The Sicilian Inheritance

The motif of the Mafia in The Sicilian Inheritance underscores Sicily’s complex social and historical context. Initially, the Mafia arose to protect the poor and vulnerable, but it evolved into a warlike gang associated with crime, violence, and murder. The Mafia often positioned themselves as protectors, offering security for a hefty price. However, this protection is an illusion enforced by intimidation, fear, and violence. Though the Mafia isn’t the central focus of the plot, the organization’s presence looms over the story, casting an ominous shadow over the characters and Sicily’s history marked by poverty, neglect, and an ineffective central government. In contrast to the ineffectiveness of the Mafia, when most of the men leave the village, the women come together to support one another and run the city. The Mafia’s influence in the story highlights the sense of powerlessness and the desperate measures some Sicilians felt forced to take and symbolizes the legacy of corrupt patriarchal structures. Agata describes their complicated history, saying that “[t]his island is a potential paradise squandered by greed” (260). The Mafia’s presence illuminates the limitations placed on women and the sense of fear that can permeate a society ruled by organized crime.

The constant threat of the Mafia looms large over the story as both women protagonists, one in the past and one in the present, challenge traditional roles and face dangerous threats for their stance. The fear of retribution, even for minor transgressions, reinforces the power imbalance and the oppressive nature of a society dominated by men. Anyone who steps out of line can be punished, and unmarried or widowed women are particularly vulnerable. Sara first learns of the Mafia’s influence when she learns that Serafina may have been murdered by the organization for her work as a healer and for being involved in a forbidden love affair. The further Sara digs into the story, the more she learns about the Mafia’s code of silence and their desire to get her out of Sicily. Once Sara resists their veiled threats, the Mafia resorts to violence in kidnapping her. On the same cliff where Serafina was reportedly murdered, Sara takes on the great evil and wins with help from Giusy. The fact that Giusy betrays Sara to the Mafia and then double-crosses them to take Nino down exemplifies the tangled web of lies, power, and disloyalty created by organized crime. Despite its menacing presence, the Mafia is not solely portrayed as a force of evil. The Mafia is a way of life for Sicilians. Giusy’s connection to the Mafia adds an element of nuance to the organization’s image. She points to her normal-looking cousin and says: “They think the Mafia is all shiny suits and machine guns and cars getting blown up in the piazza. Ha! They don’t want to see that guy” (77). Though she recognizes the danger the Mafia presents to society, she isn’t afraid to exploit its power and influence for personal gain.