#mother Apollonia

[vurlient]

🌌🌆🌃 ~ puppet combo art dump (>^^<)

[catfrogz]

I don’t know if my audience has an overlap from IHNMAIMS to the puppet combo games, but here’s the resident baddie of the franchise, Mother Apollonia

[alhexiyansfist]

[drednixi]

[myokk]

Okay, question for you- is Eloise’s hair tied at the end and curly, or in a ponytail and curly, or is there no tie and I’m just blind?

I was going to answer this quickly but I am EXTRA & had to do a write-up of her hair (sorry🙏)

First, she normally does wear her hair in a braid!💓 I do NOT know how to draw braids nor do I want to learn, so I do my weird way that looks terrible and I really should spend like 30 min researching😔🙏

When I remember, I like to add the bow but I forget a lot🥲

Her hair is CRAZY and thick, and has been the bane of her existence her whole life. I’m just channeling her inner Black (she is like a great-aunt or something of Sirius and Bellatrix) so OBVIOUSLY i had to give her amazing hair.

Since she is a Proper Young Victorian Lady™️ who spent the last 5 years at a muggle finishing school, she NEVER wears her hair down, and felt scandalized the first weeks at Hogwarts, seeing girls her age wearing TROUSERS😨 and having their hair DOWN😳 and although she’s used to it now, she still feels uncomfortable thinking of herself doing it.

Sebastian daydreams about it all the time though😇🙏

Some quick doodles I sketched up for this así.

1) her crazy hair when it’s down💓🫶

2) Imelda LOVES doing Eloise’s hair. She’s never really had girl friends before, and the ritual of gossiping/doing hair/hanging out reminds Imelda of her childhood bc her mom used to do her hair and tell stories🥹🥹 and Eloise has NEVER had friends before OR the experience with her own (awful) mother so she LOVES IT TOO💓💓💓 (Imelda teaches her Spanish some nights)

[rosiedawsons]

it tells me a lot that kay and connie are the most tridimensional and developed female characters in the godfather trilogy and yet the most hated. the arguments being...they're reckless (like the men) selfish (like the men) annoying (like the men) traitors (like the men).

of course, no one has to like them, but when the fans are overwhelming in love with apollonia (a sixteen year old who barely talked & had no apparent personality) but hate every woman who creates conflict with the men it makes me wonder. the men can create conflict with themselves, fredo can be stupid and reckless, michael can get him killed, sonny can be impulsive, bigoted and betray the thing vito valued the most (family) by being a cheater...and that's all fine because they're not supposed to be perfect, they're not even supposed to be good!

but the women in the story (that already don't serve them) have to be puppets to the men's schemes to be likable in any way? connie was supposed to be the perfect victim of abuse, rely on the brothers who would never let her participate in their business and live like her mother (only to attend, be nothing more than a mother and wife)? kay was supposed to be a trophy wife she never agreed to being because MICHAEL promised her something different and failed to give her? she was supposed to lay in bed all day in the cage michael made their home be, waiting for someone to get her and her children killed, or see her baby boy become a monster?

they were fighting to be something in a time, a context, an environment and a family that would not allow women to be more than mothers and wives. connie & kay, they could never make me hate you

[rendezvouz-fling]

Astro Observations #13

• Gemini/Aquarius/Libra placements might be into 70s/80s music and might be very drawn to the “Minneapolis Sound”. E.g. Prince, Sheila E, Ready for the world, Vanity/Apollonia 6, André Cymone, The Time, Dez Dickerson, etc…

• Water suns with Air placements tend to have sweet and sometime sultry singing voices that sound similar to Bunny DeBarge, Syreeta, Patrice Rushen, etc… They literally give me ‘I love every little thing about you’ by Syreeta vibes!!✨💗

• Most big famous singing families tend to have Water placements in their big 3/6!!

• People with Earth placements in their Singer persona chart tend to develop their singing styles a little more slowly than others but it also gives them more time to experiment with their voice and therefore be really great singers!!💜

• Taurus placements love cooking for their loved ones and they turn out to be really great cooks where as some Virgo placements especially Suns aren’t that great at cooking.

