Cross-cultural Amalgamation Influencing Personalities Across Timeline in the novel ‘The Sicilian’ by Mario Puzo

Revenge is a dish that tastes its best when it is cold”, says Maria Puzo in his work The Godfather. Here in this we are about to discuss two characters' personalities across time. The Kings of Norman regime and an Italian revolutionary or a bandit Giuliano Salvatore the differences between them and the similarities between them. Their earnestness has to be discussed through the lives of the Kings of the Norman regime. They have come to Sicily to attack and conquer the kingdom from the ruling monarchs. The city of Sicily is an island but with all political instability and with all religious anarchies. The Norman Monarchs, who ruled Sicily particularly Roger II, William I and William II preceded over a period of remarkable culture and political synthesis fostering a unique Norman Arab Byzantine civilization. Initially a diverse population of Latin Christians Muslims and Greek Orthodox Christians survived earlier. After the reign of Normans, the city of Sicily saw a significant cultural exchange and innovation particularly in art architecture and governance. The Norman Kings, especially Roger II, embarked on a multicultural approach employing individuals from various ethnic and religious backgrounds in their administration. This led to a vibrant exchange of ideas and artistic styles, with Norman architecture incorporating multicultural phenomena. In the novel Sicilian, Salvatore Guliano’s downfall is orchestrated by a combination of betrayal, the political maneuvering and machinations of the Mafia, specifically Don Croce Mallow. Guiliano, initially a folk hero bandit, is betrayed by his close friend and lieutenant Aspanu, who is motivated by fear and potentially by Don Croce. The political climate in Sicily with its aspirations for autonomy and the rise of leftist parties creates a volatile environment, where Giuliani's actions are seen as both threat and tool by various factions. In the same way, the Norman Kings despite the cultural exchange ultimately represented a Latin Christian regime and their policies often favour their own interests; this led to a gradual decline in the influence and power of the Muslim and Greek communities which in turn resulted in the decline of the Norman regime.