Character Analysis Of Perry Smith In Truman Capote's In Cold Blood

This is where the characteristics of the Clutter family comes in. The Clutter family, on the surface, represented the ideal American family. Despite their familial issues, they seemed to have it all: a giant house, a loving family, and a prosperous life. Neither Dick nor Perry had the wealth or stable life that the Clutters had, and both craved to live so handsomely. This was true particularly for Perry. His abusive childhood and erratic relationship with his family made him an impressionable target. He was angry and wanted someone to pay for the misfortunes he’d faced. The Clutters represented everything Perry lacked, and in the end, the jealousy and need for revenge was enough for him to pull the trigger. Dick, on the other hand, did not face a horrible childhood nor did he have a bad relationship with his family. Dick’s main motive seemed to be his want for money, but that fails to explain the necessity of the Clutters' slaughter. His motives are so undefined and his character is so unexplored that it is hard to draw any conclusions in regards to his reasons for murdering the Clutters. Overall, the motive of the two murderers is really up to the reader to decide based on what they see as

Some people define a relationship as how a person behaves or connects to another. Many reasons of why someone happens to change their relation towards someone include the person’s race, religion or age. The movie In the Heat of the Night, holds a deep relationship between the main characters and this demonstrates this point of view. Virgil Tibbs and Gillespie possess a complicated but protective relationship. Throughout the movie their facial expressions and actions towards each other change dynamically.

Capote's extensive characterization is a key element of In Cold Blood. The characters can be divided into three groups: the Clutter family, the two murderers, and the characters who were emotionally attached to the murder. Each killer's psyche is researched by Capote, and each is individualized by his specific psyche.

In fictional novels authors create characters, they get to build imaginary lives. For nonfictional characters there is only choosing details. They can’t invent new information about people that already exist. But sometimes the can author chooses how readers see a character. The author gets to pick and choose how they want the characters to appear by deciding which details they want to include. In the book In Cold Blood, two of the main characters Perry Smith and Dick Hichcock are depicted differently because of their different relationships with the author Truman Capote.

The jail in Garden City is in the same building as the courthouse. It is on the same floor as Wendle Meier, who is the assistant sheriff. His wife Josephine takes a liking to Perry because she thinks he is sweet and gentle, her husband who was on the scene of the crime, quickly corrects her. Perry corrects his earlier confession and says that he was the one who shot all four of the Clutters. The district attorney is trying to get the death penalty for them. Perry's sister and father do not come and visit him. He receives a letter from an old friend telling him that he wants to be friends again and expose him to Catholicism. Perry tells him that he does not believe in religion but he could use a friend. Dick seems very relaxed, he is smoking and reading, and planning an escape. Perry is still writing in his journal, he fantasizes about some men outside trying to come and break him out, they

To add insult to injury, Perry gets into a motorcycle crash that left him oddly figured and in constant pain. His life, as a whole, was a series of unfortunate events. His screwed-up childhood left him with child-like tendencies in his adult life, such as sucking his thumb and wetting the bed. Despite his childish emotions and lack of an education, he believes himself to be an extraordinary man with many hidden talents and immense intelligence. At one point he says to his sister, “You think I like myself? Oh, the man I could have been! But that bastard never gave me a chance. He wouldn 't let me go to school. O.K. O.K. I was a bad kid. But the time came I begged to go to school. I happen to have a brilliant mind. In case you don 't know. A brilliant mind and talent plus. But no education, because he didn 't want me to learn anything, only how to tote and carry for him. Dumb. Ignorant. That 's the way he wanted me to be. But you, Bobo, you went to school. You and Jimmy and Fern. Every damn one of you got an education. Everybody but me. And I hate you, all of you—Dad and everybody” (Capote 185). In contrast to his sensitive and intellectual side, Willie-Jay says that he has one extreme flaw: “explosive emotional reaction out of all proportion to the occasion” (Capote 43). Perry clearly has many unique characteristics. Each one of the small things about him lends a hand in the eventual murder of the Clutters.

When Perry is able to have a solid relationship with someone he holds on to the connection. Perry never has a solid connection with someone until a later age. The beginning years for a person are the most important in their social development; connecting with someone in a positive way is significant to how people interact with others. When Perry encounters his first positive relationship, his father, it is easily seen that he enjoys the relationship they have. Perry taking pleasure in this feeling of having a companion may be the reason why he holds on to relationships when they come along. An example of this is Perry and Dick’s relationship starting off on a lie. Dick doesn’t trust many people to help him with scores that he needs to settle.

