The Road to Perdition

How Far Would You Go?

By: Alexandra Williams

Ross Wagner, English 102-701

Alexandra J. Williams

Ross O. Wagner

English 102, Section 701

15 September 2016

How Far Would You Go?

How far would you go for your father? Are you willing to lie for him, or even kill for him?  Every man has his own answer to these questions.  You’ll see how different relationships affect the outcome.  Father-son relationships are at the forefront of the film, “Road to Perdition”. These relationships are exceptionally important to everyone around.  There are many father-son relationships in the film.  Each relationship is different from the next; however, they’re all alike in the sense that the sons will, without end, seek the approval of their fathers. Sons are inevitably indebted to their fathers. This isn’t something that a young boy or grown man can run from. There are three main father-son relationships that are present throughout; Michael Jr. and his father Michael Sullivan Sr., John Rooney and Sullivan Sr., and lastly, J. Rooney and Connor Rooney. (qtd. In Shipley) Throughout the film, these men try to obtain this approval.  Searching for this, acceptance insights the different emotions of jealousy, and revenge in some, while at the same time taking a man’s loyalty to greater lengths.

John Rooney was a father figure to Michael Sullivan Sr.; J. Rooney took Sullivan Sr. in as a young man and raised him as his own, he taught him the family business, and trusted him with this business. As you watch the movie you see the love they had for each other and you see how Michael Sullivan Sr. feels as if he owes his life to John Rooney.  Talking to his eldest son, Michael Jr., Michael Sullivan Sr. says, “When we had nothing, he gave us a home—a life—and we owe him.” (Mendes) Even though he’s not his biological father, Sullivan Sr. feels just as much need to be accepted by, and to please John Rooney.  He shows his loyalty by doing as John Rooney asks of him even when it means taking the life of another man; if that’s what’s asked of you, that is what you do.  For John Rooney, Michael Sullivan Sr. was the perfect son. If only it were just the two of them there would be nothing to quarrel about, but it’s not.  John Rooney has a biological son, Connor Rooney. Connor Rooney has always been troubled by the relationship Michael Sullivan Sr. has with his father.  He was jealous of all the little things J. Rooney and Sullivan Sr. shared.  There’s a scene in the beginning of the film where J. Rooney and Sullivan Sr. are playing the piano together and off in the distance is Connor laying on a couch sulking because he envy’s the affection his own father shows towards Sullivan Sr.  Years of jealousy and years of coming up short to Sullivan Sr. have sent Connor Rooney into a dangerous expedition to steal, kill, and destroy the life of Michael Sullivan Sr.

        Connor Rooney was obsessed with the relationship that John Rooney and Michael Sullivan Sr. had; and so much so that it clouded all other judgement.  Being the son of mob boss John Rooney, Connor Rooney feels that it’s his birth right to be accepted by everyone around him. However, with Sullivan Sr. in the picture gaining his father’s approval isn’t as easy as Connor would like it to be, for him it seems as if it’s almost unattainable.  Connor’s jealousy spirals out of control when he kills Annie, Michael’s wife and his youngest son, Peter.  He does this without any thought on the repercussions.  Even after innocent blood was shed, no lesson was learned; Connor Rooney remained self-righteous.  Although John Rooney saw Michael Sullivan Sr. as more of a son than he did Connor, it didn’t change the fact that Connor was J. Rooney’s only biological son.  Thomas E. Wartenberg puts it perfectly when he says, “[John] Rooney is a father and he can’t bring himself to abandon his son, no matter what he has done and how appalling his actions. Although he thinks of Mike as more of a son to him than Conner, he can’t overcome his loyalty to his biological offspring.” (Wartenburg)  Sullivan Sr. asks J. Rooney for permission to kill Connor Rooney for what he did to Sullivan’s family, but Connor is John Rooney’s family. John Rooney chooses his biological son over Sullivan Sr. when he says, “. . . but you are asking me to give you the key to his room so you can walk in, put a gun to his head and pull the trigger and I can't do that.” (IMDb) Connor Rooney was so consumed with taking away all that Sullivan Sr. had he didn’t see what he was doing would ultimately lead to the death of his father.  In order to honor and protect his family, Sullivan Sr. had to take out John Rooney so he could without objection kill the man that murdered his family.

The film is centered on the relationship between Michael Jr. and his father Michael Sr.  Michael Jr. admires his father, and wants to know more about him.  He knows that his father works, but he’s not quite sure what he does; although, he’s unsure of the details of his father’s job he knows not to ask too many questions. Instead of asking questions, Michael Jr. decides to take his inquiry into his own hands and stows away in the back of his father’s car while his father has to work.  Michael Jr. sees first-hand who his father is when he leaves the house, Michael Sullivan Sr.: Hitman. Michael Jr. wittiness his father and C. Rooney kill multiple men.  Shirley Sealy writes, “The boy sees it all, and what’s worse for young Michael, Connor sees him.” (Sealy) Connor Rooney seeing Michael couldn’t be any worse. C. Rooney uses this accidental sighting to take revenge on Sullivan Sr. After sending Sullivan Sr. on a false order in attempt to have him murdered, C. Rooney sets out to kill Michael Jr. but instead kills his mother, Annie and his younger brother, Peter.  This heinous incident sends Michael Jr. and his father off on a six week journey.

During these six weeks Michael Jr. and Michael Sr. spent a lot of time together. Michael Jr. learned that his father was a powerful man but a very loving man, even if not in an affectionate way.  He learned that his father would protect him and the honor of his family at all costs.  They were in this predicament because Michael Jr. stepped beyond his bounds.  Even though Michael Jr. went against all he knew was right by getting in that car he learned much from how his father reacted.  Sullivan Sr. trusted Michael Jr. to do as he expected from then on. Sullivan Sr. knew that he could trust Michael Jr. with such heavy information.  You see this trust when C. Rooney asks if Michael Jr. will stay quiet and Sullivan Sr. answers with “He’s my son.” Sullivan Sr. carried such magnificent weight that this was all he needed to say to satisfy C. Rooney or anyone for that matter. Michael Jr. honors his father with inherent obedience from this point forward. When Sullivan Sr. says, “You have to listen to me now, okay? Or else both of us are dead. . . Are you going to help me?” (Mendes) Michael Jr. replies, “Yes.” (Mendes)  He doesn’t question his father on his choices; Michael Jr. is compliant in everything his father asks of him.