Thursday, December 3, 2009
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?
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While Perry is in prison, he experiences many important incidents that give the reader a closer look at who he is. In the beginning, Perry is put in the ladies cell while Dick is put in the male cell (252). This hold much significance has it further illustrates that Dick is more masculine while Perry is more feminine. However, it also illustrates that the more dangerous character is Perry because they are isolating him. Perry usually does not come off as a dangerous character but the reader notices a different side of him. Perry also refuses to eat even though Mrs. Meier offers him things. Mrs. Meier says, “Just taste the soup, it’s vegetable, and not out of a can. I made it myself” and later returns to find that Perry "Hadn’t touched a crumb” (253). This continues to illustrate that Perry is feeling guilty about the murders. However, Perry also reveals that he has a desire for society to like him. The reason he refused to eat is because he was scared about what the mob would do to him. “It scared him so bad his stomach still hurt. Which was why he couldn’t eat” (253). Perry was scared that the mob would tear him apart and therefore he would not be accepted by society. Later Perry befriends a “male squirrel with auburn fur” (254). This makes the reader start to feel bad for Perry because he is so alone that his only friend is an animal. Additionally, one see’s that “Perry Smith’s father nor sister wrote him or came to see him” (259), further demonstrating how alone Perry is. When Perry shows up in court, he is the only one not wearing a suit because “owned neither a jacket nor a tie, seemed sartorially misplaced. Wearing an open-necked shirt (borrowed from Mr. Meier) and blue jeans rolled up at the cuff” (272). The reader again feels bad for Perry as they see that he has nothing, not even clothing to wear, let alone family. Finally, perry receives a letter from a man named Don Cullivan. He once knew this man and didn’t even recognize his name but Perry replied because “here was someone offering help, a sane and respectable man who…signed himself friend” (262). Perry is so alone he is excited at the thought that someone would call Perry his friend.
ReplyDeletePerry Smith, from the beginning of the story to us seems as an unusual character with a very complex personality. He did not have the best childhood, and was never supported by his own family. And his relationship with Dick is one of the only true levels of friendship he had ever had. With the separation of him and Dick it affected him majorly and he felt that, “all by myself. Like somebody covered with sores. Somebody only a big nut would have anything to do with.” (260) By stating this Perry sums up his and Dick’s relationship in that no matter what physical attributes he has, Dick with his hidden sensitivity cares about Perry know matter what he may look like or what actions he made take part in. He gets this realization that he does need Dick, or just have the smallest moment to see him again and recapture this bond they had.
ReplyDeleteWhen Perry was put into the women’s cell, and being the first man ever to stay in it it shows Perry’s way of life. He always felt he was the one different from others, the one that always stood out and was never able to quite fit in. With this separation it gave him time to think for himself and what he wants. He wants to get out, and re live the life he had lost after all this time. With now being trapped in he regrets never taking advantage of life itself and that is Perry’s biggest regret.
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ReplyDeleteIt is evident that throughout the book that Perry is a complex character; with a lot of baggage. Perry is the first male to be placed in the isolated woman cell(252); this further symbolizes Perry's femininity over Dick's masculinity. However, it also represents Perry's unstable side. I think Perry is scared of being alone. When his family left him he went to prison where shared Willie Jay and Cookie's company and then when they left he teamed up with Dick and stayed by his side. Perry is scared of not being accepted by a friend; scared of being by himself and alone. His fear leads him to contemplate suicide. The fact that Perry refuses to eat his food because he is scared that he wouldn't be accepted by mob,“It scared him so bad his stomach still hurt. Which was why he couldn’t eat” (253). He was scared that society wouldn't accept him and he would be left alone. Unable to be alone and vulnerable because he has no one to talk to; no letters, Perry makes friends with a “male squirrel with auburn fur” (254). The reader feels sorry for Perry because his only form of contact is a small rodent that can not talk back. When Perry finally receives a letter, he signs it, "friend” (262), because even though Perry does not recognize the sender of the letter, Don Cullivan, he still embraces the fact that someone has written to him and he has someone to lean on; a friend to talk to.
