The Strain Theory and The Catch Me if You Can Film: The Presence and Connection

In this research log I will analyze the timeless film Catch Me if You Can through the lens of strain theory. Strain theory, for a long time, was not seen as relevant in the realm of sociology. Luckily, in the last 10 years of the 20th century it came back to the limelight due to the emergence of both 'general' strain theory and also institutional anomie theory. This film is so abundant with examples of all the different strain theories that it's hard to choose just one specific or sub theory to focus on; but for the purposes of analysis in this research log I would like to touch on all of those that I find relevant.

Durkheim and his thoughts on anomie are where the origins of strain theory reside, and developed into what is referred to as classical strain theory. Anomie means 'without laws. Such a state is said to exist when the goals society has deemed culturally acceptable and the means to achieve them no longer match up as they once did. Historical and societal changes over time are the largest cause of this; after a large change the group in question has norms that they are unsure of, they don't know of their norms and morals are the same as their peers. This normlessness that then exists is referred to as anomie, and Durkheim says that these individuals feel powerless, scared, and depressed. This theory is expanded upon by Robert Merton. Merton recognizes that wealth, success, and money are desirable by nearly all Americans, but not achievable due to the differing circumstances and situations people may be in. This, he argues, often drives people to commit crimes as they need to use means outside the system to achieve their ends. It is this very idea that drives the entire plot of the movie Catch Me if You Can. DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale Jr, a real person whose story is told very closely in this movie, is a 16 year old child when his parents divorce. This divorce drives him to a choice of living with is mother or father, and he refuses to choose. Instead, he runs off to a hotel to stay alone, and writes false checks in order to fund his stay. This first $1,000 sparks his interest in a large way. He goes on to pretend to be a pilot, doctor, lawyer, and continues traveling on the dime of his aliases and the false checks. He meets a nurse when he is checking on a friend at the hospital, and it is this relationship that ultimately leads him to getting caught. He intends to marry this nurse, Brenda, and so he cannot change his name as he needs to when the FBI are hot on his new trail. The story comes full circle when there is an understanding between the head FBI agent Hanratty, played convincingly by Tom Hanks, and Abagnale wherein he actually serves his sentence in the custody of the FBI and works under their nose identifying criminals. As I alluded to, the majority of this story is true. Abagnale went on to work for big banks, helping them prevent fraud and making millions of dollars a year; although now it was completely (as far as we know) legal.

The strain placed on the Abagnale family prior to the parents' divorce is an important one. Frank Abagnale the senior is under investigation by the IRS, and their family is struggling financially. Frank had to reach outside of his means, do something illegal, in order to maintain their quality of life. This is where Frank Jr. realizes the possibilities in front of him. If he can work outside of the system then he can succeed. This directly displays the concept of social strain theory that Merton introduces and adds to the discourse of strain theory. Maybe the realization wasn't outwardly shown, but the social strain theory suggests that Frank Jr, coming from a lower-middle class background which he rightly observes the struggles his parents face, he wants to be successful, economically sound, and powerful. He cannot achieve this as Frank Jr and he instead begins to adopt other disguises to further chase the American dream.

The concept of anomie that Durkheim discusses is more theoretical than literal, in my mind. There is never full, widespread areas and sections of time when the norms are completely and totally undefined. Instead, it exists in certain groups, certain people, and certain situations at different times. I believe Frank is one of those people who experiences a phase of anomie. This comes about in a wave, but is pushed over the threshold when he first tricks Hanratty into thinking he is a United State's Secret Service agent. Agent Hanratty comes in guns blazing, and Frank is in the bathroom. Frank emerges from the bathroom all calm and collected and begins to talk about himself in the third person, rattling off some things about falsifying checks to ease the mind of Hank's character. Hanratty is fully convinced, until he takes a peak inside the wallet Frank leaves with him, he realizes there is no Secret Service badge or identification. But by then it is too late, and Frank is running away a few stories below. It is after this scene that Frank slips into anomie, and moves rapidly to a career as a pilot, meeting women and deceiving his colleagues, then on to a hospital, and finally as a lawyer under his Fiance's father. The norms of society do not exist in Frank's world, but instead of this driving him to depression it leads to the creation of the infamous Frank Abagnale Jr. and his aliases. He uses it as a motivating factor, the fact that the norms of his peers do not match his own, but they seem to on the outside.

Thirdly I would like to discuss agent Hanratty and his role in the film in relation to strain theory. Hanratty and Frank have a unique relationship, a cat and mouse type struggle. Hanratty is primarily the one to chase Frank, and he almost shares the screen equally with DiCaprio. In the end of the film, and also throughout as they emerge from the flashbacks to present day, it is apparent that Hank's character has a connection with Frank Abagnale that is not the typical secret agent-criminal relationship. There is one phone conversation that takes place, that I believe ends Frank's state of anomie. It is one realization that re-establishes the norms of a regular society and removes his pretentiousness, false identities, and crazy lifestyle. While they still exist, he knows they will be over soon. After he speaks to his dad for the final time in the film, he has a phone call with Hanratty in which he discloses his plan to marry and hence reveals the fact that he can't change his name. He says he wants to “call a truce”, and Carl Hanratty points to his opinion that he's getting close and cannot stop chasing him because it is his job. I want to point out quickly that his line is extremely ironic in that Hanratty works inside the system and Frank's state of anomie always exists outside the system and changes his occupation frequently. Well, he knows now that the FBI will zero in and find him, but he continues with his plans until the very last second when he leaves the engagement party. It is this scene, during the phone conversation, that anomie is exiled in Frank's future and he knows it. Of course he never thought this could last forever, but he wanted to chase the American dream for as long as possible. Pretty ironic that it's love that ultimately leads to his downfall, since he can't change his last name and run, because usually in drama films it is love that saves.

Catch Me If You Can is a film that can be studied in many different lights, and I feel that strain theory is evident in its plot and some specific scenes. I do not know if my opinion on strain theory in this movie is the same as someone else would perceive, but I do know that my examples fully support my interpretation. Anomie is seen quite clearly in a majority of the film, his parent's struggles and ultimate divorce show him the strain possible if you do not adapt and work outside the system, and FBI agent Hanratty helps put an end to the anomie that exists, and ties up the loose end to finish the film strong. It really is amazing how many different lenses you could look at this film through, it's such a human concept and being based on a true story also reinforces this.