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Article: The prince of North Jersey.(Perspectives)(Tony Soprano of "The Sopranos")
- Article from:
- Journal of Popular Film & Television
- Article date:
- June 22, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 Heldref Publications. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Abstract: Although many critics consider Tony Soprano from HBO's mob series The Sopranos a troubled Everyman, an emblem of the human need for redemption, the program reveals a postmodern politician more concerned with his leadership skills than his humanity. Caught between the Machiavellian poles of the humane prince and the beastly dictator, Tony is compelled to more and more beastly deeds in a struggle to achieve and maintain power among the ruins of a dying mob culture. Tony's desperate brutality, read against our surprisingly resilient empathy for him, compels us to ask the very question his therapist. Dr. Melfi, poses to herself: Are we being conned by a sociopath?
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