Nature vs Nurture in Truman Capote’s Novel, In Cold Blood Essay

In Truman Capote’s, In Cold Blood, the author seeks out to gather information on the murders of four members of the Herbert Clutter family in the small farming community of Holcomb. Although Kenyon Clutter is more of an introvert and likes to be alone while the killers enjoy cracking jokes and being together, they are comparable in some ways. Surprisingly Keylon has a lot of similarities with the killers, Dick and Perry, such as their interest in guns, having good hygiene, struggling with their physical disabilities, and girl unsightliness.

In Truman Capote’s famous non-fiction novel, In Cold Blood, there is evidence that supports the injustices of the trial: death penalty. The final outcome of the trail was never to be any different than death. “Of all the people in all the world, the Clutters were the least likely to be murdered” (Capote 85). We know the two men who killed the Clutter family, Perry Smith and Bill Hickock, preplanned the crime with malice and forethought. Although the actions were crul and grusome, does Death Row fit what they did if their pasts, childhood environments and situation, are bad. Capote shows the effect of childhood on the killers and if the death penalty is fair. Capote gives the killers a voice to show their humanity by giving childhood

He opened a savings account for himself and deposited all of the money he had, except for the correct amount to pay change to Mr. Greyson, whom he owed from a shine the prior day. In paying his debt to Mr. Greyson, he earned his trust and bought himself an invitation to Sunday school and eventually lunch with the gentleman and his family. This was the start to Dick’s better life of saving his money, renting his own room, and meeting Fosdick, his new friend and private tutor. One day he ran an errand with Fosdick for his employer and the two rode the ferry when they witnessed a young boy, the age of 6, fall of the edge of the boat and into the water. Dick, not hearing the father’s offer of a reward for anyone who would save his son, dove in to save the boy anyhow. Once the boy had been returned safely to his father, the father was so grateful to Dick that he took him to have his wet suit dried and provided him with a suit nicer than his original suit from Frank. Dick then went in to speak with the man, as per his request, and was offered a position in his counting room with a wage of ten dollars per week, considerably higher than his wage would be at any other store or counting room. Dick gleefully accepted his offer and lived content knowing how hard he had worked for this day.

Perry is described as a “...normal sized man, a powerful man, with the shoulders, the arms, the thick, crouching torso of a weight lifter...but sections of him were not in proportion to others... his tiny feet...would have neatly fitted into a delicate lady’s dancing slippers... no taller than a twelve year old child…(15)” Just from the way Perry is described, he’s not seen as the stereotypical villain, but more of a tired and pained man with dreams and aspirations. With Dick as his “partner in crime”, the two contrast--making Perry look more good and innocent in light of Dick. Through Capote, the readers learn of Perry’s past: a father who beat his mother who in return drank until she died, a suicidal brother and sister, another sister who shivered at the very thought of him, life in a trailer, staying in an orphanage, and being denied education from his father. This causes more of a sympathetic approach--letting the readers potentially feel more sorrowful rather than

On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, a family of four was brutally murdered by shotgun blasts only a few inches from their faces. The protagonist of the story, Perry Smith, a man with a troubled past, is the one responsible for committing these murders. In framing the question nature versus nurture, Capote’s powerfully written account of the Clutter family killings asks whether a man alone can be held responsible for his actions when his environment has relentlessly neglected him; Perry Smith is a prime example. He is an intelligent, talented, and sensitive human being, who has been warped and rejected by society and his environment, and therefore cannot be held

The dynamic between Dick and Perry was always fragile and dominated by a need to determine who was more masculine, who was in charge. This is made easier by simply blaming the other one for any negative consequences. Dick and Perry weren't particularly fond of one another; they had differing hopes, long-term goals, and motives. A dynamic as fragile as this was easily shattered after their arrests, leading to quick confessions and a solution to the puzzling quadruple

Although Perry and Dick start out alike with an equal goal, the differences in their nature become vividly clear through Capote’s writing; therefore, Dick is shown as a sinister and more rancorous person than Perry. Dick’s true intentions are shown through his feelings by using amplification. Dick creates a unique plan to generate money for himself and within that, he plans to leave Perry. Dick reveals his plan, saying “That was half the plot; the second half was: Goodbye, Perry. Dick was sick of him-his harmonica, his aches, and ills, his superstitions, the weepy, womanly eyes, the nagging, whispering voice.

