Homer’s Odyssey is one of literature’s most known stories.  It is the epic tale of the Greek hero Odysseus returning home after the historic fall of Troy.  It takes Odysseus ten years for him to return to his native Ithaka and reunite with his father, son and wife.  During this time, the gods play with the fates of Odysseus and his followers by helping them or harming them, but through a deep sense of faith and virtue, Odysseus makes it home and back to his family. 

            A major theme throughout Homer’s epic poem is the idea of faith; faith in one’s family, and most especially faith in the gods.  Odysseus was obedient to the will of the gods and believed he would find his family again.  The underlying theme and story of The Odyssey connects perfectly to The Godfather in that both put a huge emphasis on the ideals of family and faith. 

            Throughout the film, Francis Ford Coppola reinforces ideas of family and religion.  For example, the film starts out at a traditional Sicilian wedding celebration.  Later, Michael decides to be Godfather to Connie’s baby, just as his father Vito was Godfather to Johnny Fontane.  Finally, Michael asserts his power for the first time by having his enemies killed while taking part in the baptism of his godson.  These are three key parts of the movie that all involve family and faith.

            Michael relates to Odysseus in that his family is his only motive for his actions.  He took over the business because his father needed him.  He killed his enemies because they went against his family, and he commits his crimes in order to carry on his loved ones.  As Vito Corleone so plainly put it during the first few scenes of the film, “…a man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man.”