• Air moons with Air risings need to stop ghosting their friends because they’ll literally become addicted.🤧

• Air moons can be very much “Hollier than thou” type people without literally saying it. They just give off those vibes especially when they’re around Fire moons.✋🏽🌚

• Leo suns with Gemini moons and Leo mercuries are such big gossips!!! They’re also very bold, loud, sometimes caring and very funny people!!

• Air/Earth mixes in the big 3 are so ethereal??💗

• Let a Sagittarius moon/stellium go on about their days and don’t cling onto them and they’ll love you forever!!

• Libra Jupiters tend to have a lot of Leo Jupiter besties!💕

• Virgo moons and dropping their subject then asking the person about it again at least 100 times.💀

• Virgo moons with Water placements will literally wanna apologize all the time if they feel like they’ve upset you and that sinks my heart.🥺

• Taurus moons will literally have so much patience with their loved ones!🤎

• Taurus placements prefer gummies over chocolates.

• As impulsive as people may think Sagittarius moons are, they’ll actually let you talk and listen to what you have to say.

• A lot of rockstars tend to have Aquarius, Gemini and Sagittarius in their big 3/6! E.g. Vince Neil (Aqua sun, Gemini rising), Axl Rose (Aquarius sun/mercury/Jupiter/Mars/Saturn), Nikki Sixx (Sagittarius sun/mercury/venus), Tom Keifer (Aquarius sun, Gemini moon) etc…

• Aries/Sagittarius sun kids are those brave kids sit around telling scary stories to scare other kids lmao, they’re also the types to spread a fake rumor about having seen a ghost. Usually the ones you’d find playing Bloody Mary and Charlie Charlie in school.😭

• Virgo sun Virgo moon kids are the momma’s babies!!

• Girls with Air/Fire placements are usually daddy’s girls.

• Some Capricorn sun Pisces moon men tend to look like their mother’s twins!

• Fire suns tend to be goofballs when it’s karaoke night.😂

• Fire mars mothers lose their tempers as a hobby atp. 😭✋🏽

• Pisces suns with Pisces mercuries are such softies!🥺

• Gemini placements 🤝 bouncing their legs, standing up then walking for a few seconds and sitting back down, scratching themselves, pulling their hairs or biting their nails when nervous to the point of habitually doing it.🥲

• Capricorn suns with a Virgo stellium are so sexy?! 🥵 Donna Summer had this placement!😮‍💨

• Gemini risings and Leo risings are the type to bring food with them to a cafe and boldly eat it because ‘they paid for it’.😂

[aonglegs]

Mother Apollonia, edited image

[rocknroll7575]

Happy Mother's Day!

KnightsCrown:

Jeanette: *Holding her mom's bow* Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

Gillian: *Smiles* Thank you, Jeanette, but why are you giving me my bow?

Jeanette: I thought we could go out for a hunt today, ya know like we used to!

Gillian: *smiles brightly* I would love that!

XXX

RougeKnight:

Solana: *Holding an envelope* Happy Mother's Day!

Vernal: *smirking* What'cha get me kiddo?

Solana: *Smirking back* See for yourself~!

*Vernal took the envelope and opened it only to see tickets for a movie*

Vernal: Are these... Tickets to Grimmzilla: Minus one!?

Solana: *Nods* Yep! It's to the black and white screen too~!

Vernal: I ever tell you your the best kid I had?

Solana: I'm the only kid you had!

XXX

KnightFall

Cinder: ...

Apollonia: ... So... What would you like for Mother's day?

Cinder: I... I don't know... *Sigh* I-I'm sorry, I never should have dragged you with me today...

Apollonia: No! No! No! I-It's my fault! I-I know you're trying and all and I should have just asked Dad what you liked but-

Cinder: *Chuckles*

Apollonia: ?

Cinder: Sorry... it just... you remind me of your father when I first met him, always awkward and overthinking, afraid that he had done or said something that upset me, always apologizing even though I told him he had no reason to apologize...

Apollonia: *smiles* Huh? Dad was like that back then?

Cinder: *Nods* Indeed

Apollonia: *chuckles* What were you like... you and him? Back then?

Cinder: *Smiles* Well, I think I should start with how I fell in love with him, which was when we were just kids...

XXX

Topaz

Jade: Hey ma! look what I got you! *holding a large jeweled necklace*

Emerald: Sweetie... where'd you get this?

