Tony Soprano is the main character and protagonist of the crime drama The Sopranos, which ran for six seasons from 1999 to 2007. First, what makes Tony Soprano an antihero?
Antihero characteristics can include: sociopathy, one who does things for his own self interest, someone who is driven by raw or basic needs and desires, one who has little to no regard of the law or figures of authority, someone who cannot or is not willing to change and a person who often believes their actions are well justified. The story is usually told through the antihero’s eyes or point of view, which sometimes can bring us in to empathize and feel sorry for this person, no matter how bad they become.
Tony Soprano is the Don of the Italian Mob in New Jersey. He kills people, including members of his family and best friends with no remorse. He cheats on his wife and lies indiscriminately. He shrugs off any evil doings and has no regard for the feelings of others unless they somehow will affect his well being. He seeks help from a therapist, but only to get to the bottom of his panic attacks since they can make him appear as weak in front of others. He has no desire to change his sociopathic behavior or learn about understanding or empathy.
As the antihero, Mr. Soprano will continue down every dark path until he loses everything including his family, business and wealth or until he is killed by his enemies.
One of the reasons that The Sopranos television series was so popular was because of its protagonist, Tony Soprano. Tony's conflicting character started a trend in television where the protagonist has done some reprehensible actions, but somehow maintains a likeable presence. Similar television shows that follow this format include Mad Men and Breaking Bad. Brett Martin actually discusses this phenomenon in his book, Difficult Men- a nod to these male "antiheroes".
Tony Soprano is in the mafia. Throughout the series, we see him committing typical villian duties. He murders people, cheats on his wife, orders hits on others, steals, and even meets with a psychiatrist who eventually labels him as a sociopath. However, we also see him take care of his children (including a college visit for his oldest daughter), act as a loyal friend, love a racehorse, and help people out, including local business owners. Tony is presented as multi-dimensional. He may earn a living with his violent and ruthless duties, but he is a family man too.
The family man side of Tony allows viewers to connect with him. Many of us are fathers, husbands, and neighbors. When Tony does something criminal, it serves as a reminder that no one is all good or all bad. We may love our families, but also have secrets to hide. This connection establishes him as an antihero. We root for him to win and have success. We are sympathetic when his wife begins having feelings for another man. We revel in the close bond he shares with his daughter, Meadow. We feel for Tony when his son attempts suicide, knowing the pain that it could cause any parent.
By definition, an antihero is a protagonist that lacks conventional heroic traits. Traditional television shows, such as the Mary Tyler Moore Show, or Cheers, host traditional protagonists with clear heroes. The protagonists on these shows would never murder, steal, or attempt truly violent acts.
Watching a television show such as The Sopranos is thought provoking due to the depths that the characters hold. It can make you wonder if someone that you know is harboring a dark side. No matter how the world feels about Tony Soprano, it should be agreed that the character was certainly groundbreaking and revolutionary.
In the television series The Sopranos, the lead protagonist Tony Soprano is notably immoral. Tony Soprano serves as one of the most influential archetypes of the television antihero due to his abrasive personality, his vulgar language, and his sociopathic tendencies, which contrast sharply with his psyschiatric vulnerability.
There are innumerable moments throughout The Sopranos in which viewers see the dark side of Tony Soprano; whether being unfaithful to his loving wife, killing acquaintances in cold blood, belittling his family, or many other instances of immoral behavior, Tony rarely misses an opportunity to be a lousy human being. He dumps his suicidal mistress with nothing but grand indifference. He arranges a hit on his nephew's fiancée. More often than not, he utilizes his power over others simply for the sake of doing so.
So what makes Tony an antihero rather than a villain? For one, the show spends most of its time identifying with him, seeing the events through his eyes. Furthermore, Tony's vulnerability, his psychological issues that force him into his seat in his therapist's office, sketch him out to be a man of complicated psychology. He's tough overall but sometimes shows weakness. It is his vulnerability and his childlike dependency that make him relatable. Tony is also morally ambiguous. He is often conflicted by his actions and has surprising instances of humanity; he loves animals (ducks, geese, goats, and horses, for example) and ultimately murders Ralph after he kills Tony's beloved horse Pie-O-My.
Because of his villainous characteristics, as well as his central role in the series and his psychological complexity, Tony Soprano acts as a spectacular example of an antihero.
No comments:
Post a Comment