Little Caesar · Chapter
II explained
The Vettori gang holds a banquet to celebrate Rico's rise.
What happens
The Vettori gang holds a banquet to celebrate Rico's rise. The event is marked by crude humor, displays of power, and political maneuvering. Rico arrives with Blondy Belle, having taken her from Little Arnie, and discusses business with the Big Boy, while Sam Vettori reflects on his own precarious position. Tensions simmer over Joe Massara's absence and potential defection.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Ambition
Rico's rise is celebrated, but Sam Vettori's internal monologue reveals the shifting power dynamics. Rico's ambition is evident in his plans with Little Arnie and his suspicion of Joe Massara.
Loyalty and Betrayal
Rico questions Joe Massara's loyalty, and the Big Boy warns that Little Arnie would double-cross his grandmother. The gang's internal tensions hint at future betrayals.
Masculinity and Violence
The banquet is a display of masculine bravado—crude jokes, physical stunts (Kid Bean walking on his hands), and the possession of women as status symbols. Violence underlies all interactions.
Characters to notice
- Rico
Arrives late to his own banquet, wearing a loud striped suit and yellow kid gloves, now with Blondy Belle. He discusses plans with the Big Boy and expresses suspicion about Joe Massara.
- Sam Vettori
Hosts the banquet, outwardly affable but inwardly calculating, aware that Rico is the real power now. He reflects on surviving as a gang leader.
- Big Boy
Attends the banquet, reassures Sam Vettori that the Courtney murder will blow over, and takes Rico aside for private conversation about business and Joe Massara.
- Blondy Belle
Arrives with Rico, having left Little Arnie. She is described as a handsome Italian with blondined hair, bold and formidable.
- Joe Sansone
Present at the banquet in a tuxedo, corrects Sam Vettori's use of 'appetizer' to 'apéritif,' and is teased by Ottavio for his former job as a bellboy.
- Killer Pepi
Attends with his woman Blue Jay, performs a shrill whistle, and greets Rico with admiration.
Key passages
““What the hell!” said Sam, “ain’t this a fine way to act at a banquet? You act like a bunch of gas house micks. Cut the chatter.””
Sam Vettori scolds the gang for their rowdy behavior, comparing them to unruly Irish laborers.
Sam asserts his authority while revealing the ethnic tensions and rough manners of the gang.
““You dumb birds don’t know nothing. Swell people don’t say ‘appetizer’; they say ’apéritif.’ ””
Joe Sansone mocks the others for their ignorance of high-society terminology.
Highlights class pretensions and Joe Sansone's background as a bellboy.
““That little hunky dancer over at DeVoss’s has got him down. They tell me he’s going straight.””
The Big Boy informs Rico that Joe Massara is involved with a dancer and may be leaving the criminal life.
Foreshadows Joe Massara's potential defection and the threat it poses to Rico.