Perry Wallace is the main character in my book “Strong Inside” by Andrew Maraniss. He is a African-American male in a very racist time. He is a “complex individual” because of his life in a racist time that shaped him.

The second point of view comes from Perry, the criminal that readers connect with and support throughout the novel. This passage also starts with quote, “Mountains. Hawks wheeling in a white sky” (pg. 110). The specific quote begins both Dick and Perry’s point of view in order to illustrate the same mental image in the reader’s mind, and also exemplifies the use of juxtaposition. As the passage continued the narrator discusses Perry’s emotions when thinking about the murder:

The town had trouble understanding who would perform such a crime, and why they would do that to a family that represented everything that people respect. Everyone that surrounded the Clutters becomes a suspect including the unlikely Bobby Rupp. A thorough murder investigation takes place where the Police believed that robbery was the motive. As the townspeople continue their “Christian Duty” of cleaning up after the crime, Capote transitions to Perry’s journey the Mexico. Perry struggles with his role in the murder saying that “There’s got to be something wrong with somebody who’d do a thing like that” (p.131). He mentions that he still thinks of the killings, and is trying to distance himself from the crime. Dick’s thoughts, on the the other hand, don't change; he thinks of himself as a totally normal person. This chapter shows that Dick, Perry, and the town of Holcomb are all affected by the loss is the Holcomb family in different ways. Immediate effects of the murder were shown and the psychological trauma is experienced by several characters.

Truman Capote's writing techniques are an essential component to the overall effect that his message gives to the readers. The use of rhetorical as well as literary devices work hand in hand to show the reader just exactly what Capote was trying to convey through his words. At first glance, it may be difficult to decipher the message, however once one digs deeper the message becomes much clearer. Capote wants the audience to understand the importance of living life to the fullest because it can change drastically in the matter of minutes. Although he explains very little that directly relates to his true purpose, his subtle use of stylistic devices work in cohesion to express his ideas, thus the importance of living life to the fullest at all times is greatly emphasized.

Established writer in the New Yorker, Truman Capote in his novel implicitly claims Perry Smith as a human soul. Capote’s purpose is to create bias in favor of Perry Smith. He supports this claim by first contrasting Perry and Dick, applying an anecdote, and finally providing one connection portraying as a shift.

“Dick was carrying his shotgun, and how he described how Smitty took my shotgun and just blew that man's head off,' And he says, 'Dad, I ought to have grabbed back the gun and shot Smitty dead. Killed him 'fore he killed the rest of that family. If I'd done it I'd be better off than I am now” (164). I am using this quote to explain how Perry just suddenly snapped or blacked out and killed the entire Clutter family. This quote proves that they are in fact guilty of brutally killing the entire Clutter family and that they are mentally

Serial killers are installed into our minds as ruthless, bloodthirsty, monsters with no respect for mankind. Savages, who can be deceptive and astute, or charming even. Perry Edward Smith, despite being considered one of these abominations, fails to fit into the bloodthirsty monsters category. The book, “In Cold Blood,” by Truman Capote, paints a picture of Perry that depicts him as a character filled with sympathy that can easily grasp the pity of any reader. Though Perry Smith was a proven killer, I find him to be a sympathetic man.

Truman Capote is known for many novels but no other stands out like In Cold Blood. A thrill ride through the night of November 15, 1959 in the eyes of Perry Smith and Dick Hickock. Many argue that the trial was unfair due to the ruling by the judge. Judge Tate deemed that for this trial, the McNaghten rule would be instated for this trial as opposed to the Durham rule. The McNaghten rule uses a very straightforward yes or no system for determining insanity. Insanity was defined by Satten as “one being driven by irrational senseless motives” while a sane person can be described as someone who is acting upon rational motives that are able to understand. Perry showed clear signs of Personality Disorganization during his acts of killings. A person with Personality Disorganization often experiences instabilities in mood, behavior and self-image. Just a couple of months before the trial and murders took place, a study by Joseph Satten was taking place on Murder Without Apparent Motive which directly ties into Perry and Dick’s case. Throughout In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, Perry Smith shows significant signs of Personality Disorganization but, the possibility of insanity was never even a thought during his trial due to the McNaghten Rule.