How Don Ciccio murdered Vito's father over an insult, and then killed Vito's 12 year old brother when the boy expressed the desire for revenge, and finally he killed Vito's mother when she begged for Vito's life. Or did Vito keep all this inside, bottled up, his own personal pain. Powerful men like Vito believe they can't show weakness. Their pain is channeled in to violence that brings pain to others
shareNot sure about Michael, I was thinking probably Sonny. At some point during one of his many emotional outbursts, Vito must have recognised his own father's hot-headedness (as in the book) in his son, and tried to warn him of the potential deadly consequences of acting in such a way. What better example to a growing teenage boy than the result of losing temper being death for nearly the whole family? That it was ultimately in vain was something I also suspect Vito feared, even as late as his early 30s in age, Sonny was still shooting his mouth off inappropriately (Sollozzo meeting).
If Michael was ever told, it would have only been after Sonny was murdered and Michael returned from Sicily. Before this time, I don't feel Vito would have told Michael, as he didn't want him anywhere near the family business, and it wouldn't have been appropriate to discuss with a 'civilian'.