Personal Response, Part Four

As we read the final section of In Cold Blood, we finally see the conclusion of the story’s main conflict. Now, Alvin Dewey is victorious and the murderers are finally captured. But now, we face an important question: is capital punishment ever a wise punishment? Alvin Dewey is able to walk away from the two prisoners and he is praised as a hero. But we see Dick and Perry, and we follow their story, even when it seems like it should be over for them. They continue to live for five years in a maximum security prison, and yet, they continue to make and maintain relationships. Keeping them alive for so long seems almost cruel. They are permitted to meet with friends and family, but what good does it do either one? Can you imagine being Mrs. Hickock, meeting with Dick on Death Row? She must have felt like she was talking to a ghost, constantly being forced to relive the same pain. Can you imagine how she must have felt, looking into the eyes of her once-so-promising son, and having to face the fact that he had become an evil, bloodthirsty murderer?

I felt outraged that they waited so long, for all of the people on Death Row. It’s just cruel, keeping them there locked up with only their thoughts for five years, raising them like pigs for slaughter. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.

Anyway, the book, as always, was full of persuasive writing techniques that are designed to make the readers feel sorry for the prisoners. And it worked, at least for me. However, in the final section, I’m afraid to say, the writing dragged a bit. At a few parts, I felt that the author didn’t quite have enough to say, so instead went into excruciating detail for things that ultimately didn’t affect the storyline too much. For example, the long explanation of mental health in criminal patients, or the back stories of every single prison mate.

Overall, though, this book was thrilling, and I was on the edge of my seat on several occasions while reading it. It’s a well-written novel, with a terrifying subject: the horror of criminality without apparent motive.

Theme, Part Four

Death

The very name of the section suggests that the two killers will be hanged in the end. No matter how much the two pray or try to get out of it, they always knew that it would happen. What goes around comes around. But should murderers be murdered for their actions? Is it right to avenge bloodshed with more bloodshed? This is a controversial theme in In Cold Blood, because even though what Dick and Perry did was an inexcusable act of evil, do they really deserve to be put to death? If they’re dead, they can never make up for what they’ve done. They can’t ever see how much their actions have negatively impacted others, and they’ll never have the chance to get better. The truth of the matter is, with every death, there is at least one negative side effect. One mother heartbroken, one friend unnecessarily grieving. And honestly, killing them doesn’t solve much. It just hurts people like Mr. and Mrs. Hickock, Perry’s family and friends, and even Mrs. Meier and poor little Red (and yes, I know Red’s a squirrel). Regardless of their actions, Dick Hickock and Perry Smith are still people, and I believe that all people can be saved.

Style and Rhetorical Elements, Part Four

“Institutional dourness and cheerful domesticity coexist on the fourth floor of the Finney County Courthouse.” (Capote, Page 251)

I love Capote’s use of diction here. This is the first sentence in the final section, and I appreciate that the author jumped right into a description of the place Dick and Perry are sent. The last thing the readers remember is our murderers being escorted through a crowd of enraged citizens, and the killers’ overwhelmed looks of fear and defeat as they’re taken to their final home.

But the great thing about this quote is the great contrast between the cells, and the home of the assistant sheriff and his wife. The rest of the prison cells may be lonely, boring, and dreary, but the apartment attached to the “ladies’ cell” seems perfectly normal. The Meiers seem perfectly content to live there, and Josephine has made a nice home out of what most would consider a terribly depressing place to live. She obviously isn’t allowing herself to be negatively affected by the criminals with whom she must constantly share the space.  She’s never mean or sour to them, and she becomes good friends with Perry, whom she is sad to see leave. This contrast shows two kinds of people: those who work hard and follow the rules, and those who cheat, lie, and ultimately murder.

“Although the eyes of the nation were not upon them…” (Capote, Page 272)

Here, the author uses personification to portray the country as one unified being. When he says “the eyes”, he means the way the people get their information, in this case, the press or media. The rest of the sentence goes on to say that though they aren’t being viewed by a large audience, the participants in the trial look and dress well. They want to present themselves in a positive light despite the lack of cameras and reporters.

The fact that the author chose to generalize the entire nation as one person, is actually a powerful theme in this novel. Most citizens didn’t follow the trial and sentencing detail by detail, like the readers of this book had to. Very few ordinary citizens paid attention to the actual case. Capote wrote this book to inform the public of what had transpired on the night of the Clutter murders. And obviously, there was interest in finding out the mystery of the quadruple homicide in Holcomb, Kansas. At the auction, most people came simply out of curiosity.

I think this use of personification was added in to show how much of the nation was intrigued by the murderers, and curious to find out how two seemingly normal men could commit a crime so horrifying.

“wild goose, aspic salad, hot biscuits, cold milk, freshly baked cherry tarts, cheese, and coffee—seemed to concern him more than the outcome of the trial…” (Capote, Page 289)

I find this part extremely ironic. Perry is sitting on Death Row, and he’s more concerned with a dinner than with the decision that could save his life. Now he says that this is because he is sure that the outcome of the trial is a lost cause, and there’s no way that the jury will vote in his favor. But you would think he would still hope. Where’s the bird now, to change the jury’s mind? He thinks it’s more likely that he’ll be happy by committing suicide, than the jury declaring him an innocent, free man. In all fairness, he was right, and he was sentenced to death, but you would think that, like Dick, he would be desperately trying to save his own life. Instead, he worries about a feast.

This use of irony made me question whether I really know this character at all. He felt no remorse for the Clutter family, so I thought that he’d be more hopeful with regards to the outcome of the trial, as opposed to someone who does feel remorse and wants to face the consequences.

At this point in time, food is the last thing Perry should be worried about. And the irony of his situation makes us feel bad for him.