Please read pages 31 - 72 and respond to the prompts below. Use quotes when stipulated. 2 - 5 sentences should suffice.
1. A description of Garden City is given on 30 - 31. We learn of many things. One is how the taste of Americans change. Describe this. Secondly, we learn about why people prefer Garden City to other cities. Describe this. Use a quote as support.
2. We see yet another stellar example of foreshadowing on 35. Cite it.
3. The word twine is used on page 39. How might this be symbolic?
4. Why was Perry really in Kansas? Do you think this is an excuse he came up with after the murders? Use a quote as support.
5. Dick and Perry start to have ominous signs. Cite two.
6. We're in Japan and thus far there are two connections to this lovely country. What are they?
7. What is a "natural killer' to Dick? Use a quotation as support.
8. When it was thought the murderers were local, what did one man mean when he said, "if they ever find out who done it, I'm sure it'll be a bigger surprise than the murders themselves" (69)? There's one word in there that is distinctly American; what is it? What larger theme does this connect to?
9. What's the last, disturbing image Capote ends this chapter with? Use a quote as support.
1. A description of Garden City is given on 30 - 31. We learn of many things. One is how the taste of Americans change. Describe this. Secondly, we learn about why people prefer Garden City to other cities. Describe this. Use a quote as support.
2. We see yet another stellar example of foreshadowing on 35. Cite it.
3. The word twine is used on page 39. How might this be symbolic?
4. Why was Perry really in Kansas? Do you think this is an excuse he came up with after the murders? Use a quote as support.
5. Dick and Perry start to have ominous signs. Cite two.
6. We're in Japan and thus far there are two connections to this lovely country. What are they?
7. What is a "natural killer' to Dick? Use a quotation as support.
8. When it was thought the murderers were local, what did one man mean when he said, "if they ever find out who done it, I'm sure it'll be a bigger surprise than the murders themselves" (69)? There's one word in there that is distinctly American; what is it? What larger theme does this connect to?
9. What's the last, disturbing image Capote ends this chapter with? Use a quote as support.
1. The taste of the American change refers to, “The glamours of the past are today entombed” (Capote 31). This means that there are landmarks and buildings that remain the same as the past, but most of the places have changed its appearance. Secondly, people prefer Garden city to other cities because it is considered safe and clean. It mentions how the people are nice and they have nice faculty. “Good neighbors, people who care about each other, that’s what counts. And everything else a decent man needs- we’ve got that, too” (Capote 31).
ReplyDelete2. “Because the plan was Dick’s, and from first footfall to final silence, flawlessly devised” (Capote 35). This sentence tells that how Dick’s plan (of murdering) is planned out perfectly, and how there won’t be any mistakes happening.
3. “Nancy’s cat frolicked among them, catching its paw in the twine with Kenyon and the old man were now tying plants” (Capote 39). This might be symbolic because it symbolizes the model of a life in the country side. In a country side, there is a image of how a family is joyfully playing with animals, so I think this sentence represents this thought.
4. Perry was in Kansas because he wanted to meet his cellmate, Willie-Jay, who got released from Kansas State Penitentiary. I think this isn’t an excuse for murdering, because it said that, Willie-Jay is “his ‘real and only friend’”(Capote 40). It seems that there was a strong bond between the two of them, and that Willie-Jay also consider Perry as a mate. “And only Willie-Jay had ever recognized his worth, his potentialities, had acknowledged that he was not just an undersized, over muscled half-breed, had seen him, for all the moralizing, as he saw himself- ‘exceptional’, ‘rare’, ‘artistic’” (Capote 43).
5. “They were glue-covered, sticky and thin, and as he inched them on, one tore- not a dangerous tear, just a split between the fingers, but it seemed to him an omen” (Capote 52). After this accident happened to Perry, he acted strange and he felt discouraged. Another one is, “Perry gripped the edge of the washbasin and hauled himself to a standing position. His legs trembled; the pain in his knees made him perspire” (Capote 54). This might be a secondary effect because of the aspirin he took. This tells us that something unusual will happen to Perry, that might risk his life.
6. The connections how people are considerate and kind to each other. They both hold respect to each other, and they are modest. Another connection is that there is great nature seen in both places. In Holcomb, there are great vast plains, and we see those in many places in Japan as well.
7. For Dick, ‘natural killer’ is, “absolutely sane, but conscienceless, and capable of dealing, with our without motive, the coldest blooded deathblows” (Capote 52). So it basically means a person who can kill somebody else without hesitation or sympathy. It is their nature to kill someone, so they don’t think about anything.
