In Cold Blood Essay Questions
1. In the novel In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, based on a true story, there is no one main character. There is actually two main characters. The two main characters are the killers of the Clutter family, Mr. Perry Edward Smith, and Mr. Richard Eugene Hickock. These two men murdered the Clutter family for some money, which in total was about $40. They decided to leave no witness to this gruesome crime.
Mr. Perry Edward Smith is one of the main characters in this novel. One of the conflicts Smith faces is that he wants to be educated, but he is not. Another conflict he faces is near the end of the book when he confesses to the murders. He at first told the detective that he had killed only Mr. Clutter and Kenyon, and then later before signing his written statement, he wanted to make it right and confessed that he had indeed killed Mr. Clutter, Kenyon, Nancy, and Mrs. Clutter. His strengths are that he is sensitive, creative, smart, and thoughtful. His weaknesses are that he comes from a troubled background, and that he has been in and out of jail.
Mr. Richard Eugene Hickock is the other main character in this novel. He is the one who plans the robbing of the Clutter’s and says that they cannot leave any witnesses. One of the conflicts that he faces is that he starts to waver when it comes to carrying out the plan to actually kill the Clutter’s and he leaves it all to Smith and becomes a bystander to the murders. His strengths are that he is smooth-talking, always plans on making a buck, and that he is very self-assured. His weaknesses are that he has insecurities like he cannot support his first wife and children, that he has a sexual interest in young women including Nancy Clutter, and that he has not been able to achieve financial stability.
2. The five main characters in the book, minus the killers, are Alvin Dewey, the Clutter family, Floyd Wells, Lowell Lee Andrews, and Bobby Rupp. These characters all play big roles in the book, and have a
Mr. Perry Edward Smith is one of the main characters in this novel. One of the conflicts Smith faces is that he wants to be educated, but he is not. Another conflict he faces is near the end of the book when he confesses to the murders. He at first told the detective that he had killed only Mr. Clutter and Kenyon, and then later before signing his written statement, he wanted to make it right and confessed that he had indeed killed Mr. Clutter, Kenyon, Nancy, and Mrs. Clutter. His strengths are that he is sensitive, creative, smart, and thoughtful. His weaknesses are that he comes from a troubled background, and that he has been in and out of jail.
Mr. Richard Eugene Hickock is the other main character in this novel. He is the one who plans the robbing of the Clutter’s and says that they cannot leave any witnesses. One of the conflicts that he faces is that he starts to waver when it comes to carrying out the plan to actually kill the Clutter’s and he leaves it all to Smith and becomes a bystander to the murders. His strengths are that he is smooth-talking, always plans on making a buck, and that he is very self-assured. His weaknesses are that he has insecurities like he cannot support his first wife and children, that he has a sexual interest in young women including Nancy Clutter, and that he has not been able to achieve financial stability.
2. The five main characters in the book, minus the killers, are Alvin Dewey, the Clutter family, Floyd Wells, Lowell Lee Andrews, and Bobby Rupp. These characters all play big roles in the book, and have a