A Miserable Con Artist and A Successful Con Artist

               One has to wonder, wouldn't it be great to have millions of dollars and not have to work hard for it? Wouldn't that mean this person lives a happy life? Reality check is that this is not reality! Unless one is a successful con artist. After reading and analyzing the sly fox, main character, and protagonist known as Volpone, I thought of the movie “Catch Me If You Can” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, as the famous con artist known as Frank Abagnale  Jr.  After getting a little money, by successfully conning he becomes greedier as time progresses and loses his own identity.   Like Volpone,  the young Abagnale was indeed a master at his work. He was able to successfully con millions of dollars,  and recreated himself by playing the roles of different characters such as a pilot, doctor, attorney, and prosecutor.  Volpone, a con artist as well, hides his gold and treasures and explains in the very beginning how he did not work hard for any of it. He says, “Yet I glory more in the cunning purchase of my wealth/than in the glad possession, since I gain no common way/I use no trade, no venture.” This quotation explains how greedy he has become and all he wants is more and more, but continues to not work hard for this money, but rather be sneaky and con people. One aspect that both of these con artists are missing and seek is: love. Love is the one concept  that separates these two: love  brings more happiness and makes one man become more successful and the other even more miserable.

                For Frank Abagnale, love finally found him when he met Brenda and the two of them elope, but still Frank does not give up his mischievous ways and continues to forge checks. On the other hand, Volpone is looking for someone to fall deeply in love with and he is a character full of lust. Unlike, Abagnale, who has a family (but not yet his own), Volpone is all alone.  Volpone lusts over Cecilia and eventually, after disguising himself as being sick, and getting caught, Cecilia’s husband allows Volpone to be alone with her. Instead of getting the “love” that he expected that night from Cecilia, who is faithful to her husband and a religious Christian, he gets into much deeper trouble. Volpone, becomes so greedy and overwhelmed with lust that he says he will rape her. So with all of this in mind these two con artists, although similar in their actions and success for gaining money are both very different in the love department. Abagnale was charming and successful by winning over Brenda, and Volpone was insane and violent towards Cecilia.

                Finally, these con artists both get caught and for one his life still turns out pleasant, like he originally planned and for the other, it turns into the complete opposite of his lovely dreams. Abagnale, eventually gets caught in France for forging checks and is put into prison. Similiarly, Volpone is sent to prison for attempting to rape Cecilia. Volpone, is the one who is left with nothing, just like in the beginning of the play. He is left all alone, sad, with no money, and in a dark hole. His days of conning are done. Abagnale, somehow ends up living a far better life. He does spend a significant amount of time in prison, but in the end he works for the FBI, earns millions of dollars (not by conning), and lives happily with his wife and children. His days of conning are long gone too, but one thing is for sure about both of these characters-it took a while for both of them to be caught!