I finished the book yesterday and need to talk about it because no one else I know has read it or cares. I’m going to try and struture my waffle to make in less rambling!
**1. Feel guilt for feeling sympathy:** I feel bad for Perry and a part of me feels guilty for feeling so bad for him. I know it was Capote’s intention to humanise him, but I feel that Capote was pretty frank in the terrible deeds comitted by Perry and Perry himself seems up front about how he killed the Clutters and his lack of remorse.
But I just really think that when Perry talks about having potential, that he could have been something more, it isn’t just egotism. I think he’s right. He was someone abused all throughout childhood and was essentially feral. I think he did have significant mental health issues too, which were never addressed by any of the authority figures in his life. I think after the killings, Perry was trying to figure out what the hell was wrong with him, but had no one to talk to other than Dick.
THAT BEING SAID, Perry executed four people. Two were kids. One was a kid he had saved from rape/SA and had spent time chatting too. I feel awful for the Clutters; I cannot imagine their suffering; dad’s throat it cut and he likely died knowing his family were doomed; Kenyon saw his dad die and his killer approach; Nancy heard them walking up the stairs and begged; mom heard her kids get shot, possibly Nancy begging…It’s just appalling.
I know the ‘society is to blame’ is unpopular as people have to be responsible for themselves, however I feel that to a degree society *is* to blame for the cycle of violence that led to the death on an innocent family. Yes Perry made choices and had to be punished for it, but with what resources could he have turned it around? I’m not one of those who feels bad for killers like Bundy etc, but I do think that by just saying ‘oh, well fuck Perry and Dick because they were evil’ is unhelpful and reductive.
**2. Killers’ last words: I** think it’s interesting that both men died with some dignity, but also I had to roll my eyes a little.
Dick: On the one hand, Dick said that he had ‘no hard feelings’ and I feel like that was respectable; he seemed to finally understand on some level that he did bear some responsibility for the deaths of that family. I got the impression he was really irresponsible throughout his life, so this showed some character. However, he also said that he was going to a ‘better world’ which…Dick…you were part of a family murder! If Heaven and Hell exist you’re not going to the better place! Also, I felt that this was sort of self-pitying in a way that wasn’t justified. Dick’s life wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t a bad life. He had loving parents, a childhood sweetheart and kids. I mean…
Perry: So with Perry, like Dick, I respected that there was a sort of apology at the end. I’m not sure how much Perry even understood of why he was apologising, but I appreciate that he did because throughout he showed so little remorse…even he was surprised by his own lack of remorse! However, he also complains about being killed in such a way and that he may have had something to offer the world. And, again, it’s like….Perry….you killed people with potential! And for no reason!!
**Capote**: I’m going to watch the film about this book later, the one about Capote writing it. However, I think it’s interesting that Capote:
a) wanted the boys to be executed so his book could end.
b) was seen by some as taking advantage of the Clutters, Hocombe and even the killers.
c) his mutual interest in Perry, Perry in turn giving all his stuff to Capote, which Capote said he was going to burn.
d) him apparently weeping in his car for hours after Perry’s hanging.
e) his life becoming a hot mess after this book.
There were a few times during reading this book where I genuinely wondered if Capote was in love with Perry. I can understand his interest in him, compared to Dick Perry is the more interesting personality. We expect Dick to be a killer because he’s more obviously callous, able to plan, and entitled. He gives ‘sociopath’ or ‘psychopath’ vibes.
But with Perry he’s portrayed as altruistic. He *can* show kindness (thinking of the young boy and his grandfather hitchiking). Perry also has a morality system; he doesn’t like rape or ‘people who cannot control themselves’ sexually. Yet despite this ability to be kind without anything in return, or understanding the concept of morals or virtues, can wipe out a family and then be annoyed about being executed. So if Capote did become attached during the years of talking to them…I do understand that.
I wonder also about some of the accusations that he took advantage of people, and if so, what kind of mental toll that took on him. Personally I don’t know how he could have taken advantage of the killers as they chose to talk to him and reveal some dark shit, but maybe there’s more to the story that I’m not aware of. I can see how he pissed of the townsfolk and the Clutters; their deaths were sensationalised and the town clearly wanted to get passed it. Even in the book talking about the killing was banned in certain places around town and some of the townspeople despaired when the killers were caught because they knew it was all going to start up again. So the book really doomed them all to forever being marked by the family’s murder.
**Parents**: Again, I know Perry and Dick are responsible for their own behaviour but I was mad at both sets of parents. Perry’s it kind of goes without saying; it’s a real indictment that 3 out of 4 ended up dead at a young age. But even Dick’s parents. I know in the book a lot of people were sympathetic to them but I feel like they spoiled their son. Maybe he was always going to end up a mess because I feel they did do their best for him, but the fact that he was stealing, touching little girls and generally being a prick at an early age tells me they should have done more. I feel it was pretty typical of that kind of parent to just blame eveything on Perry rather than face the idea that their son was a wrongun.
I read somewhere that Perry’s dad eventually killed himself. I don’t know if that’s true, but if it is, I get it. Three of your kids dead and the only one who made it out had almost nothing to do with you…and the one most connected to you was arguably the most fucked up. Also, he probably lived in infamy. The book was kinder to Dick’s parents than Perry’s dad.
Conclusion: I’m just really haunted/shook up by the book. Perry’s duality raises so many questions. I’m so curious about Capote, who doesn’t allow himself to appear in the book other than the third person narrator, but he is so important. And finally, I really feel for the Clutter family and what they went through which then merges into feelings of guilt for being so intrigued in their killers.
by StarFire24601