Jade: ... does it matter?

Emerald: *Smirks and shrugs* Guess not, after all, it is Mother's Day~!

Jaune: *From the other room* We're returning it!

Jade/Emerald: Never let me have any fun!

[tellmeallaboutit]

knock knock (Raphael x F!Player)

Chapter 14, In Which You Play The Main Role

AO3

Art: Apollonia Saintclair – Love is a Killer

Fresh flowers.

Smelled like fresh flowers, freshly cut roses. Smelled amazing.

You opened one eye to admire a bouquet on the bedstand right before you, and then opened the second one. Twelve blood-red roses, their stems neatly trimmed. Nestled within was a card simply signed with an ornate letter 'R'. 

"Well done on not fleeing tonight," it read.

You tried once and learned your lesson. You were back at the place you tried to escape, having achieved nothing but landing your mother in a hospital, and you sure as hell won’t try again any time soon. You were stark naked, but a quick check reassured you that nobody had taken liberties while you slept.

An odd sense of disappointment seeped into you at that realisation, as if you had been overlooked in some way.

Pushing it aside, you stretched and checked the time - 10:30 am on a Saturday morning. Really? That means you slept more than thirty hours straight; a weird, dreamless slumber, much like being dead.

You turned; the side to the bed next to you was meticulously done, as if no one had been there at all. There was a lawn mower buzzing in the garden. Not a thing seemed out of place; blissfully serene. 

Where was Raphael? Where were both of them? Working?

You grabbed your phone and checked it next - nobody died while you were sleeping.

Nobody you knew, at least.

***

You were heading to grab some breakfast when you heard Raphael’s voice from across the upper floor. The other one, the man he was conversing with, sounded strangely familiar too. 

The usually locked study door was wide open. If they wanted to keep their business hush-hush, they'd have ensured it was bolted shut, wouldn’t they?

"Raul, are you out of your mind?" a male voice asked. "Even Avernus Capital doesn't have that kind of cash on balance."

"I've managed to secure third-party financing to bridge the shortfall." That unmistakable Raphael tone, but Raul's words.

You tiptoed closer, positioning yourself just beyond the doorway.

"Who would have both the money and sheer idiotism to help you take Blackrock private?” 

You vaguely recognised the name 'Blackrock', but couldn’t place it right away.

"Turns out some institutions still hold considerable fortunes," Raul responded. “You’d be surprised what compound interest does through centuries of tax-free reign”.

A quiet pause hung in the air before realization hit the other guy (where do you recognize his voice from?): "I see. Is that why you've been schmoozing up to the Vatican? Why would they get involved in your personal insanity?"

Raphael’s signature laugh echoed through the room; it must be a very large room indeed.

“The same reason anyone does anything: discontentment with how things are evolving and hope for a better leader.”

The other man sighed.

“This is not about money anymore, is it, Raul? Look, I respect your financial acumen but you are not - NOT - cut out for politics. With your... ahem... Neapolitan roots? I am being polite now, Raul. How long until they start digging up skeletons in your father’s garden?”

Intrigued, you couldn't help but peek into the room. Raphael was lounging against a pristine glass desk in his full cambion form, cigarette poised between his fingers, sleeves of his crisp white cotton shirt rolled up. He looked relaxed, unbothered, his tail resting peacefully beside him. The only other person in the room was a middle-aged man with ashen blond hair, facing away from you in a leather chair.

The study itself was a bizarre mix of avant-garde decor and Catholic art. Behind Raphael, a replica of Caravaggio (or not a replica…) dominated the entire wall, a depiction of dying Lazarus; not something you would hang to welcome guests. Thin white Venetian blinds covered floor-to-ceiling windows.

Raphael took an indulgent drag from his cigarette and smiled, making a sweeping gesture with his hand. "The gardens of my father are under cultural heritage protection," he said, "and are not to be dug up, come hell or high water." He paused for a moment before continuing, "And yes, you are right. Maybe I've found a calling more profound than just being Mammon's servant. Perhaps his reign is nearing its end; his promises revealed to be empty. After all, he can't keep exploiting his flock ad infinitum if they refuse to reproduce, can he?" 

You wondered if Raul’s constant smoking irked Raphael because there was something freudian about how he constantly dragged on a cigarette.

