When we think of murderers we often think of maniacal and evil individuals. Through the way that many works of literature and cinematic pieces depict murdered, we often see them as absolute evils. Murderers are flawed humans, albeit more than usual, they are not the absolute evil in fall in more of a gray area. Within Truman Capote’s novel, In Cold Blood, readers get an in-depth look at a pair of murderers and are able how one can fall down such a wicked path. In his novel, Capote recounts the events of 1959, when four members of the Clutter Family were murdered and the investigation that followed. A major focus of this novel, however not the murder itself, but the two murderers themselves, Richard “Dick” Hitchcock and Perry Smith. Going in-depth
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Perry seemed to be greatly affected from committing such a heinous act, he obsesses over it. Dick on the other hand, wants to forget about it like a student would want to forget a bad exam. In regards to Perry’s constant worrying about their situation, Dicks responds with, ”What is it, honey? That other deal? Why the hell can 't you forget it?” (Capote 142). We are also given other instances after the murders that showed the difference of their state of minds and their behaviors. They were not only on different terms after committing the murder, but also beforehand. While preparing for the murder and safe stealing, Perry wanted to purchase some masks to conceal there identity. This was something that Dick opposed, he wanted believed masks were unnecessary as they would leave no witness alive. This detail greatly served to show, the difference in there morality. Capote also believed that Perry never meant to kill the clutter. In an interview with the New York Times, Capote was asked wether he believed if Perry and Dick were surprised about their own action, he responded with, “Perry never meant to kill the Clutters at all. He had a brain explosion. I don 't think Dick was surprised, although later oh he pretended he was. He knew, even if Perry didn 't, that Perry would do it, and he was right. It showed an …show more content…
While most of the novel is told in a third-person omniscient point of view, Capote decides to tell the interrogation from Perry’s perspective. This decision gives us a deeper look at Perry’s though process throughout murder and we are also given a small redeemable act. Something that Perry disapproves of, is Dick’s hyper-sexual attitude. Dick was eager to rape Nancy Clutter prior to killing her according to Perry, “Then he says to me, as we 're heading along the hall toward Nancy 's room,"I 'm gonna bust that little girl." And I said, "Uh-huh. But you 'll have to kill me first. [. . . .] Now that 's something I despise. Anybody who can 't control themselves sexually. I told him straight. "Leave her alone. “(Capote 280). Choosing to include this intense moment and telling it from Perry’s perspective, aids in driving the sentiment that Perry, is actually not an absolute evil. The way in which Perry behaved during such events contrast greatly with Dick’s own actions. The manned in which Perry spoke about Dick, showed that he disapproved many of his decision and
Perry seemed to be greatly affected from committing such a heinous act, he obsesses over it. Dick on the other hand, wants to forget about it like a student would want to forget a bad exam. In regards to Perry’s constant worrying about their situation, Dicks responds with, ”What is it, honey? That other deal? Why the hell can 't you forget it?” (Capote 142). We are also given other instances after the murders that showed the difference of their state of minds and their behaviors. They were not only on different terms after committing the murder, but also beforehand. While preparing for the murder and safe stealing, Perry wanted to purchase some masks to conceal there identity. This was something that Dick opposed, he wanted believed masks were unnecessary as they would leave no witness alive. This detail greatly served to show, the difference in there morality. Capote also believed that Perry never meant to kill the clutter. In an interview with the New York Times, Capote was asked wether he believed if Perry and Dick were surprised about their own action, he responded with, “Perry never meant to kill the Clutters at all. He had a brain explosion. I don 't think Dick was surprised, although later oh he pretended he was. He knew, even if Perry didn 't, that Perry would do it, and he was right. It showed an …show more content…
While most of the novel is told in a third-person omniscient point of view, Capote decides to tell the interrogation from Perry’s perspective. This decision gives us a deeper look at Perry’s though process throughout murder and we are also given a small redeemable act. Something that Perry disapproves of, is Dick’s hyper-sexual attitude. Dick was eager to rape Nancy Clutter prior to killing her according to Perry, “Then he says to me, as we 're heading along the hall toward Nancy 's room,"I 'm gonna bust that little girl." And I said, "Uh-huh. But you 'll have to kill me first. [. . . .] Now that 's something I despise. Anybody who can 't control themselves sexually. I told him straight. "Leave her alone. “(Capote 280). Choosing to include this intense moment and telling it from Perry’s perspective, aids in driving the sentiment that Perry, is actually not an absolute evil. The way in which Perry behaved during such events contrast greatly with Dick’s own actions. The manned in which Perry spoke about Dick, showed that he disapproved many of his decision and