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?

Leaving

Perry, glad to be out of Kansas, at last relaxed. Now it was true--they were on their way-- On their way, and never coming back--without regret, as far as he was concerned, for he was leaving nothing behind, and no one who might deeply wonder into what thin air he'd spiraled. The same could not be said of Dick. There were those Dick claimed to love: three sons, a mother, a father, a brother--persons he hadn't dared confide his plans to, or bid goodbye, though he never expected to see them again--not in this life. (Capote 106)

Perry and Dick have distinctly different views of leaving after completing their plans. Their lives are completely different in general.

Dick has family "three sons, a mother, a father, a brother" to leave behind. These things are important to him. Part of him wishes he could "confide his plans" to these people or at least "bid goodbye." When he leaves, he will miss these people. Plus, he doesn't have some deeper need to leave behind his life other than to run away. This is very important because he will never be happy in his new life.

Perry on the other hand is living out his dreams. He always planned on going to Mexico or some other exotic place. He is "glad to be out of Kansas" and leave behind what they did. "He was leaving nothing behind" in the first place. He is happy to be "on their way" to his new life.

If one isn't happy, this 'new life' will fall apart and ultimately their getaway will fail.

Dreams

'Even if we didn't find all of it, even if we found only some of it--Are you with me, Dick?' Heretofore, Dick had always encouraged him, listened attentively to his talk of maps, tales of treasure, but now--and it had not occurred to him before--he wondered if all along Dick had only been pretending, just kidding him. The thought acutely painful, passed, for Dick, with a wink and a playful jab, said, 'Sure, honey. I'm with you. All the way.' (Capote 100)

Both dreams (Perry's and Dick's) rely on trickery. Perry suspects briefly this, but dismisses it. Is his faith in Dick's loyalty so deep?

Perry has childish dreams of "maps, tales of treasure" that are opposite of Dick (as we have read before). It has never "occurred to him before" that Dick may be "pretending, just kidding him". This falsely found trust foreshadows great problems. If Dick reveals his true intentions, what will Perry do? For now he can survive on "a wink and a playful jab" but that can last for only so long. Any disloyalty from Dick is "acutely painful" to Perry.

These men have different dreams. Different dreams lead to different paths that cannot be accomplished without the others cooperation. Eventually the truth will be uncovered and everything that could go wrong, will. Once they embarked on the brutal murder of the Clutters, they became eternally connected. I believe this connection will result in a bloody ending for both of these liars.

The Clutters

'Feeling wouldn't run half so high if this had happened to anyone except the Clutters. Anyone less admired. Prosperous. Secure. But that family represented everything people hereabouts really value and respect, and that such a thing could happen to them--well, it's like being told there is no God. It makes life seem pointless. I don't think people are so much frightened as they are deeply depressed' (Capote 88)

The Clutter's influence on the community is so extensive that their loss damages it beyond repair. The Clutter's represent everything you want in small town USA. They are the 'perfect' family in a sense. They were the glue to the community by being so active in it.

Their sudden and tragic death left citizens feeling that "life [seemed] pointless." All of their friends "are deeply depressed" for good reason. The Clutter family "represented everything people [there] really value and respect" and all of that was lost with their death. Such a loss in a community can ruin life for a long period of time.

The mourning of the Clutters is a public matter, for they were public people. This simple fact is what made their deaths so notable. It also made every person with a connection to them feel unsure. The safety they always felt with the Clutters was just as brutally murdered. If something like this could happen to such a loved family, it surely could happen to anyone. The people of Holcomb are not just scared. The loss of a dear friend is a heartache to anybody. Since the Clutters were friends to almost everyone in town, everybody shares the general loss felt.