ReplyDeletePerry's befriending of the squirrel shows his patience and kindness. The writing of his journal shows Perry's more artistic and intellectual side. His suicidal thoughts show that despite all of these positive traits he is troubled and unstable. These events that happen while he is in prison are very important to understanding Perry. When he is alone by himself away from the pressures of society, most of Perry's traits are positive and not one of a killer. In fact when Perry is imprisoned it is almost as if you see Perry as he really is. The same might even be true for others like Dick. Perry does not seem to change in prison, but becomes easier to understand than when he was a free man. It is hard to not be sympathetic to someone like Perry, but he did do what he did and there is no way around that.
ReplyDelete“Far as I know, Perry Smith was the first man ever stayed in the ladies’ cell.” (252) The reason in which Perry is situated in that cell and none of the other six present at the jailhouse is because Dewey did not want Perry and Dick together before the trial. When he befriends “Red” the squirrel, it is very significant because it is showing his loneliness. Even when the story began, Perry was the one who listened to Dick and killed the Clutters because Dick wanted to. Without Dick, Perry is nothing and he needs someone, something to help him survive; that is where “Red” comes in. Perry does change when he is jail. He changes deeply, and it is hard to not sympathize towards him. Although he did murder the Clutter family, he still is shown as a passionate person, by writing to Don Cullivan.
ReplyDeleteA lot is learned about Perry from the jail scene. Perry is imprisoned in the small jailhouse in the ladies cell. Although many bloggers above have suggested that it possibly is symbolism for his more feminine nature than Dick, I think that it is not a detail specifically to emphasize that side of Perry. It is a side detail that does not have an intentional effect, but nevertheless, the reader still subconsciously interprets it in that way. The perspective of the friendly jail keeper also shows Perry's kind side. Perry is a very likeable person while in prison. He is polite and does not show his more erratic side. He seems much calmer on the surface, while inside he is obviously nervous. The fact that Perry will not eat much, even his favorite food, shows his discomfort. He knows that there is no way out of his situation. The only way out is with premature death. I think that Perry's wish to kill himself is an indication that he wants to maintain his reputation to some extent. He has seen the crowd of angry people outside of the jail, and he knows that the trial will publicize his criminal nature and his deep secrets even more. He seems vulnerable while sitting in that small ladies cell.
ReplyDeletePerry, throughout the story has shown many different sides and layers to his personality. We know that Perry grew up pretty much alone with no friends and minimal family, so it makes sense that when an old acquaintance from the army comes to visit him, Perry is very grateful for someone who signed a letter, "your friend". Of all the emotions and layers that Perry has shown in this novel, gratefulness was not one of them until he is incarcerated.
ReplyDeleteAlso, by contemplating suicide, Perry shows weakness for the first time. Even when Perry was admitting to all four murders, thinking about getting caught, or sharing his childhood stories to a bored dick, he showed confidence and control; however, now Perry is showing that he doesn't want to be strong, he is looking for alternatives to his unhappy life of incarceration. Mrs. Meier reflects, "said it scared him so much his stomach hurt" (253).
During the time that Perry spends in the ladies cell in the Meier's home, he is good company. A nice, happy man who keeps his cell clean and receives compliments from Mrs. Meier. Perry is showing his softer side, which we have seen in his love for poetry; however, it seems as though Perry has reached a new plane. He seems lighthearted, and although bored, content and simplified with only a few angry feelings.
Perry's entries in his journal are concise and show his boredom, however he does not seem the same man that Barbara described as, "SEEMING so warmhearted and sympathetic...but he can fool you" (182). Barbara hesitates when asked if she is afraid of Perry, which makes the reader think that she is.
Perry seems calmer, more relaxed and at ease than he has for the entire story. and very at home and content in the ladies' cell. He is happy and acts very normally when Don Cullivan comes to visit him.
i believe that Perry shows these new sides of himself because he knows he has reached his fate. He knows that there is nothing he can do about being on death row and that he is sentenced to death. Perry feels no emotion towards killing the Clutters and this lack of feeling allows him to come to rest with his life as it is until he will be hanged. I think that these new layers arising from Perry's personality are subconscious, and came naturally with Perry being locked up and having to come to ends with his life.
