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?

Means of interrogation

The means of interrogation used with Dick and Perry in order to retrieve the correct information were both decietful and misguiding. However they were effective and retracted the necessary information from the murderers. Does the cruelty of what Dick and Perry did the Clutters justify the deceptiveness of the interrogators? Is it still a wrongdoing to lie despite everything that the murderers did? Why should the interrogators be held up righteously for getting the information out when they used cruel manipulation to get it?

Clutter's Journey

Herb Clutter reminisces to Bobby Rupp about a childhood incident in which a blizzard descended on Western Kansas on Christmas. He was a youth of Kenyon's age. His family was saddened at the prospect of a snowbound Christmas with no presents under the tree. Clutter volunteers to travel to town to buy presents. He almost is lost on his return, however, and nearly dies of exposure. All the time he is worried about his family worrying about him. Yet, when he arrives home safe and sound the house is dark and everyone is fast asleep. What does this memory tell us about Mr Clutter? What does this memory of a memory tell us about Bobby?

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?