Criminological Theories In Home Alone

From burglars to murderers, there are criminals in almost every movie. Not only do movie criminals make the plot enjoyable for ordinary viewers, but they also make it interesting for those who study the behaviors and motives of criminals. Two of the most popular movie criminals are featured in the 1990 classic comedy, “Home Alone.” The burglaries in “Home Alone” can accurately be explained by two criminological theories. 8-year-old Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, is left alone during the holidays after his family made him sleep in the attic and forgot about him the morning they left for their vacation. Although he is excited to have freedom for a few days, Kevin becomes nervous since there have been many reports of burglaries in his area. Harry Lime and Marv Merchants, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, are known for breaking into several houses, and they have yet to be caught. Both men dress up as police officers and ask people in Kevin’s neighborhood if they have evidence of the burglaries. They do this in order to learn more about who in the neighborhood has …show more content…
The strain theory states that there is an unequal emphasis placed on the means and goals in different societies. The goal in the American society is always wealth, and the means would be hard work, education, and honesty. There is more emphasis placed on wealth in the American society, but not everyone has the access to legitimate means like those listed above. This causes people to resort to illegitimate means, like burglary, robbery, or selling drugs. Harry and Marv, like other burglars, are motivated by wealth and want to make it out of houses around Kevin’s neighborhood with as many valuables as they can. Harry and Marv are known for burglaries, and this is how they make a living. Viewers can imply that the burglars do not have access to legitimate