Violence and crime are transforming the lives of many people in America and across the globe. A sequence of aspects has led to a surge in violent crimes in America. These include social inequality, unemployment, poor education, organized crime, the poor state of effectiveness of the police, and other agencies in the criminal justice system, and corrupt governments. Crime and violence are an issue that has prevailed for several decades in America. Moreover, the number of firearms accessible and available in the market to criminals is high. Weapons increase among people is the major factor leading to a surge in crime and violence in America. Don Winslow illustrates examples of these factors that lead to crime in the novel “The Winter of Frankie Machine.” In this essay, I will explain how the dynamics of oppression, killing, criminality, and cruelty are expressed in the novel “The Winter of Frankie Machine.”
The Dynamics of Cruelty in “The Winter of Frankie Machine”
“We sought a place where we might be masters, not slaves but one is master of himself only when he has no slaves. We did not know how to be masters, without new slaves, so we ended up being executioners, in order not to be victims. We found victims to escape being victims. Each of us looks at the other and sees only his suffering in the eyes of the enemy. To reject the others’ suffering, inevitably a mirror image of our own, leads to our only recourse, violence… power knows itself to be temporary, so it is always cruel (Fuentes 214).”
The above quote interlinks with the novel “The Winter of Frankie Machine,” by Don Winslow where people witness the violent acts in the life of Frank Machianno who took his entire life yearning for simple things in life. This novel conveys Frankie’s life and how he reached the point, he is in life today despite his despotic past life. He goes over every hit he ever carried out and every person he ever murdered or hurt. He examines his memory to understand who could want him dead after several decades have elapsed (Winslow 291). Frank is a retired hit man and his old pals were involved in lots of violence and crimes in society.
Frank was one of the most feared West Coast Mafia members. In those old days, he was referred to as Frankie Machine. The name was given to him because he did a good job and was proud of it. In the past, Frank was involved in many criminal activities comprising killing, robbing, and gambling. West Coast Mafia operations were quite perturbing to many people in the region (Winslow105). Many people ended up losing their lives and property due to the mafia’s criminal activities.
In the novel, readers may see that Frank and his Mafia group murdered people for a living and they did not have remorse for the heinous acts committed in the name of money. The mafia’s options were to kill or murder people in society for their benefit. This criminal group cruelty is demonstrated in its best way when people get killed and even he is inevitably compelled to kill those he loved and cared for because of money. Frankie’s life was implicated with big money, murder, plenty of sex, lots of violence, and gambling (Winslow 128). Currently, Frank is happy living a peaceful life even though his past busy life earned him a shop on the San Diego beaches.
Frank consigned his mafia ties to the past, some years’ back, which is where he desires them to be. However, a favor has emerged from a local boss now, which he cannot decline and soon Frank will be back into the treacherous events of his past life. Therefore, he has to decide whether to return to that risky life of crime, despite being older and content with living a peaceful and busy life. Unfortunately, his daughter does not know about her father’s past life (Winslow 289). A person from the past wants Frank dead; thus, he has to devise who, and why and this has to be done fast. The issue with this is he has a large list of candidates after his life (Winslow293). He has to do what it will take to guard her and keep his daughter out of the dangers that his past activities had brought.
Further, even though Frank’s jobs give his girlfriend a comfortable life and pay for his ex-wife’s child support, they are not enough to take his daughter to medical school. This forces Frank to unwillingly accept $50,000 to offer backup and negotiating authority for injured parties in a disagreement over the porn videos financing (Winslow 267). However, when this meeting emerges to be a set-up, he is left running from his old friends, wondering whom to trust and who is truly determined to have him dead (Winslow269). He even recalls how he worked as a messenger for a mob boss whose wife was trapped in a territorial disagreement that began with sex and ended with a shooting.
Moreover, he recalls how he connected with Frank Baptista (legendary button) and Mike Rizzo. He also recalls how he killed his first person and all others who followed. He remembers how his pals warred control over commercial sex. Frank also assisted his FBI agent friend, Dave Hansen to draw a confession from a kidnapper. His marriage failed due to local crime pressure and sting operation of undercover. He even met US President Nixon before they disagreed. These recalls reveal that Frank along with his West Coast Mafia mobs were involved in many organized crimes and violence before and this has come to haunt him (Winslow 107). His masters or slaves want to take revenge on him for his past acts.
This novel portrays to us many aspects that already transpired and some other aspects that are still occurring in today’s world. People with money use it to get revenge on others while misusing youths to commit the crimes and this novel explores this. West Coast Mafia is a group of youths; Frankie included who are paid to commit the crime and other heinous acts in society (Winslow 26). Frankie and his friends were in crime and violence in the name of wealth.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there have been many novels about violence and crimes in America. However, “The Winter of Frankie Machine,” is one of the most emotional and fascinating novels, I have ever read. This novel makes us ponder over life since we become deeply emotionally involved with characters and their lives. Frank has heart and this makes this story different. Despite having in the past killed people for a living and possibly does not have remorse for the violence and crimes he has committed for money. He decided to return to his past life to seek the person who wants him dead and behaves like a pro whereas protecting his loved ones.
Works Cited
Fuentes, C. The Hydra head. 1978.
Winslow, D. The Winter of Frankie Machine. Vintage Crime/Black Lizard, 2007.