I believe that Perry has changed, although if he were to be let out of prison and be allowed to return to his old life he would revert right back to who he was before the incarceration. I do not feel sympathy towards Perry although i do appreciate his new state of mind.
Placing Perry on the womens floor is very obviously ment to keep him and Dick seperated, in order to ensure the two would never speak before the trial.
ReplyDelete"He has little feeling for others outside a very small circle of friends, and attaches little real value to human life" p. 298. Throughout the entire story Perry is portrayed as a rather unusual character, quite unlike most other people. He's had a very troubling childhood, he's never fully had the upper hand on life, to say the very least. He's never really been able to allow himself to connect emotionally with others, even before the Clutter incident. He has had very few close relationships, and the ones that he did could not uphold through minor crisis.
Befriending the squirrel is a clear symbol of lonliness. Perhaps he feels as if, since its a mere squirrel, an animal, it is the one creature near by that is unaware of the murders. Possibley the squirrel allows him to escape from his reality of trial, the murders and what lies ahead for him.
I do not know how much sympathy i could feel for Perry. He stated himself many times throughout the story that he feels absolutley no remorse, or feelings what so ever for the horrible things he did. More towards the begining of the story i did feel sympathy towards Perry, i thought he was the one baring the guilt. Which he obviously was not. He very possibley was just worried about getting caught out of his own selfish saftey, not because he had any regret towards what he did. However, through his contemplation of suicide, it shows a different side to Perry, or perhaps one that was more evident in the begining of the story. It shows a weakness, but i feel that by him killing himself it would be purley a selfsish act. Not out of over baring guilt, or remorse.
I agree with Pia, when she says that although i do not feel any sympathy towards Perry, i appreciate his new state of mind.
“Far as I know, Perry Smith was the first man ever stayed in the ladies’ cell.” (252)
ReplyDeletePerry was placed into a women’s jail cell because Dewey wanted to keep him and Dick separated so that they wouldn’t talk about it. I think by Perry being put in the solitude of jail shows the more passionate but somewhat crazy side of him because he befriends a squirrel and interacts with it as it was his friend and that he is lonely so this is his solution. Also that the solitude is making him believe his life is pointless and the only way to preserve his reputation and personality would be to commit suicide and get it over with because all the people outside the prison obviously want him dead. Perry committed the murders but it was all Dick’s Idea and I think that the only reason that Perry killed them was because he was searching for whom he was and could not find it and becoming partner’s with Dick was his solution. This section in the book shows that Perry is a very passionate person deep down and that he sort of Discovers who he really is in the Jail cell but its too late so he knows there is nothing more he can do so he thinks about suicide.
i agree with sami. the reason he was placed in the woman's cell was because Dewey didn't wanted to have the two separated. his befriending of the squirrel shows how lonely he gets, he has been portrayed as a lonely person his whole life. he joins the military to be a part of something. he has left his family and he is separated from his friends his only friend now is the squirrel. he has gotten to a point when he has listened to someone and not thought for himself.
ReplyDeleteThe importance of these incidents is yet another way for Capote to attempt to reach out to the reader and make the reader personally connect to Perry. Criminals who are responsible for the deaths of many innocent lives typically lack a connection to average people. However the average person has most likely written a journal or contemplated suicide, normal things that everyone as done. Perry doesn’t necessarily change just during his incarceration; he merely can drop his typical tough appearance that he maintains around Dick. With the feeling of no judgment, he is free to express himself in ways other than before. This helps the person to realize the weight of being on death row and the humanity of the people who commit horrible crimes and are punished extremely for it.
ReplyDeleteI just love your blog and I think your article is so awesome!! I love antiques and what a way to go green!! I think the towels would just be so adorable also. Thanks for sharing the story about how it was made. Makes it that more special! Take care, Fran.
ReplyDelete