[Section 3: Answers] Was not only greatly written, but also fantastically set up. The way he decided to section and explain what had happened in the Clutters and how Perry and Dick killed them.
Starting off explaining how Flyod Wells heard about the murder and how he was trying to figure out when and if he should tell authorities. Then continuing on with the explanation of what Dick and Perry were doing at the time, and how they continued on to run more checks back in Kansas (And I still can't believe Perry decided to continue on with all this even after Dick told him they were going back Kansas.) Then slipping by the authorities and heading off to Las Vegas, where, while getting Perry's Personals from the Post office, get caught leaving and heading to the hotel to get the other box of Perry's personals. Then the questioning begins, Dick explains how he picked up Perry and were going to Fort Scott to see Perry's sister who was holding money for them, then he changes the story to go out on a drinking spree. Then the K.B.I. get straight forward and tell them they know they did it. Dick explains his story, Perry tells his. They wanted money and when they didn't find any they tied them up. Then afterword they explained how they killed them. Perry wanted to prove he was tough and get him to stop wanting to kill them. But instead "accidentally" slitting his throat. so to keep him from Dying a slow and painful death. Shot him in the face. Then considered having to shoot the others too. Which in turn did. (Said by Dick) Whereas Perry explains how Dick killed the two women after Perry couldn't do anymore because of his legs. Then Perry Pondered on the idea of just shooting Dick, Because of everything that happened, he just couldn't go along anymore. But in turn didn't shoot him, and continued with him all the way to mexico and beyond.
So yeah. I wanna know what people thought about this chapter, and would love to join into some huge heated debate about this chapter. I hear not many people liked the way it was set up, But I did.
Ahhh.... Dick sure is a conniving little bastard (pardon my language.)I don't think the killing happened "accidentally" at all. I believe it happened because both Dick and Perry were apprehensive about not finding what they had come for, and, well they already had everyone tied up and all... Why not shoot them and get it over with?
ReplyDeleteI found it interesting that Perry's "kinder" side came out in this section. He might be a killer and a thief, but he seemed to have the person's best interests in mind while he did it. I.e. the pillow, stopping Dick from raping (repeatedly, possibly) Nancy, etc.
Dick, on the other hand... I lost all respect for him in this chapter. It's one thing to go around looking for street whores, it's another thing entirely to scour beaches looking for little girls who would be naive enough to follow him off the beach. In addition to that, the mention that "to be sure... he was - 'a normal.' Seducing pubescent girls, as he had done "EIGHT OR NINE" TIMES in the last several years, did not disprove it" (201). Dick then goes on to describe how most other men had the same desires. This is disgusting. It sickens me even more so that this man HAS CHILDREN. This might explain why he always goes for the barely legal sort. If they're legal at all.
I know Bianca believes that Perry is portrayed in such a kind and forgiving light because of the relationship that Capote forged with him after the arrest, but if the details of the Clutter happenings are fact, totally fiction-free, then I don't see how you can deny Perry's disposition towards the kinder yet misunderstood side of human nature. Sure, he's a little screwed up in the head, but unless Perry has a "make your victims comfortable before you kill them" fetish, I would say he's the lesser of the two evils.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree there Katie. IT was a real eye opener about Dick. Trying to Rape children and such. I think that Dick's Mind set is anything but "normal" due to his continued mind set about being normal and saying how perfect he is. which in a sense he is no where near normal. Just wow for an overall reflection on Dick.
ReplyDeleteI agree with both of you, Katie and Josh. In the previous chapter, I started thinking that Dick wasn't such a "bad guy." He showed sadness about leaving his family and strapping his Dad with debt. In this section, my entire view of Dick changed. His "normal" attitude (in his eyes) toward girls really put him in a gross, bad light. And later, in the confessions, he betrays Perry saying that Perry did all the killings and Dick "tried to stop him" which was a total lie. I lost every bit of respect for Dick in this section.
ReplyDeletePersonally my favorite part of this section was hearing Perry's confession. What he and Dick did was terrible, but it was great to finally know everything that happened. I really liked how Capote chose to included the entire description in one section because it didn't leave the reader wondering. I thought the last paragraph was powerful on pg. 246, "Duntz asks Smith, 'Added up, how much money did you get from the Clutters?'
'Between forty and fifty dollars.'"
WOW. The short sentence gives the paragraph a tone of total reality and disbelief, that the entire Clutter family (minus 2) were murdered over $45.
The whole murder description was sad which is a huge understatement. The description of Perry and Dick almost turning around, and then continuing back to the house was a pivotal moment because it showed that they were not sure of what they were doing. Then, after Perry cut Herb's throat, and then Dick attempted to, but "froze" shows that Dick was just as much unsure about everything. Later, it was said that the whole murder was almost a "psychological accident, virtually an impersonal act; the victims might as well have been killed by lightning" (pg. 245). I actually felt a bit bad for Dick and Perry when they were walking up the court house steps.
I agree entirely with you Kendra. The way the things were explained about confession. It showed Perry's sensitive side and how he really wasn't sure what he was doing was right at all. Another point, The silver dollar explained on page 240. It showed how stupid all this was. How all this work for basically nothing. It kinda shows how this thing went over all. They went in and killed the people, for what? 40 something bucks. thats ridiculous. The relationship between Perry's legs hurting and the emotional status of the men, and the Silver coin, with the tiny amount of cash they came out of it with. And the court house steps, must have been the worst of it all. Because after killing these people, going on a cross country and even over country borders, then back over the border back into America, thought they were in the free, and finally, Getting caught and having to explain themselves to the K.B.I. just to walk up those court house steps, seeing everyone standing there probably yelling profanities and calling them anything you can really imagine. That right there, must have been something, even death could come close to.
ReplyDeleteThis section was probably my favorite although it was the most disturbing. It fully described Dick and Perry in a new light as you all have mentioned above. The fact that Perry tried to convince Dick to leave when he knew the Clutter's were telling the truth shows a lot about his character. When Dick had Perry continue with him it revealed that Perry feels that he needs to please people. He did kill them yes, but the fact that Capote can make a murderer seem like a good guy is really something. This section really shows that he developed a relationship with Perry.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kendra and Kaitlyn. I, too, lost all respect for Dick when he threw Perry 'under the bus'. In an odd way though I feel that was just Dick's way of showing remorse, almost like he couldn't come to terms with the fact he'd done it. (Not that Dick did ALL of it, because he didn't.) I feel that Perry tried so hard to 'fit in' that he wasn't really thinking. I also feel that this section was the best of the book so far because it really brought in that key element, Floyd Wells. Wells really turned the whole case around, he basically solved the case from a prison cell.
ReplyDeleteLike kaitlyn, this section was also my favorite. It answered a lot of the questions that we were eager to discover the answers 2. it makes us feel sympathy towards perry and feel that dick is the one responsible, and hated and when dick throws perry under the bus, it confirms a feeling of disgust towards dick. I too felt sympathy towards perry up until the point of learning, he did cut mr clutters throat. He pulled the trigger first. One thing that really stood out to me was when the police contacted Perrys sister, and she seemed afraid of perry. she did not want him to know where she lived, and when she said "oh he can fool you, he can make you feel so sorry for him" on page 182, the sympathy i felt for Perry was wiped away. Yes, he may have had a hard past, but its no excuse for murder. and hearing that Perrys sister was literally afraid of him, took away any feelings i had of sympathy for Perry. and i agree with Staci, although Floyd weels could be testifying for money, and to get out of jail, if it werent for him, the case could have remained unsolved.
ReplyDelete