Mrs. Robinson

AP English 3

July 31, 2007

Within the text of In Cold Blood Capote uses detailed descriptions of secondary characters. The descriptions add more perspectives to the story and provide more opportunities to relate to the novel. These portraits also reveal the opinions of the characters and give a greater understanding of the way people felt about the murder and the murderers.

Of all of the secondary characters mentioned, I felt that Mrs. Josephine Meier was the most memorable. Mrs. Meier was the undersheriff’s wife and watched over Perry Smith during his stay in the sixth cell of the county jail. Mrs. Meier became acquainted with Perry while he was being tried for the murder of the Clutter family. When he first arrived at the jail, Mrs. Meier looked past the crimes he was being charged with and seemed more concerned that he did not go to bed on an empty stomach. She continued to show Perry her good intentions when she, “…asked him if he had any special dish he liked; if he did [she would] try and fix it for him the next day”(Capote 253). Even after Perry had been found guilty and sentenced to death row, Mrs. Meier continued to demonstrate her compassion: “He’d never broke down before, shown any sign of it. Well, I went to him. The door of his cell. He reached out his hand. He wanted me to hold his hand, and I did, I held his hand…I said first thing tomorrow I’d make him Spanish rice [his favorite food] but he just held my hand tighter”(Capote 308).

The qualities Mrs. Meier possessed stood out greatly and left me with a lasting impression. I respected the fact that she looked beyond Perry’s conviction and treated him as an actual person. The kindness that was portrayed through her actions gave Perry a companionship through his roughest hardships and provided me with the comfort of knowing that there are such genuine people throughout moments full of sadness and devastation.

Mrs. Robinson

AP English 3

July 27, 2007

For many years, people have questioned if the role that nature plays in building human characteristics and personalities is greater than the role of nurture. Personally, I feel that nurture is a greater factor in determining outcome of someone’s life. When you are growing up is when you are learning how to become an and make the right decisions during your lifetime. People that grow up in an environment that is not stable and do not receive the nurture and guidance usually make poor choices and are lost throughout life.

I found the novel, In Cold Blood, to be supportive of my opinion. The main characters were two men that found themselves on death row after working together to kill the Clutter family. The novel described the troubles that Perry Smith went through during his life leading up to the murder. Perry had lived a life full of being abused, disappointed, embarrassed, and alone. The hardships that he dealt with shaped him into the person that he became. Perry was the character that actually killed all four Clutters and he did so because he had nothing to lose. When the time came, Dick Hickock could not bring himself to follow through with anybody. After leaving the Clutter farmhouse that night, he had a family to go home to. Dick knew that if he killed the Clutters he would never be able to deal with his own family’s disappointment in him. Because Dick had such a good childhood and was raised in a stable environment, he was able to realize that killing the Clutter family would be an action that would let down his own family. The nurture that Dick received from his family throughout his life gave him the ability to make the right decision and something to live for. I feel that if Dick had a childhood like Perry he would have been a muderer as well.

Mrs. Robinson

AP English 3

July 26, 2007

Throughout the novel, In Cold Blood, Capote frequently refers back to the character’s backgrounds and childhood memories. Using the descriptions that he provides, you are able to obtain a deeper insight on who the main characters really are.

During Perry Smith’s adolescent years, he went through several hardships. The feeling of independence and loneliness set in at a very young age, after the separation of his parents forced him to move to San Fransisco with his mother and siblings. Even while he was with his father in later years he was not contempt with his life. Perry was full of resentment because he had been robbed of the opportunity for an education which he greatly yearned for. As I read further into the novel I began to sympathize with Perry because the knowledge I had about his past troubles.

Dick on the other hand, grew up as a popular, star-athlete with a good family life and descent, respectable parents. During his life he was given numerous opportunities to make the right decisions but instead he lived his life as a criminal. I found myself less sympathetic for Dick because I felt he brought most of his misfortune upon himself.

Capote’s in depth descriptions of both killer’s histories caused me not to view them as monsters, or cold-blooded but I found myself seeing them as actual people.