# III explained — Little Caesar

> Chapter companion for Little Caesar by W. R. Burnett.

## What happens

Rico, now in hiding under the alias Luigi De Angelo, struggles with his fall from power. He reflects on his mistakes, feels resentment, and finds only temporary solace in gambling. He follows the trial of Sam Vettori, who is sentenced to hang. On New Year's Eve, a confrontation with a political boss named Paul leads to Sansotta ordering Rico to leave.

## Themes in this chapter

### Fate and Inevitability

Rico reflects on his rise and fall, seeing the robbery of Casa Alvarado as both making and breaking him, and accepts Sam Vettori's fate as inevitable.

### Masculinity and Violence

Rico's quick resort to a gun when challenged, his resentment at being seen as weak, and the confrontation with Paul underscore the link between male identity and violence.

## Character check-ins

### Rico

Lying awake, filled with resentment, reflecting on his mistakes and his fall from power. He is now known as Crabby Louis.

### Sam Vettori

Sentenced to be hanged; Rico reads about his trial and reflects on his own rise and fall.

### Joe Massara

Turned State's evidence and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

### Sansotta

Runs the cabaret where Rico is hiding; he orders Rico to leave after a confrontation with a political boss.

### Scabby

Rico reflects that he should have played Scabby up, as Scabby was in a position to do him favors.

### Big Boy

Rico thinks about the Big Boy and imagines himself in the Big Boy's apartment.

## Key lines

> He should have plugged Gentleman Joe; that’s all. When a guy begins to turn softie, why there ain’t no good in him.

Rico believes he should have killed Joe Massara when he had the chance, because once a man goes soft he is worthless.

_Rico's regret over not eliminating Joe Massara reflects his hardened worldview._

> It made me and it broke me.

The Casa Alvarado robbery was the cause of both his rise and his downfall.

_Rico acknowledges the dual role of the robbery in his life._

> Well, old Sam had a long whack at it; never seen the inside of a prison in his life. A guy’s luck’s bound to turn.

Rico reflects that Sam Vettori had a long run without ever being imprisoned, but everyone's luck eventually runs out.

_Rico accepts Sam's fate as a natural turn of fortune._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-vii-iii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/little_caesar_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters