Hero's Journey: Michael Leaves Home

       Throughout Francis Ford Coppola's "The Godfather", Michael undergoes the Hero's Journey. While at some times it is quite obvious where Michael is in the Hero's Journey, at other times, it can be quite difficult. For example, when Michael kills Sollozzo and McCluskey and has to flee to Sicily, it can be debated that he is at different stages in the Hero's Journey. Personally, I believe that he is at Stage Four: The Innermost Cave. This is due to the fact that I believe that when Michael is in Italy, he is there to become more in tune with his Sicilian roots, and, through this, he learns what he needs to learn in order to save his family back in New York. This fits with stage four because in stage four, "the hero changes interanlly", and I believe that through all his experiences in Italy, Michael gains the knowledge and experiences he needs to become the Don of the Corleone family.