Dick

But Dick became convinced that Perry was that rarity, 'a natural killer'--absolutely sane, but conscienceless, and capable of dealing, with or without motive, the coldest-blooded deathblows. It was Dick's theory that such a gift could, under his supervision, be profitably exploited. Having reached this conclusion, he had proceeded to woo Perry, flatter him--pretend, for example that he believed all the buried treasure stuff and shared his beachcomber yearnings and seaport longing, none of which appealed to Dick, who wanted 'a regular life,' with a business of his own, a house, a horse to ride, a new car, and plenty of blond chicken.' It was important, however, that Perry not suspect this... (Capote 55)

After realizing Dick's point of view, it is very apparent how much the 'team' uses the opposites dreams. Perry believes in "all the buried treasure stuff...none of which appealed to Dick." Dick wants "a regular life", the complete opposite of Perry who has a "seaport longing". The last sentence really says it all. Dick is obviously using Perry and cannot let him "suspect this".

Perry is so convinced of Dick's loyalty. Dick can expertly "woo Perry, flatter him--pretend". All of these manipulators will eventually put a strain on the friendship. Dick plans to "profitably [exploit]" Perry for his "conscienceless." If Perry isn't this "natural killer", the base of their friendship will fall apart. Each friend needs something. If this need isn't filled, all plans will fall apart. This paragraph shows how their friendship hinges on such a thin thread. What if Dick is wrong about Perry?

Dick's plan for "the coldest-blooded deathblows" is the first concrete passage mentioning murder. It has been hinted at, but not said. Now that we know they are the killers, anticipation is building. I am set on their false friendship being the end of them.

Perry

Perry, flattered to be the subject of this sermon, had let Dick read it, and Dick, who took a dim view of Willie-Jay, had called the letter ' just more of Billy Grahmancracker's hooey,' adding, 'Faggots of scorn! He's the faggot.' Of course, Perry had expected this reaction, and secretly he welcomed it, for his friendship with Dick, whom he had scarcely known until his final few months in Lansing, was an outgrowth of, and counterbalance to, the intensity of his admiration for the chaplain's clerk... All the same, Dick was full of fun, and he was shrewd, a realist, he 'cut through things' there were no clouds in his head or straw in his hair... He was not critical of Perry's exotic aspirations; he was willing to listen, catch fire, share with him those visions of 'guaranteed treasure' lurking in Mexican seas, Brazilian jungles. (Capote 44)


This passage from Perry's perspective specifies the relationship between him and Dick. It is important to understand Perry's view of Dick; How they interact and deal with each other affects their relationship.

Perry's outlook of Dick is as crude and simple minded. Dick is "full of fun, and he [is] shrewd, a realist". Obviously he doesn't take Dick seriously as a mature opinion. Perry admired Willie-Jay, but "expected this reaction" of adolescence from Dick. There are some positives to Dick though. He has no "clouds in his head," and is "willing to listen" to Perry's schemes. These two features allow them to get along so well. Perry needs a willing person, who will follow him on the "Mexican seas [or] Brazilian jungles" adventures he comes up with. Dick is this person for Perry. In the story, they have come up with a plan to do something. Though their intentions are not clear to the reader yet, a scheme is certainly in play.

Both men seem to complete each other's needs. If one is lying to the other, they both believe it. For Perry, Dick is the essential person in his venture. If they are lying to one another, their scheme will fall apart. Trust can be the ruin of a relationship if it is falsely based.

Kenyon Clutter

Kenyon resembled neither of his parents physically; his crew cut hair was hemp-colored; and he was six feet tall and lanky, though hefty enough to have once rescued a pair of full grown sheep by carrying them two miles through a blizzard--sturdy, strong, but cursed with a lanky boy's lack of muscular coordination. (Capote 38)


Kenyon is son to Herbert and Bonnie Clutter. Though he is the second man of the house, he favors his mother timid nature. Do not underestimate him, for he still has the Clutter strength. His character isn't very developed, like his mother. I still feel that they have something to add to the story.

Kenyon is opposite to his father and sister who are very outgoing. He feels handicapped by a "lanky boy's lack of muscular coordination". Socially, he doesn't stand out and tends to stick to what he knows. These traits also come from his mother. The parallelism between family members may have a deeper meaning later in the story. Like how his mother used to be, he cares deeply for his family and is "sturdy [and] strong" for them. He may be the strong base in a tough situation.

