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While he was a charitable and charming as well powerful and vicious individual, Al Capone became an iconic character of the successful American gangster (Rosenberg, par, 1). Generally, Al Capone's involvement in criminal activities was fueled by the fact that he took full advantage of the criminal opportunities that were available during the Prohibition era.
The opportunities for committing criminal offenses during the Prohibition era demonstrate the application of Merton's theory of anomie in explaining Capone's involvement in these activities. Capone's involvement in crime was fueled by the enactment of Prohibition Amendment and the view of illegitimate brewing as growth industries. He intended to take total advantage of the opportunities presented in the perceived growth industries ("Famous Cases and Criminals," par, 1). During this period, there was an evident unequal distribution of opportunities to help in achievement of personal goals. This contributed to huge disparities in income among various classes since the America was a class-oriented society during the Prohibition era. Furthermore, the unequal distribution of opportunities between various classes in the society contributed to a huge difference in the goals and means for attaining these goals.
Due to this disparity, Al Capone turned to crime as a means of achieving his goals and lessening the gap between cultural aspiration and the institutionalized means for attaining desired ends. The huge disparity that contributed to Al Capone's involvement in the tax evasion offenses and violation of Prohibition laws also resulted in his generosity. For Capone and his family, the United States did not give him an opportunity to succeed and had no one to guide him to the right direction in achieving his dreams. As an individual from a low-class family, Al Capone not only turned to crime but he could also use his ill-gotten wealth to help other low-class people. Actually, there are numerous stories and examples of how Capone would personally help out others in difficult situations.
In contrast, the application of the General Strain Theory in explaining Capone's involvement in these criminal offenses is identified through the anger and frustration he experienced while growing up. Al Capone's anger and frustration that eventually contributed to his criminal behaviors can be traced to his birth since he was born to a neighborhood that received him with an empty embrace (Fragoso, par, 2). Therefore, one of the major reasons he turned to crime was the terrible neighborhood where he was brought up.
This terrible neighborhood was the main cause for Capone's mistreatment in a social relationship, which is considered as the main factor in crime in the general strain theory. In addition to living in a slum, Capone was treated as second-rate citizen because of his Italian background. Moreover, the American education system was poorly managed by the government as it was deeply prejudiced against Capone and did not encourage any desire in higher education. These factors contributed to mistreatment in Capone's social relationship that later resulted in his involvement in crime as a means of overcoming the odds. His experiences made him to develop anger and frustration that forced him to engage in tax evasion and violation of Prohibition laws.
Conclusion:
Al Capone's case is an example of how Merton's theory of anomie and the general strain theory can be used to explain a person's involvement in crime. His criminal behavior and activities were fueled by the various aspects and principles explained in the theories.
Works Cited:
"Al Capone." History Files. Chicago History Society, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012.