Monday, November 16, 2009
Families and Origins
While Perry and Dick commit the same crime, they have very different origins. Perry often blames his origin saying "whatever was wrong was not your own fault but 'maybe a thing you were born with.' Look at his family! Look at what happened there!" (pg 110) However, Dick has a well, put-together family. "An outstanding athelete" and a "pretty good student too, with A marks in several subjects", Dick also had a family, with a wife and two kids. What would his justification be if not how he was raised?
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Dick's parents believe that Perry gives Dick the motivation to do the bad things that he does. Mrs. Hickock says, "'I do,' resumed her darning, and was forced by tears to stop. 'That friend of his. That's what happened'" (167). Dick's parents are convinced that Dick was this perfect child who would never dare to do anything wrong, and then all of a sudden this friend of his, Perry, came along and that motivated him to do bad things. They believe that Perry is a bad influence on Dick.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, it almost seems as if Dick does what he does, because he either doesn't think it as bad as it actually is, he thinks its more convenient to steal things, or he just believes that he will not get caught. For example, Floyd Wells talks about how he stole a car part once, and that was basically the beginning of all of his crimes. Dick probably just believed that stealing the car part was more convenient to just steal the part and that it wasn't a big deal. Also, Dick never admits to Perry that he is worried about getting caught for the murder, so he probably just doesn't believe that he will get caught.
Finally, Dick may do the things he does because he is ashamed that he never went to college and really made a name for himself. It seems that Dick likes attention and that he would've liked to make a name for himself instead of just working on mechanics and in ambulances. Mrs. Hickock says, "I guess Dick resented it, not getting to college"(166). Dick may just be disappointed in himself and may just take his disappointment out on other things.
Dick was brought up with both a mother and father, and raised in a typical family lifestyle. He didn’t live with much money but his parents did everything they could so that he would be happy.
ReplyDeleteIn his younger years, he was top of his class with almost all A’s, and great athlete in general being able to play any sport. Eventually graduated high school, and wanted to go on and study by going to college. This is what both of Dick’s parents believe was the cause when his life slowly started to take a turn. He quietly resented the fact that he couldn’t go to college and succeeds doing something of his own.
Instead he got married at a young age and obtained a job working with the Santa Fe Railways. Not the dream life he wanted but he was content. Because of Dick’s lack of education, it mentally effected him. He lived with knowing that he was never able to reach his full potential, all because his parents couldn’t afford it. With this thought he realized there was nothing he could do about it, so instead he began to rebel reflecting the later years of his life.
Perry's actions and lifestyle are said to be blamed on a traumatic childhood, but what is Dick's excuse.
ReplyDeleteIt is true that Dick's parents believed that Perry;s influence caused Dick to make poor choices and kill the Clutters and because of this Mr and Mrs Hickock would not let him in their home. However, Dick had gotten into some crime related things before he met Perry and was scheming to kill the Clutters before he asked Perry to be his wing man in this operation.
I believe that Dick has no excuse, there is no justification for his actions. He grew up reasonably well and his family clearly thinks highly of him, despite the fact that he constantly leaves them hanging with his consequences. Some readers could say that Dick could blame his actions on the fact that he couldn't go to college due to money issues, or that he has been married and divorced several times, however; i do not think that any of these things had a large enough impact on Dick's life to cause him to do such things.
Mr Hickock tells Nye that Dick was always a good student, good boy, good athlete, until he was deprived the opportunity of going to college. His father says, "After that, he wasn't the same boy. Gambling, writing bad checks" (166). I believe that his is no excuse. Perhaps Dick feels as though his life is worthless or that he cannot be anything impressive, but Dick made choices that took his life in a certain direction.
Unlike Perry, Dick has not been emotionally and physically scarred and has no past or family that still haunts him. His family still thinks very highly of him and will always take him back, "Afraid because the thinks we wont forgive him. like we always have. and will." (171). Dick's family is clearly there for him. I believe that there is no justification for Dick's actions. I believe that he knew what he was doing and that he cannot blame it on anything from his past.