This strong base may be needed for the family. Mainly, I feel the author wants us to know the characters on a personal level. Each person, including Kenyon, has a story and a life. These are the people we want to root for and we know.

The Men

The two young men had little in common, but they did not realize it, for they shared a number of surface traits. Both, for example, were fastidious, very attentive to hygiene and the condition of their fingernails. After their grease-monkey morning, they spent the better part of an hour sprucing up in the lavatory of the garage. (Capote 30)



This paragraph uses small details to paint a perfect picture of these two men. So far in the story, their part is relatively shrouded. What we are given, are personality traits of both men. What kind of men they are may give perception of how they fit into the Clutter's lives.

Both men, Perry and Dick, are described as being vain and "attentive to hygiene". Appearance is important to their daily lives. Both young men get along relatively well, but lack a deeper connection. On a more important level, they lack deeper meaning to their lives. They are 'searching' for themselves. For now though, they are content with the "surface traits" they share.

These traits are obviously important to eachother. But on the other hand, when Perry and Dick realize they have nothing considerable in common, their friendship will suffer. This flaw may be the downfall to whatever grand plan they have schemed.

Bonnie Clutter

Mrs. Clutter, who wore rimless glasses, removed them and pressed her eyes.
"Forgive me, dear. I'm sure you'll never know what it is to be tired. I'm sure you'll always be happy..."
Jolene was silent. The note of panic in Mrs. Clutter's voice had caused her to have a shift of feeling; Jolene was confused, and wished that her mother, who had promised to call back for her at eleven, would come. (Capote 26)

This is the first chapter from Bonnie Capote's perspective. Bonnie is Herbert Capote's wife, and mother to Kenyon and Nancy. She has been suffering from mental issues and most likely depression for several years. Her condition is known vaguely to Holcomb residents, but never discussed.

Jolene is Nancy Clutter's pupil. Jolene's character is used more as a way to describe Nancy and her mother. In the above paragraph, Jolene and Bonnie are discussing pie making. Jolene is also aware of Bonnie's condition, but has never experienced her. In this situation, Jolene is alone with Bonnie. Mrs. Clutter, not used to entertaining company, is awkward and asks Jolene to "forgive [her]" for being so.

Mrs. Clutter's perspective in the book is nervous and disappointed (mainly in herself). In the above passage, this principle is shown in full force. Bonnie implies her own distress by saying a young innocent such as Jolene "will always be happy." Jolene will never "know what it is to be tired", also showing how Bonnie feels.

Bonnie, at one point, was as outgoing as her husband. Now that she stays hibernated, is she hindering Mr. Clutter's reputation? Does he (or any other family members) have resentments towards her?

Herbert Clutter

That morning an apple and a glass of milk were enough for him; because he touched neither coffee nor tea, he was accustomed to begin the day on a cold stomach. The truth was he opposed all stimulants, however gentle. (Capote 10)

Main character, Herbert Clutter, is the father of two children and a successful business man. He is a devout Methodist and is active in church along with the community. Overall he is a well-to-do figure for his family and Holcomb, Kansas.

Most people with such a hectic schedule would need a hearty breakfast, or at least some sort of caffeine; not for Herbert. A simple meal of an "apple and a glass of milk were enough" to start off his day. This simple detail gives insight into Herbert's personality. Especially for the late fifties, tobacco products were widely accepted and used. Herbert opposes all of these things "however gentle." His view of any indulgent is almost military-like. Later, we also read that his schedule is filled to the maximum, but he still manages to fill all obligations. This particular passage stuck with me. A person's routine tells what kind of person they are. If it is strict, they seem to be a more organized person such as Herbert Clutter. This trait can also be the downfall of a person. Doing too much can take a toll on a family and physically for the person. Will this be the demise of Mr. Clutter?