Question

In Robert Warshow's famous essay, "The Gangster as Tragic Hero," he states that "the gangster is the 'no' to that great American 'yes' which is stamped so big over our official culture." In what ways do Rico Bandello (Little Caesar) and Tony Camonte (Scarface) express the "no" of the gangster film genre?

Answer 1

Rico Bandello and Tony Camonte express the "no" of the gangster genre by challenging society's values and norms and rejecting societal boundaries and moral values.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Robert Warshow's famous essay, "The Gangster as Tragic Hero," he argues that gangster films express a "no" to the dominant American culture. Rico Bandello (Little Caesar) and Tony Camonte (Scarface) both embody this "no" in different ways.

Rico Bandello expresses the "no" by challenging society's values and norms. Despite having a disadvantaged background, he strives for power and success, resorting to criminal activities. He rejects the ideals of hard work and legitimate success and instead chooses a life of crime.

Similarly, Tony Camonte expresses the "no" by rejecting societal boundaries and moral values. He is ruthless and driven by his desire for power and control. He becomes involved in the illegal alcohol trade during Prohibition and uses violence to maintain his dominance.