Rhetorical Strategies

·         Anaphora: “He named…He put…He also…He explained…” (225). The anaphora of the paragraph, using the word “he”, which, throughout the paragraph, is used in large numbers, is crucial to the sense that Vito was extremely busy, as well as to reinforce the idea of crime being unrewarding, yet doing so through the misery of tedium, rather than illustrating the ultimate unhappiness which a life of crime can lead to.

·         Repetition: “like when you retire, they’d retire together, retire from everything” (405). The repetition of the word retire is one instance where repetition is meant to invoke sentiment, making note of Johnny’s desire to forevermore be with Virginia, and to relax. This relaxation is reflected in the repetition, resorting to the comfort of monotony, perhaps demonstrating the way that, ultimately, the dreamed-of retirement would end.

·         Imagery: “the hills and canyons of garishly red rock, the burning deserts, the unexpected and blessedly refreshing lakes, even the heat” (474). This imagery, describing the idyllic situation which Kay had found herself living in, serves to show how all aspects of her surroundings were pleasant, even the heat, creating a dichotomy with the unpleasant and ruthless world which Michael had lived in, once more deriding the criminal lifestyle.

·         Metaphor: “It made him feel powerful that one of the Corleones was his doormat” (238). This metaphor is one that exemplifies the environment which the Corleone family lived in, one that valued status and power above any real character, choosing to focus more on the feeling of power which was obtained by having a form of dominance over a Corleone, rather than the inherent issues which are presented by the situation. This illustrates how corruption can lead to a person being glad simply to have some modicum of power, regardless of how it has gone about being attained.