Tony Soprano calls himself a soldier and argues that means he won't go to hell -- does he really think that?
I think he said it to Melfi, but surely he realizes the difference between a gangster and soldier. What cause does he think he is fighting for? He must know that the people he preys upon actually do useful work and that he and his fellow thugs not only don't contribute but actually destroy society -- the waste management scams hurt everyone, even him and his family.
Is it implied that Tony is trying to convince himself or does he (and I guess other members of LCN) really believe they are fighting for some just cause and if so, what is the cause?
Best Answer
A soldier, or soldato is a first-level Mafia member. And yes, like Military soldiers, they do whatever their higher ranking boss tells them to. So, on some level, Tony has always been a soldier. And soldiers sometimes take out bad guys, and sometimes take out civilians. You'll note that Tony and other Mafiosa sometimes use Military jargon like "surgical strike" and "collateral damage". Once a soldier, always a soldier, no matter what your rank.
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