Gatsby and Abagnale are both expert con artists. To the general public con artists are incredibly appealing because they are able to get away with things a normal man could not. People came to Gatsby's parties not because they were interested in him as a person, but the fact that his wealth is mysterious and unknown. When Frank Abagnale talks to the large crowd in the videos shown below he tells his life story as a con artist. The audience is laughing at his stories of coning people and are fully engaged in what he is saying. The audience is listening so intensely because they are fascinated by the crimes committed and how easily he was able to complete them.
The idea of self invention compels both Abagnale and Gatsby to change their identities. Abagnale change
d his identity in order to adapt to his surroundings. He changed his name, his location and his possessions in oder to fit his current fake position. Gatsby knew when he was young and working for the man on the yacht that he wanted to be rich when he was older. He was willing to go through any means to do so. Illegal measures were taken, like Abagnale, in order to achieve Gatsby's goal. In the process he changed his name to fit his new role as a rich man.
Frank Abagnale and Jay Gatsby had very similar lives. Both lied and faked their appearance to fir in with the community surrounding them. Gatsby and Abagnale were both able to make very large amounts of money by means of illegal acts. Frank was able to manipulate his appear
ance many different times in order to trick them into thinking that he was successful. Gatsby's wealth is a mystery throughout the story and he tries so hard to be like one of the people in East Egg. For example, "the thin beard of raw ivy" suggests that Gatsby is attempting to fit in with the East Egg (5). Gatsby throws elaborate and exciting parties because he believes that is what a rich person would do. He want to fit in so badly that he actually stands out among the rich. Unlike Gatsby, Frank Abagnale knows that if he pursues one fake role for too long he will be caught. Frank constantly changes his identity and location, and by doing so he is able to fit in. Gatsby does not worry that the question of his wealth might cause suspicion, because all Gatsby wants is Daisy. Since Gatsby is only portraying this role in order to please another he does not see the flaws in his disguise. Both Gatsby and Abagnale rejected their family at an early age to become wealthy. When Gatsby gets pulled over for speeding, he simply shows the cop a card and is able to keep driving. Similarly Abagnale made himself fake identification cards so that he would be able to pass as an co-pilot of Pan Am. Other people just let him go through because he simply looked the part.
Frank W. Abagnale in these videos describes his life and how he managed to trick everyone.
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