8. I think this man meant that since Holcomb is a small town, and people quite know each other well, it will be a surprise if someone quite closed to you have murdered someone. I don’t really get the one word that is distinctly American, but I guess its the phrase that says ‘it’ll be a bigger surprise’, because Holcomb is small place. And murdering in a smaller place, is seen more surprising. This connects to the theme of a life in a country side. Since Holcomb is thought to be a peaceful country side, murder is a huge issue for this town.
9. Capote ends the chapter with a family image of Dick. It describes how Dick’s family is a common ‘good family’, and how they live in peace. But in actual fact, Dick had just committed a crime, and he acts as nothing had happened. “But, of course, he did not understand how very tired Dick was, did not know what his dozing son had, among other things, driven over eight hundred miles in the past twenty-four hours” (Capote 72).
1. The taste of Americans changed because of the spread of consumerism. The countryside cities hardly had big buildings and technology, but now “the glamours of the past are today entombed”(Capote 31). People prefer Garden City because the goodness of old America still exists. “Good neighbors, people who care about each other, that’s what counts”(Capote 31).
ReplyDelete2. The conversation between Dick and Perry foreshadows that their plan will go wrong. “‘The ineffable happens. things do take a turn,’ he said”(Capote 35).
3. The word twine means a knot, or to tangle, wrap, coil or twist, and it could be symbolic since it is hinting the reader that things are not going the way it should be. The fact that the insurance man was visiting is part of the twist that ends up the family in death.
4.His real reason behind returning to Kansas was because he wanted to meet Willie-Jay, his former cellmate. I don’t think it is an excuse made up, since Perry recalls Willi-Jay as his “real and only friend” (Capote 40) and “way above average intellectually, perceptive as a well trained psychologist”(Capote 41). This portrays his affection toward Willie, and the fact that he even violated a piece of parole proves that it wasn’t an excuse.
5. One ominous sign is that Dick failed to get black stockings from the hospital, “Dick returned empty-handed”(Capote 44). For Parry, his legs start to hurt, “His legs trembled; the pain in his knees made him perspire”(Capote 54)
6. The site and people are mentioned of Japan, seaports that were “crowded, clanging, ship-clogged, sewage scented cities”(Capote 47). And also “wonderful, gentle people, with manners like flowers”(Capote 47).
7. A natural killer to Dick is someone like Parry. Someone who is “absolutely sane, but conscienceless, and capable of dealing, with or without motive, coldest-blooded deathblows”(Capote 53).
8. The sentence probably means that the murderers won’t be the only ones surprised, but the whole town would be. Because Holcomb is such a small community, everyone knows each other, and the fact that someone everyone knows well of murdered the Clutters would impact everyone. The reaction of Holcomb to the murder represents the theme, loss of innocence. I am not sure of what word is distinctly American, but I’m guessing “who done it”.
9. Capote ends the chapter with the scene of Dick spending time with his family as if nothing has happened.”He had arrived home at noon, kissed his mother”(Capote 72) and “settled in the parlour to watch a televised basketball game”(Capote 72). No one in the family would assume he is a murderer, and this contrast of a normal, peaceful time he is spending disturbs the reader.
1. The "taste of Americans changed" refers to how they changed their mind about suburbs, every since the rise of consumerist ideology. This becomes obvious when it is mentioned that: "the glamours of the past are today entombed" (Capote 31). People prefer Garden City because, being a suburb, has the reputation of being safe, and the image of an ideal location to take care of one's family. "I never planned to stay. But when the chance came to move, I thought, Why go? What the hell for? .. Good neighbors, people who care about each other, that's what counts" (Capote 31).
ReplyDelete2. "But Dick had made up his mind: stockings of any shade were unnecessary, an encumbrance.. and, after all, anyone they encountered would not live to bear witness" (Capote 35). This chilling quote shows how determined Dick and Perry were to get away with a cold murder.
3. The word "twine" can refer to a strong string made of things like nylon that is twisted together, or it can refer to the act of winding, tangling or twisting something. This can signal to a unsuspecting "twist" to the story; something that shouldn't happen. And yes, the murder later on is what the story spirals down to.
4. Perry was in Kansas, the reason being that he was visiting his old friend, Willie-Jay, who used to be his cellmate, and was released from the Kansas State Penitentiary. Since Perry mentions "he desired a reunion with this man, his 'real and only friend'" (Capote 40). I would think that this is really an excuse, since the both of them seemed to be really close.