"A servant of Mammon..." Markus repeated. "A higher calling... Do you even hear yourself?"

"I do," Raphael replied. "And I quite like what I hear. See, Markus; inspire a man’s faith and he’ll paint the Sistine Chapel. Oppress him and he’ll create a masterpiece of fury and rebellion. Give him freedom and prepare for an avalanche of TikTok reels. I refuse to accept the downward spiral this world is in. And so should you."

With a flick of his wrist, Raphael extinguished his cigarette on a marble ashtray and stretched out his shoulders.

“I’m taking over Blackrock,” he said. “And with it comes the infrastructure, the influence, the manpower, the global investments to shape this world as I see fit. No longer will Mammon's greed dictate our fate."

The man scoffed. "You're living in a fantasy world," he said. “You'd have to navigate through a mountain of regulators, politicians, public and private investors. No one is willing to relinquish power back to the Old World. And if you keep spouting this nonsense, the engine of your private jet may just... Oh, what's the matter?"

Following Raphael’s glance, the man turned to you; visibly annoyed. 

Oh no, you knew him from the TV and newspapers - the leader of the democratic liberal party. There was even a tweet of yours out there vowing to spit in his face if given the chance after his speech on welfare and immigrants.

He looked at you with an arched eyebrow; dismissing you at first glance, clearly expecting you to shut the door but Raphael waved you over instead.

“This woman is privy to all my secrets, Markus,” Raphael stated. “Allow me to introduce you to my consort, Anya Berger.”

“Your what now?”, Markus blinked in surprise. “A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Berger”.

”My beloved consort”, he repeated, looking right into your eyes with a tender smile. “The wonderful being that gave me the keys to my kingdom come”. He beckoned again, this time with more urgency: "Come here mouse; don't be timid."

Raphael introduced you as his consort in front of one of the most powerful people in the country. It felt surreal.

He leaned in for a kiss and you happily obliged, tasting his perfectly soft and moisturised lips. As your eyes fluttered open mid-kiss, you stole a glance at Markus who was looking increasingly uncomfortable.

"Three weeks ago, you were swearing off women," Markus sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Remember when that French girl accused you of God knows what and Camilla needed my help to handle the media fallout?"

"I am forever grateful for your assistance during that time," Raphael responded. "But then I met this enchanting creature and it made me question everything. Look at her! Isn't she an absolute treasure?"

Markus exhaled slowly, clearly struggling with his thoughts before finally voicing them: "Raul, if I don't say this out loud, no one in your circle will. You're...well," he paused again, searching for the right words. "You're losing touch with reality. At first, I thought it was just rumours but now..." He shot a sharp look at you before continuing, "After your father's death, you clawed your way into the top hundred but don't - DON'T - mistake wealth for power; they're not interchangeable currencies."

Raphael watched him with detached amusement, his hand gently stroking your thigh.

“You are not immortal, Raul, is what I am trying to say”.

Raphael let out a laugh. "I just might be. Only death will tell for sure."

Markus' attempts at a diplomatic response died on his lips as he stared at Raphael in disbelief.

“You know, Raul”, he finally said. “The next thing I expect is you telling me God speaks through you”.

Raphael snapped his fingers as if struck by an idea. "Funny you should say that. I had a most peculiar dream of Archangel Raphael recently. Maybe one day God will choose me as His envoy and I will spread His word loud and clear. After all, His flock tends to wreck chaos when left unguided”.

Markus turned to you, pleading for some form of support. "You...you don't think it's crazy talk, Ms. Berger? You don't want to say anything to your boyfriend?"

“I don’t think it’s crazy talk”, you shrugged. “And I am an expert”.

That silenced him.

“Anya stands by me no matter what, my precious little mouse”, Raphael purred, placing a hand on your shoulder. “While it appears I’ve vastly overestimated your loyalty, Markus. Years of friendships, of secrets shared, of deals struck, and this is your payback. Tsk-tsk. Have you forgotten what happened in Sankt Moritz in 99? Because I certainly haven't."

If the threat bothered him, Markus did not let it show; he stood up from his chair and dusted off his suit.

