struggle, to some extent, with the dichotomy between passion and reason. Michael likes to think he makes all his decisions based on cool logic, but Nick Geraci shows us a contradiction in the Don's decision-making. Just before Nick shoots Tessio, Tessio attempts to make it easier for his protygy by telling Nick it's "just business," a phrase often heard in the Mafia world. In that moment Nick thinks of the eulogy Don Michael gave his father. In this eulogy, Michael stated that what made Vito great was that nothing was ever "just business" with him, that he took everything personally. Indeed, the Family business is so inextricably linked with family that it can never fundamentally be only about business.

Reason appears to be a tool used by the men in service of their passions. The...