Although a cold hard killer, Dick treated his family with respect and showed loyalty towards them; because they allowed him to excel at school while providing him with a stable home. Growing up Dick did not have a tough childhood he was always treated well; treated as one of the best, "an outstanding athlete- always on the first team at school. Basketball! Baseball! Football! Dick was always the star player. A pretty good student, too, with A marks in several subjects." (166). Being loyal to his family was not a problem for Dick, because even though he committed all these crimes and often left his family with unanswered questions, "Dick was "devoted" to them." (193). However, Dick's family did not provide Dick with enough money so he started to base his life decisions around the materialistic object.
ReplyDeleteHowever, loyalty to his family was not enough; Dick still wanted money. Being the best in high school filled Dick with false hopes and dreams of going to college and studying engineering. Unfortunately, Dick's family did not have the money to send Dick to college, "Be we couldn't do it. Plain didn't have the money. Never had any money." (166). So, Dick spent the rest of his life making decisions that would guarantee he would get money. This is his only excuse for killing the Clutters. When Floyd Well's informs Dick that the Clutters were a rich family, Dick immediately becomes obsessed with the family and finding out the best way to kill them. Dick is determined to get their money, "He wanted to know if Mr. Clutter was a wealthy man. Yes, I said. Yes, he was. In fact, I said, Mr. Clutter had once told me that he got rid of ten thousand dollars in one week to run his operation. After that, Dick never stopped asking me about the family." (161). Dick becomes obsessed with money, however, due to the fact that money could be his only excuse his mother and others looked for other excuses to explain why Dick killed the Clutters.
Unable to see another reason, Dick's mother blames Perry, the murder with the troubled childhood, for her sons actions. When Nye questions the Clutters Mr Hickock is happy to explain how much of a good kid his son used to be, but he has no idea what happened to his son along the way; he doesn't know what caused his son to be pushed in down the wrong path; a path that involves divorce, bad checks and gambling. However, Mrs Hickock believes it was Perry that corrupted her son. It is no secret that Perry had a hard life. Perry was raised poorly and he uses it as his excuse for his actions. Perry's mother and sister were alcoholics, his eldest brother had shot himself, his alcoholic sister fell, or jumped, out of a window and his other sister was afraid of him; Perry had no family, no stability, in his life. Mrs Hickock believed Perry is what happened to her straight A student son, "his friend thats what happened." (167) Mrs Hickock explains to Mr. Nye "Once they went off on a weekend trip, Mr. Nye, certain as I'm sitting here, Perry Smith was the one put him up to writing them checks." (169). However, blaming Perry seems highly unfair because Dick had committed other crimes before meeting Perry. In my opinion there is no justification behind Dick's actions; killing the Clutter's was an immoral action that Dick performed that no excuses can excuse.
I feel that there is truely no justificatoin for murder, nothing makes murdering someone okay. Murdering somone, or in the case an entire family, is immoral, ruthless, and selfish. Comiting that type of crime has absolutley no excuses.
ReplyDeleteHowever, reading about Perry's life style prior to the murders, and his childhood gave the reader an understanding of his state of mind. He very clearly never lived a normal life, always fighting for himself, living on the road and learning to accept what little was provided for him. Also, how life turned out for one of his sisters and his only brother largley affected him emotionally.
Dick on the other hand has no history of a tough life, in any way at all. He was a good athlete, top of his class, and a high school graduate. He lived a well rounded life with his family, respected his parents, and himself as an individual. What went wrong? His parents blame Perry. But, clearly throughout the reading we see that Dick is to blame for almost everything. Perry is simply the silent accomplace, afraid to say anything in fear that he'll loose Dick.
As im reading the novel I still find myself questioning why Perry went through with the murders alongside Dick. Because by doing so i feel that, that obviously broght their relationship to a new level, a newly found connection. Now, Perry feels compelled to stay my Dicks side, in fear that he will get caught alone, with no one as strong as Dick to defend him.