“I've vastly overestimated your sanity, Raul”, Markus retorted. “I wish both of you a good day. You won't be having my backing in Davos, by the way. When you fall - and you will - I refuse to get pulled down with you.”

“Anya?”, Raphael looked at you with a smile. “Do you want to wish our dear guest something? A final farewell, perhaps?"

What? 

Should you kill Markus or something? You could gladly spit him in the face, but killing him yourself seems a bit… ugh… well. 

He could just… change his mind.

“I wish you would… reconsider?”, you suggested. “I wish you would reconsider”.

That came out… the way it came out.

Markus stared at you the very familiar stare of somebody who both slightly pities you and is slightly disgusted by you.

“…madhouse”, the man said and went straight for the door. 

As soon as the door closed behind Markus, you turned to Raphael with a bewildered look on your face.

“Was that...was that really-”

“It was whom I used to consider a friend. Perhaps with a tad more fervor in your wishes next time, my dear mouse”, Raphael said, a smile on his face that barely masked annoyance. “A bit more direction as well. You are only granted that which you truly yearn for, after all."

You quickly nodded, and watched his face shift. It was fleeting, momentarily, but you learned to read it very well.

"So, my sleeping beauty, did you have a good rest?" Raul asked. "You were out for a full day and a half. I was practically dying of loneliness and yet, being the gentleman that I am, I let you sleep in peace. Now don't I deserve some praise for being so kind?”

“You do”, you nodded. “Amazing fit of willpower”.

“Did you miss me terribly?”, he asked as he pushed strands of hair away from your face. “Or did you think about running away again?”

“Yes, of course”, you said, and quickly corrected yourself: “I mean no, no thoughts of running away, of course, and yes, I missed you terribly”.

Raul interpreted your words in the only way he wanted to interpret them.

“Is that so? I have twenty minutes until the next call”, he said, pulling your body to him. "Do you think that would be enough to show me how badly I was missed?”

read the rest on ao3

[latristereina]

I feel like many people misinterpret Michael Corleone’s character and his tragism… They usually blame everything on Kay because if Apollonia had lived, he would have ruled the world, blablabla. But there’s no guarantee Apollonia would have turned out to be like Carmela, and also, being like Carmela isn’t a good thing at all. Mama Corleone’s circumstances were complex but with her submissive attitude, she was an enabler for Vito’s criminal endeavors, which affected their children, basically fucking them up. Kay wasn’t having any of it as soon as she realized Michael wouldn’t change.

Michael had darkness in him but other than that, he really wasn’t like his father. He wasn’t a people’s person, he didn’t enjoy the job, he had a different destiny planned for Kay and himself. He didn’t want to be a mobster, I think he wasn’t that almighty don and alpha male by nature, and that’s why he felt compelled to prove himself. He ruled by fear, he became cold, he started to exhibit toxic masculinity, which wasn’t necessarily inherent to his nature. He should have left Kay alone after coming back from Sicily since she wasn’t made for that life, but the failure of their marriage wasn’t her fault, Michael was the toxic one, he would have been like that with any woman.

His choice of Kay to be his wife and the mother of his children shows us that he wanted her no matter what because he was in love with her, but also because he desperately clinged to the man he used to be, he wanted her to serve as a reminder of his past life, of the life he wanted to share with her, he wanted Kay to redeem him. He didn’t really feel comfortable in his role, but he adopted a mask of coldness and self-confidence. He shunned Kay and their children to protect them from the horrors of his world, he convinced himself that everything he did, he did for his family, focusing too much on his business and desire for revenge, which led to him eventually losing all that he loved and valued.

[msfbgraves]

So, I love to watch videos of people reacting for the first time to movies. Almost every time I’ve watched people reacting to The Godfather movies, I’ve noticed that a large chunk of people (especially men, true, but surprisingly a LOT of women) all hate or strongly dislike Kay. Even growing up, both my parents disliked Kay lol, I remember.

It’s surprising to me, as I like all the women in the trilogy (yes, even Mary! Her character is sweet and affectionate, and I love how close she is with her dad!), and I always did like Kay…though I admit, I simply don’t like her with Michael after he decides to join the family business. Apollonia would have been the best fit. Besides, in Part 3, Michael sobs when Anthony sings the love song and thinks of Apollonia and their wedding even years later. And he chooses to return to Sicily to sit and brood/die in the place where they spent time together. That says it all, for me.

