Thursday, November 19, 2009
Dewey's Dream
Alvin Dewey has a nightmare in which he Herb Clutter is alive again in the Trail Room along with Dick and Perry. He pursues the criminals along Main Street, then swimming in the pool, and finally through Valley View Cemetery. Dewey repeatedly fires at them, shots them in the heart,but they don't die,only become transparent. What does this dream tell us about Dewey? What significance, if any, does, this dream have?
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Alvin Dewey’s dream about Dick and Perry tells the reader a lot about his character and holds some significance as well. Herb Clutter, although he is dead, is found in Dewey’s dream. This illustrates that Dewey wishes Herb was still alive because he is dreaming that he was still there. He also sees Dick and Perry in “the corner” (196). Alvin wants Dick and Perry to end up in the corner, which is also the place where prisoners are hanged. He is foreseeing it in his dream because he wants it. Additionally, Dewey is chasing Dick and Perry throughout the town, which illustrates the chase of trying to catch the murderers in real life. They go to shoot Dick and Perry, but they are interrupted. This illustrates that Dewey has continuously tried to catch these murderers but has never been able to. Several times they may have had a lead but they have been working on this case for so long and never getting anywhere. Dick and Perry were shot in the heart three times but they didn’t die. This is symbolic and demonstrates that Dick and Perry are heartless creatures because they were shot and didn’t die. They are heartless because they killed the Clutter’s. They also turn transparent like ghosts, which are soulless. This suggests that Dick and Perry have no soul like ghosts if they can kill the Clutter’s and not feel the guilt. They aren’t human. Finally, the grave illustrates Dewey’s fear of death because the Clutter’s show that anyone can die at any time and Dewey could die in the very next moment. Also, Dewey is so caught up in this case, much like Truman Capote was that it may lead to his death. If he doesn’t catch Dick and Perry, he may die mentally. However, the case is also taking over his life, and may have “killed” his life as well.
ReplyDeleteThis dreams of Alvin Dewey reflected to be more of a nightmare to him. He awoke flustered, and, “it was as though he were a feverish, frightened ten-year-old; his hair was wet, his shirt cold-damp and clinging.” (p.197.) Working with this case over such a long period of time soon began to affect Dewey mentally. In the beginning he was very quiet, and gloomy because of the fact that this well known family, who he was friends with had been murdered. But through time, the long work hours, phone calls filled with frightened families, and attempting to take care of his own family began to get to him.
ReplyDeleteIn Dewey’s dream as he faced the two murderers face to face as they stood over the soon to be Clutter’s headstone, they weren’t scared. Showing signs triumph both Dewey and Perry seemed to have acted as if they were never to be caught. In Dewey’s mind, this was the exact thought they he tried to not think about. There was the smallest feeling in the pit of his stomach that no matter how many people he kills, or however much or little evidence he finds there is always that chance that he may not ever be able to solve this case. This is what scarred Alvin Dewey the most.
The dream Alvin Adams Dewey had, tells the reader that he is obsessed with finding the murderers. The Clutter’s were friends of his and he is bent on and determined to gain revenge. His chase along Main Street and through the cemetery is similar to the chase that he is pursuing everyday. He is chasing the killers (Dick and Perry) in real life, just like in his dream. Just like in many dreams Dewey is slowed down and does not find it easy to catch Dick and Perry. It almost seems that something supernatural is involved. “Dewey drew a pistol, and so did Duntz, but as they took aim, the supernatural intervened. Abruptly, mysteriously (it was like a dream!), everyone was swimming-the pursued, the pursuers…” (196)
ReplyDeleteIt may be significant that the chase ends in the cemetery, where Dewey believes Dick and Perry belong. They are standing over the graves of the Clutter family, mocking their victims and Dewey. “Hickock and Smith were not hiding at all but standing astride the as yet unmarked mass grave of Herb and Bonnie and Nancy and Kenyon, standing legs apart, hands on hips, heads flung back, laughing. (196-197) Even thought Dewey shoots them through the heart, they do not die.
I believe that this dream sheds light on who Dewey is and how he feels about the Clutter case, but i also believe that it has little significance beyond that. The fact that Dewey dreams about the clutter case shows how much time he has spent working on the case. His dedication during the dream to catch Dick and Perry showed his determination for solving the crime. However it also shows some despair in Dewey's mind that he may never catch the murders. From his reaction to the dream it is clear that this thought is devastating to him. This dream, how ever significant to Dewey's character, does not show much significance to the larger story. It is important when looking at Dewey's character to look at this dream, but to look at the book as a whole or just other characters, the dream has no significance.
