...In Cold Blood Character Analysis Essay Perry Smith Is one born a murderer or does one become a murderer? That is the question that Truman Capote tackles in his non-fiction novel In Cold Blood. In his 1966 novel Capote relates in detail the true and horrific murders of four members of the Clutter family in 1959 in the town of Holcomb, Kansas, but more specifically focuses on the murderers, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, and their motivation to commit such a cold blooded crime. Out of the two, Perry Smith is the most complex character who displays a natural ability to kill, but who also has been shaped to become a murderer, making a more “likable” character than his co-murderer Dick Hickock. In the first part of his novel entitled The Last to See Them Alive, Capote gives the reader hints that Perry Smith is indeed born a natural killer. When he was jailed in the Kansas penitentiary “Perry described a murder, telling how simply for the hell of it," he had killed a colored man in Las Vegas - beaten him to death with a bicycle chain” (Capote 54). After hearing the story his future partner in crime Dick Hickock “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” (Capote 55). Perry Smith certainly proved to be “that rarity” when he cold bloodedly killed with a single shot in the head Nancy, Kenyon, Bonnie Clutter, and cut Herb Clutter’s throat...
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...he used to cry because he thought a sunset was beautiful. Or the moon. Oh, he can fool you. He can make you feel so sorry for him--¨ (Capote 182). Leading up to this interview, Capote repeatedly illustrates how Dick is a monster compared to Perry, and portrays the idea that Perry has potential to be good. However, the way Mrs. Johnson describes Perry and exaggerates how he can come off as warm-hearted and kind, is similar to the way he appears in section one and two. As more details of Perry are revealed, he is presented in a manipulative way, just as Mrs. Johnson states. This illustrates the idea that one can have many different aspects to their personality, until you get to know them well enough. In order to further complicate Perry´s character, Capote uses juxtaposition by contrasting Dick and Perry´s physical appearance. The way in which the investigators describe Dick makes him seem relatively normal: ¨He was wearing a blue shirt and suntans and white socks and black shoes. We shook hands; his hand was drier than mine. Clean, polite, nice voice, good diction, a pretty decent looking fellow, with a very disarming smile...¨ (Capote 216). However, the way the investigators describe Perry is the opposite of Dick: ¨...this chunky, misshapen, child-man was not pretty; the pink end of his tongue darted forth, flickering like the tongue of a lizard (Capote 224). The contrast in Dick and Perry´s physical appearance portrays Perry as the bad guy. This leads to the assumption that because...
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...Thesis: Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood” conveys true crime and the portrayal of the killers. Throughout the novel, Perry and Dick are transformed from heartless, cold-blooded monsters, whose actions seem to be motiveless evil, into the troubled, pitiful, and human individuals they are at the end of the book. The crime itself is reduced to many emotional responses. Preliminary Bibliography Capote, Truman. In Cold Blood: Random House. Alan. U. Schwartz. New York, 1965. Print. ------------------------------------------------- Primary Source Corregido, Jeronimo. "A Study of Genre in In Cold Blood: A Formal Perspective." A Study of Genre in “In Cold Blood”: A Formal Perspective. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2015:Academia.edu. swales, john. M. Massachusetts, 1990. Cambridge University. ------------------------------------------------- This essay conveys the death and crime which the book portrays. This relates to my primary source, “In Cold Blood” which portrays sudden death and crime upon the family. "In Cold Blood :: Character Analysis, Perry Smith. "In Cold Blood :: Character Analysis, Perry Smith. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2015. ------------------------------------------------- This essay “Cold Blood” shows the traumatic story from the killers’ perspective. It also conveys how the killers’ background effected how they proceeded in life. Hemingway, Ernest. "Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway Study Guide: “The Killers” Summary and Analysis." Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway...
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...Thesis: Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood” conveys true crime and the portrayal of the killers. Throughout the novel, Perry and Dick are transformed from heartless, cold-blooded monsters, whose actions seem to be motiveless evil, into the troubled, pitiful, and human individuals they are at the end of the book. The crime itself is reduced to many emotional responses. Preliminary Bibliography Capote, Truman. In Cold Blood: Random House. Alan. U. Schwartz. New York, 1965. Print. ------------------------------------------------- Primary Source Corregido, Jeronimo. "A Study of Genre in In Cold Blood: A Formal Perspective." A Study of Genre in “In Cold Blood”: A Formal Perspective. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2015:Academia.edu. swales, john. M. Massachusetts, 1990. Cambridge University. ------------------------------------------------- This essay conveys the death and crime which the book portrays. This relates to my primary source, “In Cold Blood” which portrays sudden death and crime upon the family. "In Cold Blood :: Character Analysis, Perry Smith. "In Cold Blood :: Character Analysis, Perry Smith. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Jan. 2015. ------------------------------------------------- This essay “Cold Blood” shows the traumatic story from the killers’ perspective. It also conveys how the killers’ background effected how they proceeded in life. Hemingway, Ernest. "Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway Study Guide: “The Killers” Summary and Analysis." Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway...