I can't say I've spent a lot of time on whether or not I liked Kay or Apollonia or both or neither in relation to these films. I remember watching the second film with my mother, and when the dancing scene between Michael and Kay came up, she said: "Hm. She's frightened."

I do find it surprising how many people make it about liking or not liking either or both of Michael's wives, when discussing the films as a whole. Kay doesn't fit into the mob world, that's the whole point of her, that's why Michael chose her initially, and that's why the audience may not like her - she sticks out like a sore thumb. She shouldn't be there. She agrees! That has nothing to do with how good she would have been for Michael. I do like Kay, the girl has guts. And I think that Apollonia and Michael would have made a fantastic mob marriage.

Michael ghosted Kay, and that is a shit way to break up whatever the circumstances, and by rights, they should have stayed broken up. Michael would have been nothing but a cad boyfriend who turned into a criminal, so people would have said she dodged a bullet.

Ah, but it isn't that simple, is it. If you share your time and love with someone, there will always be some form of bond. Whether or not you act on it is a completely different matter, and I feel Michael should have started fresh, and left Kay the hell alone. He could have written to break up, thank her and tell her to build a life without her. Or simply let her be one of those sacrifices you make, the same he later asks of Vincent. This life isn't good for Kay.

Would it have been good for Apollonia? I think she might have been more familiar with the codes of mob life, I think both Vito and Carmella would have adored her, I think it could have worked out beautifully. She probably wouldn't have felt the need to escape, or that the American life was better than what she left, she wouldn't feel so torn because she knew her roots. Maybe her children may have felt less at ease, but their father would have grown up completely American and helped them.

But it was not to be. Michael already gave up Kay for the life, and I believe him when he says he thought of her. And I believe in love at first sight with Apollonia, and he lost her, and I feel that if Apollonia is gone completely, maybe he can rekindle the love bond with Kay? And he does, under force, and they spend more time as husband and wife, and of course this strengthens that bond as well. But Kay is unhappy, so she breaks it off this time, and yet Michael refuses to let go of that bond (who do you think Mary gets it from)?

Apollonia and Michael is more romantic, less stressful - the fairytale his mob life cannot be. Kay is more realistic. They share a strong young love, and later, at Michael's absolute insistence, a very painful marriage, and Michael loves her and he loves Apollonia because I think that this is something that can happen. You can love two different people, if you want -widowed people do love again, and that doesn't negate the love they lost. Now of course, there may be sexism going on. A woman should simply be pretty and quiet, huh? Do we know a single of Apollonia's opinions other than her wanting to drive and not wanting to bother with English? Whereas Kay actually challenges Michael the way a wife has a right to challenge her spouse! And some people don't want to challenge their spouse and that is fine too! The point is that a marriage should work between two people and Michael's and Kay's didn't and Kay was the one calling that long before Michael, if she does love him. And Michael does not want to give it up. It's tragic, but it isn't Kay's sole fault. Again, she did move on. She rejeced his proposal, or tried to, he didn't want to hear no, she left him, he won't let her be, because he can't let go of emotional bonds apparently.

And who is to say who Apollonia might have become? These films are so very rarely interested in the world of these women, only looking at them in how they affect the men. And that's fine, the films are about Michael. But it's unfair to reduce all the other characters as people to how they relate to Michael. I promise you, if anyone ever made a biopic of my father, you wouldn't get to know everything there is to know about me simply by watching how I relate to him, or vice versa. People are allowed to exist however good they are, or not, for other people.

[prideprejudce]

I just watched the godfather trilogy for the first time & I swear this isn't bait but I was wondering if you had any opinions about the women in the movie(s)? I don't want to be like "these movies are sexist/misogynistic" but I also wonder if there's something to be said about how the women are portrayed? Like personally I thought there was an added layer of tragedy, in the second movie especially when Michael struggles with his dad's legacy & he goes to his mom for advice but she offers so little & then dies like man... what if there was more of her perspective... was it intentionally done, that by ignoring or dismissing the women in these men's lives it contributed to the uh, tragedy of it all? Especially with Kay, how her character progresses in the first two movies & the choices she makes. Or if it's just what women are "reduced" to in these types of stories & it's just me (maybe missing the point as well) that saw it as an addition to the other tragedies/losses?

