Aftermath

He said, 'Anything the matter?'

'Not a thing,' she assured him, 'Only, when you come home tonight, you'll have to ring the bell. I've had all the locks changed.'

Now he understood, and said, 'Don't worry, honey. Just lock the doors and turn on the porch light.'

After he'd hung up, a colleague asked, 'What's wrong? Marie scared?'

'Hell, yes,' Dewey said. 'Her, and everybody else.' (Capote 86)


Human nature is a funny thing. Most adults are aware of the dangers that live in the world. The truth is most of the time we don't think about them. When something so publicly tragic happens, we are reminded how easily it could have been your family.

Dewey is a lawman who is well aware of the evil in the world; His family is equally attentive. In this case "her and everybody else" is afraid of the motiveless family killer. Dewey's wife, Marie, should be used to this type of brutality. Does anyone really become numb to death? Apparently not.

There is only so much you can do to protect yourself from random attacks. Some feel better by "[having] all the locks changed" or remembering to "turn on the porch light." These safety nets can only protect so much. Dewey knows all this, but reassures his wife anyways. Such fears usually only bring more panic.

The main use of this conversation is to show how the death of the Clutters not only affected their small community but surpassed it. Families everywhere are kept up at night by anxiety. Will any peace be brought if the murders are brought to justice?