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...In the non-fiction novel In Cold Blood, Truman Capote (1965) gives his own narrative of the Holcomb tragedy in which a family of four living out on a secluded farm were slaughtered with a shotgun by the collaboration of two individuals for a seemingly few dollars. In this novel, Capote gives a thorough character description of the two murderers, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith, as he recreates their experience (much as he sees it as it would be from their eyes). He gives accounts preceding the event, through it, and eventually into their trial and execution. From the descriptions Capote provides, a psychological analysis of the mental states of Hickock and Smith can be asserted. Richard Hickock can be seen as possessing significant traits of psychopathy, while his partner Perry Smith is seen with traits similar to that of a life-course persistent offender. Through the described personality characteristics and brief histories of Hickock and Smith, this essay will address this assertion with the two in question as individuals themselves, within their relationship to each other, and also as other characters see and analyze their psychological well being. The reader gets to “know” Perry Smith very well throughout the novel and acquires the sense that Capote feels sympathetic to his situation as compared to that of Hickock. Smith, introduced as much the loner type, is described by the narrator and the character Smith himself (in a letter to a psychiatrist) as growing up in a low...
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...International Journal of Applied Linguistics & English Literature ISSN 2200-3592 (Print), ISSN 2200-3452 (Online) Vol. 2 No. 4; July 2013 Copyright © Australian International Academic Centre, Australia A Stylistic Analysis of D.H. Lawrence’s ‘Sons and Lovers’ Nozar Niazi English Department, Lorestan University, Khorramabad-Iran E-mail: nozar_2002@yahoo.co.in Received: 04-04-2013 doi:10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.2n.4p.118 Abstract Accepted: 14-05-2013 Published: 01-07-2013 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijalel.v.2n.4p.118 This paper aims at analyzing D.H. Lawrence’s ‘Sons and Lover’ using a stylistic approach. Stylistics is a study of the amalgamation of form with content. The stylistic analysis of a novel goes beyond the traditional, intuitive interpretation, because it combines intuition and detailed linguistic analysis of the text. The defining elements of modern language are within the text itself, not prescribed from outside. With modernist texts, usually understanding comes from close study of the language system defined within the text itself. Form, technique and style are considered not as a mere vehicle of the content of the story, but an integral part of the work’s meaning and value. In our analysis of ‘Sons and Lovers’ the resources of language: lexis, syntax, phonology, figurative language, cohesion and coherence, are discussed in relation to the style of discourse in order to explore hidden meanings in the text. The resources of language are shown...
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...Remorseless. Cold. Vile. The presented illustrates just a few of the words that society uses to label criminals. Although society expects that individuals who commit crimes get thrown into the same pile, a vast difference divides a cold-hearted killer from a misguided individual. The Capote classic, In Cold Blood, explores the contrast between these categories with the duo of Dick Hickock and Perry Smith. While Perry may not exhibit the moral qualities of a sensible individual, the fault of his crimes fall more on his need for love and acceptance. On the other side of the spectrum, Hickock fits into the classic criminal mold like a glove. Perry’s fondness of one individual, Willie-Jay, provides more depth to his need for guidance. Throughout...
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...Crimes and Punishment Character Analysis of Perry Smith In Cold Blood, a novel written by Truman Capote in 1966, tells the story brutal 1959 murders of Herbert Clutter, a successful farmer from Holcomb, Kansas, his wife, and two of their four children. In his 1966 novel Capote relates in detail the true and horrific murders of four members of the Clutter family in 1959 Holcomb, Kansas, but more specifically focuses on the murderers, Perry Smith and Dick Hickock, and their motivation to commit such a cold blooded crime. Out of the two, Perry Smith is the most complex character who displays a natural ability to kill, but who also has been shaped to become a murderer, making a more “likable” character than his co-murderer Dick Hickock. In the first part of his novel entitled “The Last to See Them Alive”, Capote gives the reader hints that Perry Smith is indeed born a natural killer. When he was jailed in the Kansas penitentiary, “Perry described a murder, telling how simply for the hell of it," he had killed a colored man in Las Vegas - beaten him to death with a bicycle chain” (Capote 54). After hearing the story his future partner in crime Dick Hickock “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” (Capote 55). Perry Smith certainly proved to be “that rarity” when he cold bloodedly killed with a single shot in the head Nancy, Kenyon, Bonnie...
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...In a crime story, Perry Smith would definitely be the antagonist, because he is the murderer. However, In Cold Blood is not merely a crime story; it is a warning for us that the whole society is responsible to build either good or bad people. Murderers or criminals are not born as criminals at first; they are all born as innocent babies; they start life as we all do: as a blank sheet of paper, ready to be filled with scripts of life. Here in this story, Perry Smith is not only a villain, he is also a victim. The series of failure in the development of little Perry has begun—at least—from his parents. After his father decided to have contraband alcohol business for living, Perry’s mother began to get drunk, and other bad things started to follow. They quarreled often, and I guess peace and love have slowly evaporated from their home and family, replaced by violence. Perry was a child with sensitive and tender heart who should be taken in special care; he needed love, affection and tenderness much more than anybody else with different personalities. These violent episodes in the family, unfortunately, happened on the very important phase of Perry’s early development. After that, his parents separated, and Perry must enter several institutions, and there he did not get any better treatment either. And that because people failed to understand Perry’s needs. If only they gave him love, acceptance and support, I believe it is not too late to bring him to the right path. But, it...