5. "Dick's eyes and sullen expression and Perry's strange, prolonged sojourn in the lavatory disturbed him" (Capote 52). I think these are both symptoms of something that warns them that something bad or strange will happen to both of them. "His legs trembled; the pain in his knees made him perspire. He wiped his face with a paper towel" (Capote 54). Their behaviors seem to signal a fortuitous mishap.
6. The fact that there were "Wonderful, gentle people, with manners like flowers. Really considerate - not just out for your dough.." kind of describes the attitude of the average Japanese person. Modesty, as well as overcrowded cities also reflect Japan's culture as a whole.
7. To Dick, a natural killer is someone who is "absolutely same, but conscienceless, and capable of dealing, with or without motive, the coldest-blooded deathblows" (Capote 53). It is someone who does not mind, or give a second thought about taking someone's life, and obviously does not care about the consequences that could follow it.
8. This sentence could mean that, everyone in the whole town would be affected by the murder that took place, not only the family that was killed. Every person in the town would be as taken aback by it, if not more than the actual murders. I think that the word, or maybe the phrase that sounds "American", would be where he said "who done it" (Capote 69). It especially sounds like a Southern accent.
9. The chapter ends with a scene of Dick at his house, spending time with his family, as if nothing wrong had happened; like it was any normal day. "Dick was consuming a Sunday dinner. The others at the table - his mother, his father, his younger brother - were not conscious of anything uncommon in his manner" (Capote 72). The fact that he is able to come back home, have dinner, talk to his family and sleep in the parlor right after he had committed a bloody murder is outrageous.
ISABEL'S BLOG ANSWERS:
ReplyDelete1. “The glamours of the past are today entombed” (31). It seems as if Capote is trying to suggest that it had beautiful buildings that are much out of date, so the town seems like it’s almost ‘back in time’, for lack of a better phrase. “Good neighbors, people who care about each other, that’s what counts. And everything else a decent man needs- we’ve got that, too” (31). Everyone knows each other in Garden City: and everyone knows that everyone is friendly and loving.
2. "But Dick had made up his mind...encountered would not live to bear witness" (35). Dick and Perry have no love or conscience. They are willing to murder people really just for the fun of it.
3. Perhaps the word is used in a way that suggests a twist in the story line, or people’s emotions and maybe even trust in other people.
4. “And only Willie-Jay had ever recognized his worth, his potentialities, had acknowledged that he was not just an undersized, over muscled half-breed, had seen him, for all the moralizing, as he saw himself- ‘exceptional’, ‘rare’, ‘artistic’” (43). Willie-Jay is Perry’s old cellmate. This quote is important to me because it hints that the fact that maybe Perry has some feelings and care for others, despite the fact that he commits a murder in cold blood.
5. "Dick's eyes and sullen expression and Perry's strange, prolonged sojourn in the lavatory disturbed him" (52). Something bad is going to happen, the book hints strongly at it. It seems as if Capote is trying to make his characters feel that something is going to go wrong; even a little thing like Perry spending a long time in the bathroom makes Dick feel uneasy. "The pain in his knees made him perspire. He wiped his face with a paper towel" (54). This is another quote that suggests both of them have a bad feeling they cannot shake; they are aware of a future mishap.
“Wonderful, gentle people, with manners like flowers” (47) really struck home for me because this is a very precise description of my experience of the Japanese people. Also, Capote goes into detail about the crowds; which is, of course, spot on.
An “absolutely sane, but conscienceless, and capable of dealing, with or without motive, coldest-blooded deathblows”(53). A psychopath, basically; someone who is literally incapable of feeling any love or guilt.
8. In such a small town, everyone knows each other. If a murder is local and done by someone everyone knows, people will be so shocked that it was ‘perfect, sweet, kind [insert name here]’. They’re so afraid that the murderer was someone they are close to.
9. Capote ends the chapter with a scene of Dick returning home as if nothing has happened. He spends time socializing his family, and his family has no idea what he has just done. It’s as if he’s a normal man; which he’s obviously not.
1. In the case of Garden City, they moved on from Buffalo Hunting to a more nationalistic view on entertainment and recreation. Although they still sell souvenirs that reference Buffalo, and they take pride in their old historic buildings, the people of Garden City seem to enjoy spending their time watching television, or going to swimming pools. People seem to prefer Garden City because of its small, friendly community. At the same time, this small, suburban town offers popular pastimes like anywhere else, like golf courses or public libraries. Capote really nails it when he says Garden City is “a ‘hometown’ that is probably remembered with nostalgia by those who have left it, and that, for those who have remained, provides a sense of roots and contentment”, (Capote 31).