ReplyDeleteAlvin Dewey’s skills have been tried during the case of the Clutters. Perry and Dick left no clues behind after they murdered Herb Clutter and his family. When he finally discovers who is responsible for the crime, he and many of the town people are ecstatic. They are all joyous that the murderers of Holcomb’s purest family have finally been revealed. They believe that once they are caught, peace will finally return to their city Alvin’s dream helps him realize the truth.
ReplyDeleteIn Alvin’s dream, he sees Dick and Perry sitting with right next to Herb Clutter, whom had already died. Two things can be depicted from this scene. It shows Herb Clutter and his family are not the only good people in this world. They can be found everywhere if people actually take the time to look for them. The reversal of this is also true. For every just person out there, heartless people are blending in with them. They can be difficult to find until they reveal themselves. No one would have known that Dick and Perry are the killers if Floyd Wells hadn’t told on them. Sometimes, the cold-blooded people are not revealed until someone else has suffered at their hands.
As the dream continues, Alvin tries to capture Dick and Perry, but they are always out of his reach. They finally stop running as they reach the “yet unmarked mass grave of Herd and Bonnie and Nancy and Kenyon” (197). Alvin tries to shoot them, but they continue to stand there, laughing at him. I see this as a battle between good and evil. Even when it seems evil has been cornered, there is no end to it. Goodness will continue fight against it, but evil itself will never be destroyed. This realization scares Alvin, who is the best at his job. This is the first investigation where “evil” is almost prevailing. He knows that the capture of Dick and Perry will not put an end to the madness of Holcomb, or the rest of the world.
When Alvin Adams Dewey has his dream he ends up not being able to kill Perry and Dick, but this dream has a lot of significance in saying what kind of motives Dewey has and what Dewey thinks about catching them. Alvin Adams Dewey pictures the two men in the restaurant. The fact that Dewey has dreams during the day at work about Perry and Dick proves that this case is 100% Dewey's priority right now. He truly has no other priorities and that the one thing he has to focus on right now is catching Perry and Dick, or whoever the murderers of the Clutter's may be.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that Dewey continues to chase Perry and Dick around the town proves that Dewey is destined to catch these men. He knows that no matter what, nothing will stand in his way of catching Perry and Dick.
In his dream, Dewey shot Perry and Dick in the heart several times, but they never die. The men just begin to fade away. The significance of them not dying is that Dewey knows that he wants to catch them more than anything. He knows that catching them is his single mission in this case. Although, he doesn't really believe that he will catch them. He feels like he will never really catch and kill them. For example, the narrator says, "He did not believe that Hickock and Smith would be caught in Kansas City. They were invulnerable"(198). Dewey believes that Perry and Dick are invulnerable and that there is a very slim chance that they will be easy to catch. He knows that he will have to work at this, but no matter what, he will catch these men.
this dream dewey has is a showing of his emotions to the case (and the clutters.) it shows dewey emotional about the case. the idea of the 3 together and dewey not being able to kill dick or perry is a little more challenging to understand. the idea that he can see the murderers is a idea that shows that he knows how to get them and what to use to put them away. but the inability to kill them shows how he beleives that he may never catch them. the thought of never catching them though eats away at him.
ReplyDeleteThis dream shows Dewey’s lack of confidence in himself. While he feels as though he has a chance of finding the killers, Dick and Perry, he’s not sure if when found they will be able to be apprehended. The dream displays Dewey’s state of mind and his doubts within his subconscious. Also in his subconscious is the need for closure with the Clutters. In order to feel as though he has completed his dues to an innocent family, he must catch the murderers. He will have no sympathy since they had their “heads flung back, laughing.” (pg 197) His main objective in life is to find Dick and Perry and bring about justice, no matter what the stakes are. The swimming pool shows the slow struggle of discovering who they are and the slow speed at which he believes Dick and Perry will be caught. The fact that he discovers them out in the open contrastingly shows his slight amount of confidence in the sheer finding of the murderers.
ReplyDeleteHow do the investigators get Dick and Perry to confess? What is
ReplyDeletetheir method?