The idea of being a gangster—or having ties to that world—has often been admired. I use the word “admired” because gangsters evoke respect and even idolisation in the spaces they enter. Sometimes that respect comes from fear, but it is respect, nonetheless.
In Billy Bathgate by E.L. Doctorow, the readers are immediately immersed into Billy’s life as he investigates another gangster’s life. Billy is a 15-year-old boy from the Bronx in the 1930s. He is a street kid who grew up in poverty, so he becomes resourceful and hustles money in the streets to survive. Throughout his life, he has always wanted more than what he had. He has always been hungry for opportunity. I believe that is why he was so intrigued by the life of Dutch Schultz, the infamous gangster. Chapter 1 sets the tone of heavy respect that Billy has for Schultz because he is in a place he shouldn’t be and did not want to be caught. He said, “I lived, as we all did, by his moods.” (Doctorow pg. 8) This statement clear highlights the standards at which Billy holds Mr. Shultz, as he refers to him in the first few chapters. This shows the readers that he is still on his way to earn his respect and still feels like he has a lot to do to earn his trust. Even though, in the first few scenes of the chapter, Schultz is clearly torturing a man, one of his own, and about to throw him in the water, he still aspires to be part of this life.
A similar dynamic of admiration appears in Herbert Asbury’s Gangs of New York. They were over 6000 gambling houses in New York in 1851 and over 200 were catering to only men of standing. These houses were filled with gamblers but still had ‘performers from the music halls and the legitimate theatres to provide entertainment.’(Asbury pg. 85) As one contemporary writer observed, “Nothing in New York can equal the elegance at this table.” (Asbury pg. 86) An interesting statement to say about gangsters, notable for violence and competition.
This begs the question; do we choose to overlook the actions of those we aspire to be? Or do their actions not matter?
