The American Tragedy

Michael's arc is tragic in the classical sense: a man of genuine promise destroyed by a combination of circumstance, family loyalty, and his own superior competence. He is too smart, too capable, and too loyal to avoid being consumed by the system he enters to protect his family.

By the end of Part II, Michael has won everything and lost everyone. His wife has left him. He has ordered his brother's death. He sits alone — the most powerful man in his world and the most isolated human being in it.