A Polemic Against Capital Punishment?

Given the sympathetic portrayal of Perry and his impoverished lifestyle, is Truman Capote making a point about the death penalty? If so, what is it?

Who Should Be Killed?

During the final section of In Cold Blood, while on death row, Dick tries to get himself out of the death penalty by sending letters to various people saying that his lawyers did not put their full effort into his case, that the jury was biased and other complaints. Unfortunately this plan does not work out, although Dick did get some positive feedback. Dick and Perry are both executed. Do you think Dick should have been hanged, or that he should not have had the death penalty? Why or why not? What do you think Perry's opinion on Dicks fight for his life is? Do you think Floyd Wells should be punished for not trying to stop Dick from planning on killing the Clutters?

The Walker Case

On December 19th, 1961, a little more than a month after the Clutter murders, the Walker family of Osprey, Florida were murdered. The family of four were all shot by a rifle. The murders were so similar, that the sheriff of Sarasota County interrogated Perry and Dick with a lie detector. The narrator ominously mentions that "the murderer of the Walker family remains unknown" (258). What is the significance, if any, of this case?

Perry in Prison

Perry is the first man ever to stay in the ladies' cell. He befriends a squirrel he names "Red" whom he teaches tricks. He writes a journal. He contemplates suicide. Are any of these incidents important (or other events not mentioned during his stay in prison)? What do learn about Perry during his incarceration? Does he change? Are we sympathetic toward him?