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote is a novel that explains the history of a family murder through two characters perspective. Capote unravels each character through the concept of juxtapose, which helps prevail the occurrence of events. Dick, is a very straight forward man that does not care about what others think. Whereas, Perry has a shy, conserved personality that is shown through transitions and details. Juxtapose effects the readers and characters as explained throughout the novel by comparing and contrasting two different characters opinions.Details are shown on every page and are illustrated in every sentence, which gives the reader the image. In Cold Blood represents the development of characters, juxtapose, transitions and details.

motor company, "when I [Dick] had an automobile wreck with a company car. I was in the hospital several days with extensive head injuries" (Capote 278). The car accident caused his face to be slightly maligned, and, as concluded by Dr. Jones, caused residual brain damage and instability in his personality (Capote 286). Dick's father also confirmed that Dick had changed after the crash, expressing that "He just wasn't the same boy" (Capote 255). After experiencing the crash, many parts of Dick's life began to go downhill. His marital life twisted woefully, and when all was said and done, he had gone through 2 marriages. He did not have a steady job anymore, and he began to commit petty crimes, such as writing bad checks and stealing. The latter resulted in him being in jail, where he had met Perry, who was behind bars for burglary as well, among other charges. Dick and Perry had both agreed to kill the Clutters, however when the time came, Dick showed signs of doubt and lingered, while Perry had almost no hesitation. This seems to point back to each man's past, where Perry, who had a rougher childhood, did not seem to think twice about killing the family. His scarred adolescence points to a more cold-hearted, bitter, and lonely person, while Dick's more favorable youth showed signs of mercy and conscience.

He admits in this same letter that he “...can only remember [his] mother and dad having one argument that amounted to anything.” (311) Growing up, Dick had everything a child could need; loving parents, a stable home environment, an education. Suddenly, after high school ended and he moved out, Dick spiraled out of control. He began stealing and writing blank checks, landing him in jail multiple times. When reflecting on his actions, he admitted that he “…knew it was wrong. But at the time [he] never gave any thought to whether it was right or wrong.” (313) While in jail, Dick heard that the Clutter family had a sizeable amount of money hidden in a safe, soon devising a plan to murder the family then steal all their money. But, when Dick had the chance to kill the Clutter family, he could not commit any of the murders. When Dick wanted to back out and leave, Perry stuck to the original plan and killed each family member. Between the two criminal men, Dick is the only one that does have morals. Unlike Perry, Dick is unable to commit the murders because he feels wrong about taking someone else’s life. When the same psychiatric analyzed Dick, it is revealed that he did does know the difference between right and wrong. Since Dick knew he could not really kill the Clutter family himself because of his morals, he convinced Perry to become his partner in order to commit the

This movie provides sarcastic contradictions about morality and the ethics of crime. For one short-lived moment, Dick contemplates prostituting Jane for income but of course because this is a light hearted comedy Jane becomes furious with this suggestion. Not long after her outrage she turns to burglary willingly. Burglary, just like prostitution, is illegal, immoral, and demoralizing. Unlike prostitution, which is a misdemeanor, burglary is a felony.

What the readers know of Dick’s past is very little, as Capote works to characterize him through flashbacks the readers know it was his plan to kill the Clutters and he does have some family “there were those Dick claimed to love: three sons, a mother, a father, a brother—persons he hadn’t dare confide his plan to(Capote 106).” But Capote characterizes Dick more so through descriptions of his habits than through his memories. “Inez was a prostitute…she was eighteen and Dick had promised to marry her. But he had also promised to marry Maria, a women of fifty who was a widow of a very rich banker(Capote 118-119)” Dick is shown throughout the book as someone who uses people to get what he wants, he calls on Perry to help him with his plan, he uses women for sex and money while making promises he never intends to keep. “If he knew Dick, and he did—now he did—would spend the money right away on vodka and women(Capote 119). Capote does not draw any sympathy from the readers, Dick is perceived as an emotionless man who pretends to believe in people and want the same

Following the emotionally ‘flat’ perspective by Dick, is Perry’s self-pity attitude during his own chapter. Perry knows the annoyance of his voice to Dick, but has no control over his actions. With only having one thought repeated indefinitely, “I think there must be something wrong with us” (capote 30), one would need to vent in some manner. To continue, Perry’s pity persona even has the author himself take pity on him: “Look at his family!” (Capote 30). Capote demands the reader to acknowledge Perry’s grim adolescence and suicidal family: “His mother, an alcoholic, had strangled to death on her own vomit...Fern...jumped out a window...Jimmy...had one day driven his wife to suicide and killed himself the next” (Capote 30). Capote pities Perry and portrays him as human, instead of the monster everyone believes him to be. Capote explains how Perry’s mental state and upcoming is the reason he is mentally unstable. Capote exposes not all criminals are monsters. Referring back to Dick’s passage, Dick claims “Perry could be “such a kid,” always wetting the bed and crying in his sleep” (Capote 29). Perry never matured from his depressing childhood, and he remained a in this state into adulthood. Returning to Perry’s

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.

The dynamic partnership between Dick and Perry stems from their egos, or lack thereof. Perry is especially self-conscious, and his behavior as presented in the book is due to his sense of lacking and