How do you live the life of a mob wife or mob princess for that matter, knowing what your husband and father do in order to earn a living? How do you enjoy that money knowing how it was obtained? It’s been said that mob wives are not told what their fathers and husbands are doing, it’s all very private, but is it really?
Carmela surely knew what Tony did for a living. He told her more than once, that she knew who he was when she married him. Sure she loved him, but she loved the lavish materialistic lifestyle that she enjoyed by being married to him too. The mansion, the furs, the jewelry, the money…sound familiar? Did she know all the details of his “business,” no she didn’t, and she liked it that way. Just like our four mob wives, she used denial and rationalization in order to live with herself.
Of the four mob wives, I think Carla may be the most guilty of using denial and rationalization. A few things have been bothering me about her. When she spoke of her husband’s “stock fraud,” she said she didn’t consider it a crime. She neglects to mention he also was guilty of money laundering and other charges. Carla admits to having an uncle with mob ties, but never mentions her father’s alleged connections except to say that he went to prison when she was very young. She also fails to tell her children that their father was in jail. I get the impression that Carla wants to keep her head in the sand, but her body in designer clothes, expensive jewelry and fur coats (sans sleeves).
What’s up with Drita? How many years can she rationalize waiting for a man to get out of prison? She isn’t getting any younger either. I know of very few marriages that could survived such a long term separation. This couple does not strike me as being particularly devoted to each other. Maybe being with the other three “unattached” mob wives, will finally help her to see the light that she doesn’t have to live in limbo waiting for Lee.
Renee rationalizes her whole participation in the series. She talks about loyalty in every episode. She demands respect from everyone. And yet, when it comes to giving her father loyalty and respect what does she do? She ignores his wishes about being on the show. Just yesterday, she tweets that she is in Star magazine. The topic of the Star magazine interview is about why her father isn’t speaking to her any more. Anthony Graziano is getting more publicity than ever before. I am sure he will be thrilled with his new claim to fame when he is released from prison in January 2012.
That leaves Karen. You have to admit Karen isn’t in denial about her father’s crimes because he spelled them all out in his book. That makes it almost impossible for her to rationalize his crimes, but she does rationalize his snitching. She also has compassion for her father’s victims. I wonder if she would have given them a second thought if history taken a different path for her father?
But, let’s get back to Carmela. Since it’s going to be Mother’s Day tomorrow, I wanted to close with one of my favorite Carmela quotes:
MUTHA'S DAY -- CARMELA (to LIVIA): "I want you to cut the drama. It's killing Tony. ... This "poor mother, nobody loves me" victim crap. It is textbook manipulation. ... I am a mother, too, don't forget. ... You're bigger than life. You are his mother." (blog.washingtonpost.com/sopranos)
Happy Mother’s Day and don’t forget to catch episode 4 tomorrow night!