I think that it is rather ironic that alghouth Perry should have enough hate and envy inside him, he is the one baring all the guilt and emotion. While Dick, the one who has lived an almost perfect life (up untill the downward spiral) feels no remorse, when he should the most out of the two of them. He has no reason to hate, or envy anyone. It was his choice to choose the path he did, he had everything going for him, and he made the mistake.
Even though Dick and Perry unite for a common cause, they started out with two totally different lifestyles. Perry joins Dick because he feels that he has everything to gain but nothing to lose. His family is at a point where they are avoiding him. He just got out of prison. The man he thought was his friend abandons him before they can see each other again. Dick, on the other hand, has everything that Perry does not. He has both a mother and a father who believe in him. Women fall for him. He has a wife and children of his own. However, it is he who suggests that Dick and Perry go on their "score". He is the one that decides to shoot all the Clutters in the head with a shotgun even though they were helpless. Many theories arise to try to explain what may have caused Dick to live in the state he is in. One theory, which is the one that his mother believes, is that Dick is under Perry's influence. She is similar to many mothers in the world. They are so convinced that their children are perfect that when they are blamed for a crime, mothers are quick to pin the blame on someone. Instead of taking their disappointment out on the child, they'll take it out on someone else. In the case of Dick and Mrs. Hitchcock, she is obviously upset, as any mother would be. However, she wants to avoid being upset with her son. To avoid this predicament, she would rather place the blame on someone that she does not know. She does not know or care where Perry came from as long as she has someone to vent out her anger. I believe that the cause of Dick’s descent is because of his sheltered lifestyle. His parents were so intent on protecting him as a child, he does not know what it means to hit rock bottom until he stumbles upon it. When he does, he either learns to enjoy this new life or he does not even notice how low he has sunk. I am not sure which theory applies to him, but I believe that Perry may have had a hand in it. Although most of the blame falls on Dick himself, it is the partnership with Perry that keeps him going.
ReplyDeletePerry and Dick come from completely different lifestyles to meet at one common cause and that is the murder of the Clutters. Perry’s lifestyle was rough and unorganized. His only friend that he considered a friend fled and they haven’t spoken since. His family is distraught with each other; none of them are very close at all except for Perry and his Father somewhat. His sister is barely in the picture and the mother is nowhere to be found. Also Perry has recently been released from prison and has nowhere to go but with dick, he has everything to gain and nothing to lose. Dick has everything that Perry would have ever wanted. Dick had a stable fluent family; both of his parents trusted him. Dick was at the top of his high school class academic wise and was a talented athlete. Dick got women whenever he wanted and had a stable family of his own including children. He should have been content with this but it was not the case. It was Dick who initiates the plot to kill the clutters and it was Perry who joined him. This does not make sense to me because Dick had a lot of things to lose but he still wanted to go through with it but Perry was the one with nothing to lose so it only makes sense that it would have been him but that is not how it worked out. There are many possible reasons for why Dick would have done this. One would be that Dick is under the influence from Perry. This is at least what Dick’s mother believes. This could be a byist statement though because most parents think that their kid is good and would never do such a thing and in fact they are most likely oblivious to the truth. I agree with Brandon about how when Dick hits the lowest part of life he does not know how to cope with it. This is because his parents were so intent on protecting him and keeping him sheltered that the only way that he could go is down. I believe because of this that Dick becomes confused and everyone copes with new circumstances in different ways. This is Dick’s way of coping with his life taking a turn for the worst.
ReplyDeleteI believe that unlike Perry who has a whole laundry list of outside reasons that he can blame for his crimes and actions, Dick has a problem. His family was perfect, he had good grade, was a star athlete and even had a wife and kids. But he is prone to violence. According to Dictionary.com, a psychopath is, “a person afflicted with a personality disorder characterized by a tendency to commit antisocial and sometimes violent acts”. Dick shows signs of having this mental disorder. A nice, seemingly average good person, with a tendency to commit very hennas violent crimes. Though he is still able to feel guilt and remorse about the crimes he has committed. This is a key point that makes him a psychopath and not a sociopath.
ReplyDelete