Novel "in Cold Blood"

In the novel "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote, he develops a story about a murder and the outcomes that happened. He describes the main characters, Dick and Perry in two separate passages. Capote purposely makes it come from two different perspectives, one of Dick's and one of Perry's. The passages convey an overall look of Perry and Dick's contrasting behavior and how they are as a person. Capote uses this technique to show how all people are essentially different but struck with the weaknesses of their past and certain personalities; it can lead to the inability to control one's actions.

Perry is described as a person who likes to fantasize and daydream. For example, when Dick is describing what he thinks of Perry he says, "But Perry-there was, in Dick's opinion, 'something wrong' with little Perry....'sucking his thumb and poring over them phony damn treasure guides'" (104). Capote wants the reader to feel sympathy and sensibility towards Perry based on his odd perceptions of life. He wants to stress the fact that Perry has a kind of mental illness that affects the way he does things. Capote uses the phrase "something wrong" to indicate that Perry is very different than the average human. Furthermore, Dick says, "In some ways old Perry was 'spooky as hell'. Take for instance, that temper of his, he could slide into a fury 'quicker than ten drunk Indians'" (104). Perry's attitude and personality is always changing, depending on the mood he is in. Capote describes Perry in general as a person with feelings, however once he lets his anger take over, he can be a very brutal human being. The neglecting and ignorance that Perry felt in the past, influences his perspective.

Dick is portrayed as a ladies man and someone who is sly and cunning. For example, when Perry asked Dick, "'Know what I think?' he knew he was beginning a conversation that would displease Dick, and one that, for that matter, he himself would just as soon avoid" (106). Capote wants the reader to understand that Dick is a person who tries to forget the things he did and he persuades himself to never regret. He wants the reader to recognize that Dick does all these harsh things like conning people, to hide his fear of the consequences that he knows he will face. Furthermore, while they were driving, "A hundred feet ahead, a dog trotted along the side of the road. Dick swerved towards it... But Dick was satisfied" (108). Capote purposely portrays Dick, contradicting to Perry, as a person with no feelings or compassion. He shows Dick to be ruthless and cold hearted for the reader to comprehend that his past must have been traumatizing for him.

Capote wrote this to let the reader understand the viewpoints from two characters. He gives a general rundown of the characteristics of Dick and Perry. Their relationship is complicated