Tony Soprano Was Equally Good and Evil
The only character capable of both
Tony Soprano is one of the most respected and complicated characters of all time. His psyche dictates the emotional state of all other characters. Everyone in The Sopranos lives under Tony’s shadow.
The Sopranos is the greatest show of all time because it challenges the viewer’s conception of human nature, morality, and themselves. David Chase holds a mirror up to the viewer by revealing the inner world of a powerful man — the murderous, womanizing, protective, brutally honest, and animal-loving Tony Soprano.
Tony Soprano, or Anthony, as his mother and wife sometimes nag him with, is a larger-than-life character. The show unravels within the context of Tony’s sessions with his female therapist, Dr. Melfi. The viewer gets a window into the architecture of Tony’s subconscious through his relationship with her. You learn his father was a handsome, tough, and joyful murderer who took orders from his shrill, manipulative, emasculating, narcissistic wife. It’s almost impossible to understand who Tony is without that context.
Rather than give you the obvious analysis that becomes clear as you watch the show, I’m going to examine Tony’s relationship to family, sex, and loyalty to make the case that Tony is equally good and evil.
