Comparing Dick Hickock And Perry In Truman Capote's In Cold Blood

Am. Tap. And Comp.
Oct. 22, 2012

An unfortunate relationship
Imagine what it is like to be a criminal in contradictory partnership, one man takes control while the other follows along, but what they have in common is the capability of killing a person without a problem. This is Dick Hickock and Perry Smith’s relationship; although they are not exactly alike they both are in on a murder that creates one of the most shocking tragedies in history. In the book In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, Capote displays the relationship between Dick and Perry as contradicting and extremely dysfunctional. Dick is a strong minded and harsh person not letting anything change his mind and turn him around; on the other hand Perry seems similar, but he actually has an emotional side and a conscience. In this novel, Capote develops this relationship
by showing the soft side of Perry, the selfish and harsh side of Dick, and that what these two have in common is the willingness to commit a murder.
Although he is guilty of a heinous crime, Capote makes an effort to show the sensitive side of Perry. While explaining what he did, Perry comes to realize what kind of person Dick was. Wondering why he’d “ever admired him” (244). This shows how Perry actually has the ability to think about Dick and his actions, and having second thoughts about the person Dick really is. Most criminals don’t typically come out with what they are actually feeling; much less have any feelings to share. Also while explaining what happened Perry is explaining how Dick hands him the knife and he “didn’t mean it” (244). Perry is clearly showing a sensitive view on this if he didn’t mean it. He seems to understand that what he did was terrible and now that it is over he claims to not have meant it. These situations show an unusual sense of a conscience for the criminal that Perry is, this leads to the conclusion that a criminal like Perry actually has a side of sensitivities and a conscience which Capotes goes to many ends to make clear about him.
Dick Hickock is a harsh conceited person which Capote makes clear in this book. Mr. Nye had been getting information about dick from his parents and while making his rounds talking to the neighbors one woman claimed he was evil saying “if ever I met the devil!” (168). this shows how even before committing this murder he left an impression on people that wasn’t necessarily a great one. This also goes to show how one impression can change someone’s opinion no matter the conditions, in Dick’s case he left a rude and harsh impression on his neighbor. While dealing with Perry, dick seemed to have it in his head that he was more normal, smarter, and overall better than him which is where he is conceited, but in Dicks opinion there was “something wrong with little Perry” (108). When Dick mentions that there is something wrong with Perry it implies that Dick obviously thinks that Perry must not all be there and of course Dick is better than him. Dick’s strong head leads him to some bad situations and ideas; he will make himself believe that he is bigger and better than anyone around, and this is how his relationship with Perry works out.
Though Dick and Perry seem to be two different people, they both had the success of murdering a family, meaning that these two have something big in common. Perry had his soft side and Dick has his harsh, but they both were able to come together as a team to commit the perfect score. As a team Dick and Perry seemed to work well, when Dick first saw Perry he believed that he looked like “a natural killer” (55). Perry gave off a sense of danger and toughness which is perfect for the crime Dick had in mind. Although he can be sensitive, Perry has the qualifications to commit the perfect crime with Dick. While conversing Dick sounds as if he is trying to comfort Perry by saying “I promise you, honey, we’ll blast hair all over them walls” (22). The conversation is informative and explains what Dick and Perry plan on doing in their score, making sure that it will get done and when it is over everything will be just fine. Dick seems to comfort Perry if he is ever having doubts and tries to make their plan seem normal. The ways of Dick and Perry’s relationship are very odd, but always seem to work out leading to the perfect criminal partnership no matter what the person’s morals truly are.
In the novel In Cold Blood by Truman Capote develops the relationship between Dick and Perry, by showing the soft side of Perry, the conceited and harsh side of Dick, and that the thing they have in common is the willingness to commit murder.
Capote has accomplished making Perry seem like he really has a soft, naïve side to him which creates sympathy. On the other hand Dick was made out to be as selfish conceited and rude person. Together these two make a team sharing the interest and ability to commit the murders of the Clutter family. Capote has described a contradicting relationship between someone with a conscience who is able to kill someone, and a conceited person willing to do the same. How would you feel if you were in Perry’s situation, going along with anything and everything Dick said letting him control you, or imagine being the alpha in this situation with the idea that you were better than everyone. Either way it is not a situation that anyone wants to be a part of which makes you wonder what made Dick and Perry think for one second this was a good
plan.