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...Character Analysis of Abigail Williams Author Miller’s drama The Crucible takes place in the seventeenth-century in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem suffers from witch-hunts, trials, and false accusations. In effect, the town is full of worry and suspicion; and when young girls falsely accuse self-righteous neighbors in Salem of witchcraft, the town goes against itself, which ultimately causes a conflict between power and aggression. The personality of Abigail Williams, the understood leader of all the young girls, ultimately causes the whole play to go into effect. Abigail displays that she is sinful, envious, and manipulative. Abigail Williams’ characteristic of sinfulness causes her to be the antagonist of the whole play. Abigail commits...
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...Analysis of Truman Capote’s Purpose and Language in “In Cold Blood” Truman Capote, author of “In Cold Blood” wrote this book, like most authors, for the entertainment of others, but he has created a new genre, true crime. This wasn’t his intended purpose but it was the start to crime drama. If Capote didn’t write this crime entertainment wouldn’t be the same. This novel was different than anything ever done before, making this genre more appealing to consumers creating a feedback loop expanding the industry. His actions are clearly effective through the strong evidence of crime drama in today’s society. This new genre let readers ‘get into the mind’ of the criminals which is appealing to the average person. A backstory doesn’t justify...
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...development of the later literature. It is a completely different tune from literally realism while it provided warm-bed for the emergence of the later literal category, temporary literature in America. Though it didn’t last for a long time, plus no systematic formula for it was created, its influence and how popular it was with the readers and critics can be easily seen nowadays. As one of the most well-known naturalists, Zola, once said, “Naturalism, in literature…is the return to nature and to man, direct observation, correct anatomy, the acceptance and the depiction of that which is. The task is the same for the scientist as for the writer. Both have to abandon abstractions for realities, ready-made formulas for rigorous analysis. Hence no more abstract characters in our words, no more history of everyone, the web and woof of the daily life…” We could clearly see that naturalists tend to depict the society and people in the most objective way, trying to be detached from the story. Being merely a narrator, not part of the story. Like scientists, naturalistic authors often concentrate on the fact. “What you see is what you get”, like this old saying goes, they go beyond the scientists for just one more step-write them down as literature rather than scientific report. Apart from being objective, pessimism is another major feature of naturalism....
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...disease can lose interest in their favorite hobbies, become less expressive and withdrawn. An individual may also seem "different" or out of character by repeating or asking the same questions, hiding possessions, having physical outbursts, and even having trouble with day-to-day tasks, such as eating, bathing, and getting dressed. Alzheimer's disease is not curable nor a normal part of the aging process, but medications are available to help. With the help of medications, an individual’s quality of life can be improved. Medications can help with memory, language, thinking abilities, and motor skills. I was introduced to Alzheimer's disease back when I was a child. My great-grandmother had this disease that eventually lead to her death. Now, as an adult, my Grandmother has this awful incurable disease, and it has taken a toll on not only her but our whole family as well. I wanted to research information on this disease because I wanted to know a little more about it, as I feel I am still so unfamiliar with it. It is very important to my family and me that we provide my grandmother with the best care, so knowing what this disease is and how we can go about managing it is crucial. Did you know that living healthy can help reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease? Half the cases of this incurable disease could be the results of high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, depression, cognitive inactivity, and physical inactivity. Things that could help improve brain health are...
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...rather than the murders. It allows them to appeal to their audience by taking the side of “right” rather than wrong. That is until Truman Capote came along and changed the game. He is recounting the events of the Clutter Family Murder in Holcomb. Although Capote attempts to write a strictly fact-based piece of non-fiction, his own opinion on the characters cannot help but make an appearance. In Capote’s In Cold Blood, he reveals bias towards one of the criminals, Perry Smith, through his narration and the excuses he makes to defend the criminal. On the other hand, Capote’s favoring of Smith can be apparent through his dislike of Dick Hickock, Smith’s partner in crime....
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...personality theories, types and tests personality types, behavioural styles theories, personality and testing systems - for self-awareness, self-development, motivation, management, and recruitment Motivation, management, communications, relationships - focused on yourself or others - are a lot more effective when you understand yourself, and the people you seek to motivate or manage or develop or help. Understanding personality is also the key to unlocking elusive human qualities, for example leadership, motivation, and empathy, whether your purpose is self-development, helping others, or any other field relating to people and how we behave. The personality theories that underpin personality tests and personality quizzes are surprisingly easy to understand at a basic level. This section seeks to explain many of these personality theories and ideas. This knowledge helps to develop self-awareness and also to help others to achieve greater self-awareness and development too. Developing understanding of personality typology, personality traits, thinking styles and learning styles theories is also a very useful way to improve your knowledge of motivation and behaviour of self and others, in the workplace and beyond. Understanding personality types is helpful for appreciating that while people are different, everyone has a value, and special strengths and qualities, and that everyone should be treated with care and respect. The relevance of love and spirituality - especially...
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