How Was the Don Characterized throughout the beginning of the film?

             The Don had a variety of distinctive features that portrayed the Don as a character to be feared. In the first scene, the viewer is introduced to Bonasera. At the time, the viewer is only able to see a silhouette of the Don listening to Bonaseras story, therefore making his expressions remain a mystery to the viewers.

The opening scene provides with an excessive amount of information to determine what type of character the Don is. Since we cannot see him physically, there is a mysterious aura that radiates off of him and makes us question the identity of the man. This mysterious aura is vital to his characterization as it gives the viewer an eerie feel when watching the first few seconds of this scene. Overtime the camera angle changes and the viewer is able to see the face the Don. The viewer is then introduced to the man behind the mysterious silhouette and is able to find out more about the don’s character.

The Don’s face is that of an older man and at this time behind him, there are shades that have a tiny amount of light seeping through it. These shades are vital to his characterization as the light that seeps through the shades form an oddly shaped halo around his head. This may be difficult to notice at first, but it is vital to his characterization as it shows the Don as a being of Power. It helps us understand why Bonaseras is talking to the Don as he is this figure of power and most probably wants something from said being. After a few sequences, the viewer hears the Don speak and gets to know more about his personality and authority through his actions.

  My idea of the don is simply that he is a man who is greatly feared around his community, and he is a very powerful man due to his terrifying presence and the fact that he is the leader of the mafia. Although he is only scary when he is indoors, when he is outdoors, you can't stop thinking about how he is like a normal old man.