Millers Crossing essays

Miller's Crossing essays In the opening sequence of Millers Crossing, Johnny argues that he has every right to kill Bernie Bernbaum, a fellow bookie who Johnny claims is selling information about fixed fights to outside sources. Johnny discusses his reasoning behind his wish to kill Bernie with Leo, another crime leader who somehow holds a power over Johnny. Johnny begins by stating that he is going to talk about friendship, character, and ethics. He goes on to describe how he sometimes cheats by fixing a fight-but maintains that Bernie goes a step further by selling the inside information to outside sources, and is making a profit off of it. The fact that Bernie betrays him, and that in addition is making money off of it, angers Johnny because he believes that it consequently leaves him in the jungle-or in other words, that it reduces him to a normal civilian level. As the master of his domain, the lead of his own crime agenda, Johnny is not used to this feeling of being among the people that bet on chance, and he does not want to be at this level. He is used to getting his own way and winning, and thus is searching for any scapegoat to crucify as the cause of all his misfortune. Johnny declares two pieces of evidence to back up his accusations; first, that out of town money comes pouring in as bets for the fights, and two, that the odds of the fixed fights go straight to hell. As the opening confrontation between he and Leo progresses, Johnny continues in his angered reproach of Bernie and gets more and more animated as he tries to convince Leo to arrange the killing. Leo denies the reasoning behind Johnnys wish, and Johnny is in turn frustrated at Leo. Evidently, Leo and Johnny are leaders of separate crime rings, and Leos ring is currently on top. Leos blas demeanor only eggs Johnny on more, as he bellows that he doesnt need to listen to Leo, and storms out of the room, becaus...