The Hidden Meaning Behind Tony Soprano’s Love for Gabagool

by

HBO’s long-lasting crime drama, The Sopranos, has kept its popularity over the years with numerous memorable quotes and scenes, but one element that stands out is a recurring joke involving Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) frequently reaching for his preferred snack – “gabagool.” This habit of his, often seen when he’s in the kitchen and heads to the fridge, has become an essential part of Tony’s well-known character.

Although gabagool is frequently used for humor in various scenes and has become quite popular, it may be unfamiliar to viewers without an Italian-American or East Coast background. Furthermore, some spectators have simply found it entertaining to pronounce without fully understanding its deeper meaning in Tony’s life – both as a youngster and the gangster he evolved into. Here lies a comprehensive exploration of gabagool, its related professions within the meat industry, and how this recurring theme symbolizes Tony’s existential anguish stemming from his struggle to reconcile family responsibilities with the allure of violence in his profession.

What Is Gabagool?

In essence, gabagool is similar to salami, specifically a type of cured pork product. Although it might not be as widely recognized as bacon or prosciutto, it falls under the category of delicately prepared and sliced pork products, much like capicola does.

Despite all types of salami originating from the same pig region, their specific preparations vary significantly: some are dried, cured, or sliced in unique ways. For instance, Tony’s gabagool is carved from a muscle extending from the neck to the ribs. This pork undergoes dry-curing, which involves removing moisture through methods like salt curing, air drying, or smoking – much like its slimmer relatives, prosciutto and soppressata, but without brining. Gabagool resembles regular salami in appearance but stands out due to its flavor profile. The meat is usually fattier than other pork products, lending it a richer taste and a delightful melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Furthermore, even die-hard carnivores might not recognize gabagool due to its colloquial nature. Its true name is “capocollo,” but it’s also known as “coppa.” Along the East Coast, Italian-Americans frequently use abbreviated or modified names for their dishes. Mozzarella can be called “mozzarel,” ricotta as “rigot,” and prosciutto is often referred to as “prosciut.” As for Tony’s preferred treat, it originates from capocollo, which morphed into “capacol” and eventually into the mob boss’s unique version, “gabagol.” His extended pronunciation of the last term as gabagoo is a signature twist for Tony.

Tony’s Panic Attacks Are Connected to Meat

As a film buff with a soft spot for crime-family dramas, I can’t help but empathize with the sons of mob bosses. Born into a world of illicit businesses and the brutal violence that comes with it, they carry a heavy legacy from an early age – one that often shapes them profoundly, and more often than not, for the worse.

In the acclaimed series “The Sopranos,” one particularly compelling episode that explores inner turmoil is “Fortunate Son” in Season 3. Christopher gains a prestigious position within the mafia (becoming a made man), while Jackie Jr. follows a similar path without his father’s guidance. While Christopher revels in his new status, Jackie Jr. grapples with finding his way, and both characters grapple with the heavy burden of a life built on criminal activities. Notably, even Tony, who has been in the business for a long time, recognizes this weight stemming from his own upbringing.

Towards the end of the show, Tony confides in Dr. Melfi about a troubling memory from his past that unexpectedly resurfaced as he reached for cold cuts in the fridge. At around eleven years old, he was with his father when they stopped at Satriale’s. His father asked him to wait outside while he went inside, but Tony’s curiosity led him to sneak in. Inside, he witnessed his father and Uncle Junior brutally attacking Mr. Satriale due to an unpaid gambling debt. During the assault, Uncle Junior pinned down Mr. Satriale as Tony’s father grabbed a meat cleaver and severed the man’s pinkie finger. It goes without saying that this incident left a deep scar on young Tony.

Later in the evening, as they sat down to dinner, watching his mother prepare the meat that his father had brought home, a stressed-out Tony had his first panic attack. This discovery sheds light on why Tony has been dealing with such intense anxiety – for both the audience and himself. It also becomes clear that most of his subsequent panic attacks were triggered by handling meat, particularly in his own kitchen while holding salami.

The Meat of Being a Gangster

Although Dr. Melfi acknowledged Tony’s significant progress at the close of “Fortunate Son,” his behavior remains unaltered. The show presents an intriguing contrast between Tony as a gangster and his therapy sessions, leading viewers to harbor hope that he might transform through therapy, suggesting that even individuals deeply entrenched in criminal activities may still find a path towards redemption.

Eventually, Tony failed to tackle the challenging task of applying what he discovered with Dr. Melfi about meat symbolizing his family’s distressing occupation and making changes accordingly, to stop his panic attacks and improve himself for his children. Instead, his fascination with being a gangster, and his fondness for gabagool as a comfort snack, were too strong to relinquish. Despite the looming threats of panic attacks or the repercussions of his criminal actions, Tony embraced them both as unavoidable aspects of the life he desired and the identity he sought. Consequently, in The Sopranos, gabagool wasn’t just Tony’s preferred food, but it represented his attempts to deal with his traumas by ingesting them just as they consumed him.

Stream The Sopranos now on MAX.

Read More

2025-02-03 06:33