I think it would be unfair to simply label these films as "sexist" when they reflect the period that it was set in extremely well. It would be like saying that Pride and Prejudice was sexist because it was set in a time when women couldn't inherit their family's land and titles. Well duh, it was a sexist society! That's why it's so fascinating to watch this family scramble to find husbands for their daughters while the second eldest rebels against her gender constraints!

Actually, for a movie that mostly surrounds men, there are a lot of dynamic female characters in The Godfather with actual depth and character development. Coppola doesn't make his female characters' background accessories with blank faces and no personality. They are dynamic human beings with their own sorrows and desires. Even the most minor characters like Sandra (Sonny's wife) get a scene where it's made extremely apparent that she knows that Sonny cheats on her frequently and that she has a lot of built-up resentment in their marriage for it.

The movie also has a lot to say about traditional gender roles and how it provided some women with protected lives behind their husband's achievements while forcing other women into a cage of miserable submission to their husbands. On one hand, we have Carmela, the matriarch of the family who is the traditional wife and mother figure. She seems to have had the luckiest marriage out of the bunch because even though she was in a traditional marriage, her husband respected her and loved her. However she also willingly ignored the reality that Vito built a criminal empire and therefore doesn't really understand Michael's internal struggle with his father's legacy and losing his own humanity. She kept herself at arm's length to the criminal side her whole life and therefore doesn't understand how someone can lose their humanity or their family. In her era, family was EVERYTHING no matter what your husband is or does.

On the other hand, there is Connie, who is married off to a wannabe gangster who viciously abuses and cheats on her. And even though she's the Don's daughter, nothing is done to protect her from her abusive spouse. Why? because also in that period, women essentially belonged to their husbands. Even Carmela quickly reminds Sonny to not interfere with their marriage because it's no one else's business. Connie is trapped in her own personal hell built by a society that restricts women in their own households, which Coppola shows the consequences of (RIP Sonny)

And then there's Kay - the essential "Modern American Woman" who is thrown into this chaos world when doom and gloom savior son Michael makes her his wife. Unlike the other female characters (including Apollonia as her character foil), Kay cannot look away from Michael's criminal life like a wife is taught to. Kay was not raised as a traditional Sicilian housewife. She tries to be one for years, but she can only stomach this world for so long before she actively turns her back on it and ends her "role" in it by aborting her child and divorcing Michael. She can almost represent how modern feminism slowly began seeping its way into society where women no longer have zero agency over their lives and bodies. Instead of continuing to get pregnant like the dutiful wife for Michael to get his next son, Kay eventually said F That I'm done bringing more kids into this nightmare

The Godfather series as a whole is about change. New Dons replacing the old ones. Power shifting inside a family. Sons getting stepped over for other sons. Selling illegal liquor and gambling to selling drugs. Trying (and failing) to make an illegal business into a legitimate one. The change in women and their roles in that world also changes too which is why I like the film so much. It speaks on so many layers of society and how it grows and changes

[gwennafran]

Pale Lights, Book 2 chapter 53 - Asphodel Residents

Time for an update.

This was the chapter where I realized three of the four Asphodelian noble ladies introduced so far are very roaring cougars. I’m not sure what they are putting in the water here. Or maybe the aether.

And then it finally was called out that I messed up a note all the way back when Penelope Kirtis was introduced. And gave her one from Lady Doukas. So, for months I have slandered Kirtis calling her a cougar with no justification. Oh well, she’s mean to servants. She had it coming. I guess her notes can at least get an update going forward.

Penelope Eirenos got added, even if it means breaking my current “must be here for two chapters” guideline. Even if she doesn’t show up at the party the next day, she felt pretty important. She also is the second Penelope on this sheet. Strawberry blonde hair is always so much more complex to make than you think it is.

Apollonia got proper art. She may be a toxic mother figure to Evander, but at least she isn’t having sex with the girl her son currently is dating and hoping to marry. (She’s too busy trying to steal his kingdom instead).

Katina got added after proving she knew exactly how to give Angharad Cleon’s starry-eyed attention. Much to Angie’s chagrin.

[drednixi]

[sophireal]

Mother Apollonia