In Cold Blood Context Flashcards
(15 cards)
Capote and Perry
Both grew up with alcoholic and absent mothers resulting in Capote’s sympathy and favouritism of Perry over Dick in the novel
Movie: [it’s like we grew up in the same house except I went out the front door and he went out the back]
The Novel Itself
Took 6 years to write (1959-1964)
Had over 8000 pages of notes
Research was aided by Harper Lee (To Kill A Mocking Bird)
Combined elements of true crime and New Journalism - both new emerging ideas
Capote never wrote anything again after the release of In Cold Blood
Capote claimed to have 94% recall during conversations and never wrote notes
The American Dream
Clutter family represented the result of obtaining the American Dream whilst Dick and Perry represented those who wanted to reap the rewards of the Dream but were not willing to obtain it though traditional and legal means
Novel shows fragility of the Dream as well as the reality that nobody truly obtains it e.g Bonnie’s secret struggle with mental illness
Death Penalty
Kansas first abolished the death penalty on January 30, 1907, then restored it in 1935. From 1954 to 1960, there were no hangings in Kansas, as Governor George Docking refused to let any execution proceed due to his opposition to capital punishment. The last execution in Kansas took place on June 22, 1965 (double hanging of George York and James Latham).
Ethical Issues
Capote formed close relationships with the murders in order to obtain information from them with the promise that he would help with their appeal process, despite never actually doing so and therefore betraying their trust
Was also beside himself when the execution date was announced as it meant he finally had an ending to the novel
Original Intentions
Novel was originally supposed to revolve around the effect of a murder on a small community - however this was quickly shifted to a focus of the murderers themselves
Importance of Holcomb being in the middle of America - symbolism
Midwest farming industry and small town America when American Dream values were very important - Holcomb was at the heart of this making the events unexpected and horrific
Controversies over Capotes voice in the novel
Faction: Truman Capote first introduced the genre and once claimed he was going to write the novel truthfully word for word but ended up not doing so. He said it wasn’t non-fiction because non-fiction is devoid of first-person narration
Walker family murders
One of Florida’s most brutal, unsolved murders occurred six days before Christmas in 1959 on 19th december. Dick and Perry had been in the area at the time and are suspected of their murders.
Capote explored this theory in In Cold Blood but doubted it because, according to his research, the Hickock and Smith had an alibi for the time of the crime. Not only that, but the they were questioned about the Walker killings but passed a polygraph
Homosexuality in the 1960’s
Homosexuality was unspoken and seen as a threat to social order in society. It was seen as a mental illness
Since Capote was a queer-identified writer, the book is enriched by his eye for understanding the dynamics of gender presentation of gay men in 1950s America. At the time, there was really only one type of gay male — the “fairy,” the “queen,” the “queer”. In the book, Perry fits this figure because of the way his behaviour would have registered — singing and playing guitar, writing poetry, hoarding maps and magazines — would be configured as a feminine traits.
Dick’s mother recognises Perry’s queer tendencies and tells Dick early on that he is not welcome back in their house.
American Justice System
Perry is diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, however, given laws in Kansas, this did not prevent him from receiving the death penalty
M’Naughten rule disallows psychiatrists to give full statements, only answers of ‘yes’ or ‘no’
When asked if Perry was fully aware of his actions during the murders, the psychiatric replied ‘no’
Nature vs Nurture
Nurture : Perry’s life of crime appears to have started as a result of severe childhood abuse (the nuns and his parents) and an unstable childhood
Nature: Dick’s turn to crime is all despite his upbringing appearing to be loving by his parents, whom he seems to have genuine respect and affection for
However : Perrys Sz
Dicks car crash and possible brain damage
Unfair trial and Bias jury
The trial was conducted at the same time that the Clutter house was up for auction
Most members of the jury knew Herb Clutter, making the trial personal for them
Dick and Perry’s lawyer was forced to represent them
Lack of an in-depth mental evaluation
One member of the jury claimed he was against the death penalty, but would personally want it in this case
Judge Tate asks for the jury to not be ‘chicken-hearted’ after calling for the death penalty and was viewed as extremely bias during the trial
Masculinity
Dick is described as “aggressively heterosexual” and evidently the more stereotypically masculine than Perry, who is more feminine and submissive. Perry is often nicknamed as ‘sugar’ and ‘honey’ by Dick, further emasculating and feminising him.
Both men utilise each other in order to make themselves feel more masculine in their highly restrictive and conservative society - whilst Dick emphasises Perrys feminine qualities, Perry looks to Dick to assure himself of his own masculinity and admires him
Women’s roles in the 1950’s
Patriarchal society and domesticated roles however Clutter family appears to be free to explore wider options within society.
Nancy- going to college and dreams of moving to New York with Susan.
Perry - feminised due to his crying and seen as weak as a result
Bonnie- could not fulfil traditional role in the home due to her post-natal depression and struggles with mental health, leaving Nancy to take her place
Herb- carries out traditionally feminine roles e.g cooking, despite going against tradition 1950’s family structure.
