In Truman Capote's novel "In Cold Blood," the characters Dick Hickock and Perry Smith play a central role in the story. The two men are responsible for the brutal murder of the Clutter family in Holcomb, Kansas, a crime that shocked the nation and inspired Capote to write his groundbreaking work of "nonfiction novel" about the case.
Dick Hickock and Perry Smith were both troubled individuals with troubled pasts. Hickock had a history of criminal behavior and had been in and out of prison, while Smith had a tumultuous childhood marked by abuse and neglect. Despite their differences, the two men formed a bond while serving time in prison and decided to embark on a crime spree together upon their release.
The crime that brought Hickock and Smith the most notoriety was the murder of the Clutter family. On the night of November 15, 1959, the two men broke into the Clutter home with the intention of stealing money and valuables. However, when they were unable to find any, they became angry and killed Herbert, Bonnie, Nancy, and Kenyon Clutter in cold blood.
The investigation into the Clutter murders was intense, and it wasn't long before the police had identified Hickock and Smith as the primary suspects. The two men were eventually caught and brought to trial, where they were found guilty and sentenced to death.
Despite the heinous nature of their crime, Capote's portrayal of Hickock and Smith in "In Cold Blood" is complex and nuanced. He delves into their pasts and presents them as human beings, not just as caricatures of evil. In doing so, he raises important questions about the nature of crime and the role of society in shaping the lives of those who commit it.
Ultimately, the story of Dick Hickock and Perry Smith in "In Cold Blood" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of untreated mental illness and the consequences of violent crime. It serves as a reminder that even those who commit the most heinous of acts are still human beings with their own histories and experiences, and that understanding these factors can help us better understand and prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
Dick Hickock
While on the run, Dick and Perry head south from Kansas City to Oklahoma on the 21st of November, and two days later, they cross the border into Mexico at Laredo, Texas. When Andrews is executed, he leaves behind a poem for Dick. Al Dewey ends his conversation with Perry by telling him that it would have been Nancy's birthday the next day and that "She would have been seventeen. Nye tells Perry that he is a murder suspect in the Clutter case and that there is a living witness. The impression is that Dewey had stopped being so intimately involved with the killings, and as a result he didn't even realize that they had been executed.
What are the differences between Perry and Dick
The Clutter family was murdered because of Perry daring Dick to complete what he had started, but this became a frenzy of activity in which Perry seems to have acted alone. The past is behind the narrator, and the present is here, in the car with Perry as he tells his story. Floyd Wells, a previous cell mate of Dick Hickock, told him previously of a safe that was hidden in Mr. What's more, Dewey believes, even if robbery was the motive, the lack of money in the Clutter household would not be enough to cause Dick and Perry to murder the whole family. Yes, Perry harbors resentment about his childhood, but he has no real self-pity and he never alludes to his upbringing as cause for his actions, only for his own personal pain and deep desire to be liked, to be loved. He wants very much to be educated, and he considers himself quite intelligent and artistic.
In Cold Blood
This marks a fundamental point of difference between the two men: Perry, always sizing up the opposition and measuring himself against a persecuting world, and Dick, carefree, barely cognizant of the potential consequences of his actions. Dewey's wife recoils upon seeing the two men, convinced that they were the last people the Clutters saw. Regardless, Dewey receives files on Dick and Perry, including photographs of the men. Further details regarding the behavior of the two men following the murder are recounted. In Cold Blood was written and Capote became a pioneer in showing how it can be used effectively to create a unique non-fiction story.
