The Sopranos and the Mirage of the American Dream

On 10 January 1999, a soon-to-be mob boss walked into a therapist’s office and changed the course of American television. The Sopranos is an iconic television series that aired from 1999 to 2007. Created by David Chase, the show follows the life of Tony Soprano, a New Jersey mobster who struggles to balance his criminal empire with his personal life. The show is widely regarded as one of the best television dramas of all time, and its impact on popular culture can still be felt today. In this essay, we will explore the themes and characters that make The Sopranos such a compelling piece of entertainment.

One of the most significant themes of the series is the concept of the American Dream. Tony Soprano represents the ideal of what it means to be an American: a self-made man who has risen from humble beginnings to achieve great success. However, as the show progresses, it becomes clear that Tony's success has come at a cost. His criminal enterprise is built on violence and exploitation, and he must constantly fight to maintain his power and protect his family. Played by James Gandolfini, Tony is one of the most complex and nuanced characters in television history. On the surface, he is a ruthless mobster who will stop at nothing to protect his business and his family. But as the series progresses, we see a more vulnerable side to him, as he struggles with depression, anxiety, and the guilt of his criminality. Tony's therapy sessions with Dr Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) provide a window into his innermost feelings and allow the audience to empathize with him.

Another central theme of The Sopranos is the concept of family. Tony's relationships with his wife, Carmela (Edie Falco), and his children, Meadow and AJ, are prominent. The Sopranos portrays the tensions that arise when the desires of the individual conflict with the needs of the group. Carmela's complicity in Tony's criminal activities, and her struggle to reconcile faith with her lifestyle, are recurring throughout the series. One of the most striking aspects of The Sopranos is the character development. The show's writers excel at creating multidimensional characters who defy easy categorization. Tony, for example, is both a ruthless criminal and a loving family man, one who struggles with mental illness and is also capable of remarkable kindness. Other characters are similarly complex, with each one possessing unique quirks and flaws. One of the most memorable characters is Dr Melfi, who serves as a sounding board, offering Tony a safe space to explore his emotions and come to terms with his past. Their relationship is one of the most interesting aspects of the show, as it highlights the tension between therapy and the criminal underworld. Their sessions offer a glimpse into the psyche of a man who is struggling to reconcile his violent tendencies with his desire for a normal life.

The Sopranos is notable for its use of symbolism and metaphor. From the show's opening credits, which depict Tony driving through the New Jersey suburbs, to its use of music and imagery to convey a deeper meaning, the series demands close attention from its viewers. For example, in the pilot episode, Tony sees a family of ducks in his swimming pool and becomes obsessed with their well-being. This can be interpreted as his desire to protect and nurture his own family. Then, Tony's panic attacks are often accompanied by images of suffocation, conveying how he wrangles between a criminal life and his desire for normalcy. 

The Sopranos is deeply rooted in its time and place. It is set in New Jersey in the late 1990s and early 2000s, a time of great change in America. The rise of the internet and the dot-com boom are reflected in the show's portrayal of the business world, while the aftermath of the September 11 attacks is felt in the show's later seasons. We’re offered a window into a period in American history, which comments on broader societal issues such as race, gender, and class.

The show's use of music is also noteworthy, it features a wide variety of songs, ranging from classic rock to opera, and is often used to underscore the emotions of particular scenes. The show's opening theme song, ‘Woke Up This Morning’ by Alabama 3, sets the tone for the entire series. The bluesy, gritty tune with a driving beat and the lyrics, “Woke up this morning, got yourself a gun” perfectly encapsulates the show's essence. One of the most iconic uses of music in The Sopranos is the use of Journey's ‘Don't Stop Believin'’ in the final scene of the series. The song, which had been featured in an earlier episode, comes full circle as Tony sits in a diner with his family, waiting for Meadow to arrive. The song builds to a climax, and just as it reaches its peak, the screen goes black. The song provides gravitas to the scene and the unresolved ending leaves us to draw our own conclusions about what happens to Tony.

Vince Gilligan, the creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul once said, “Without Tony Soprano there would be no Walter White, Don Draper or the others.” The series is a groundbreaking piece of television drama. Its depiction of the mafia, the inquiry into mental health issues, and complex storytelling have set a new standard for television drama. The Sopranos continues to be widely admired and studied today and we see its influences in if not all, most antihero characters today.