The first chapter (along with all subsequent chapters of Catch Me If You Can) is narrated from the first person, past tense perspective of Frank W. Abagnale. Abagnale is a former conman looking back in time to recount and reflect upon his criminal exploits.

The book begins with a scene wherein Abagnale observes his image in a Windsor Hotel mirror. He wears a pilot’s uniform and muses, “A man’s alter ego is nothing more than his favorite image of himself” (1). In the lobby, he charms a female cashier and cashes a large check with the ease of a habitual conman. At the airport, he notes that the inspector waves him through without asking to see his ID. Abagnale enters the cockpit of a plane, where he plans to ride in the role of a deadheading pilot. The captain introduces himself and suggests that Abagnale “fly this bird for awhile” (3) as a courtesy gesture. Abagnale promptly puts the plane on autopilot, confessing to the reader that he “couldn’t fly a kite” (4).

Here, Abagnale reveals to the reader that he is not a copilot, but rather a multi-millionaire, international con-artist. Abagnale relates that even through his many disguises and alter egos, he never deluded himself into thinking that he was anyone other than

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