ReplyDelete2. When Dick and Perry enter the shop in search for a pair of gloves and some stockings, it’s quite obvious that they are preparing for their crime. It’s stated “anyone they encountered would not live to bear witness”, (Capote 35). This is specific because it tells us that the crime they are to perform involves the possibility of murder (that is, if we didn't assume that they were planning murder already).
3. I guess you could say that the cat in the twine is foreshadowing what Dick and Perry are going to do with the bodies of their victims; tied by the hands and feet.
4. It is stated that Perry was in Kansas because he wanted to visit an old cellmate of his, Willie-Jay, who was to be released 3 days before the night of the murders. I think it seems very possible that he came up with this excuse after the murders, assuming the whole Willie-Jay story is what he told Capote after they were caught. Although he could easily prove that he was in Kansas for a separate reason other than the murders, he ”had no intention of doing so, at least within Dick’s hearing”, (Capote 40). This means that even Dick, as close as the two were, did not know about Perry’s true intentions in Kansas, meaning he could have of easily made the story up about Willie-Jay on the spot.
5. One omen was when Perry went to the bathroom stall, and got out the pair of rubber gloves he purchased: “as he inched them on, one tore - not a dangerous tear, just a split between the fingers, but it seemed to him an omen”, (Capote 52). This symbolizes that he will be caught. Another omen is when Dick encounters the attendant. The attendant says “You’re the only body stopped here since two hours”, (Capote 52). This symbolizes that they already seem conspicuous.
6. The first connection is with the Ashida family. Mr. Clutter wishes Mrs. Ashida to be honored with an award at the 4-H Achievement Banquet for her contributions. This tell us that she, as a Japanese lady, is thoughtful and considerate. The second connection is when Perry suggests going to Japan, for the considerate mannerisms that Japanese people possess, and also for the women.
7. Dick describes a natural killer as someone who is “absolutely sane, but conscienceless, and capable of dealing, with or without motive, the coldest-blooded deathblows”, (Capote 53). He uses this to describe Perry after he found out what Perry did to a man in Las Vegas.
8. After news broke about the murders, people didn’t seem to trust each other as well as they used to. Once the murders are caught, all the paranoia and tension in the community will dispel. Also, since there’s a possibility that a local resident performed the act, it would seem as a big surprise since everyone seems to know each other so well. Bigger? I suppose, on a larger scale, this refers to American consumerism. Especially in the 50s, everyone was after their big lawns, television sets, nice houses, rings, and recreations.
9. I find the whole scene where Dick casually comes home and “kissed his mother, readily replied to questions his father put concerning his supposed overnight trip to Fort Scott, and sat down to eat, seeming quite his ordinary self”, (Capote 72) really disturbing. It’s sick how he can jump right back into his own family after just destroying one.
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ReplyDelete
ReplyDelete1. We see a change in the Americans taste, they are slowly seeing how vast consumerism is taking place in the 50's America, the transformation, “the glamours of the past are today entombed”(Capote 31).Americans are starting to prefer the idea of the suburban area, like Holcomb, because of the benefits you can get from such area. People prefer Garden City to any other city in Kansas because Garden City has everything in order to live, good schools for children, Junior college, Garden City has "everything else a decent man needs" (Capote 31). Unlike over populated cities like New York, we still see friendly neighbours and the trust that will collapse after the murder.
2. "'Miss' said Perry, attracting a salesgirl's attention. 'You got any black stockings?'" (Capote 35). A black stocking is commonly used by bank robbers and such to hide their face so we do know for sure that they are up to something, especially because they are men the whole situation is more suspicious.
3. A ball of twine is commonly used to make knots, ties or even a noose, and a noose can hint the readers about the murder that will be commited later in the book.
4. Perry was in the Kansas State Penitentiary, where he met Willie-Jay. The real reason was because he wanted to meet Willie-Jay, who was going to be released. Willie-Jay meant a lot to Perry, he was like a personal mentor, and his "real and only friend" who helped him through prison (Capote 41). This was his plan from the beginning, I don't think this would be an "excuse" in any way.
5. "Dick's eyes and sullen expression and Perry's strange, prolonged sojourn in the lavatory disturbed him" (52). Alarmed and unaware, these two clearly give a sign to the readers that something will go wrong or something will change their lives drastically after whatever they do later on. "The attendant whose name was James Spor, felt uneasy" (Capote 52). Not only does Dick and Perry start to have menacing signs about what they are about to commit, James Spor feels it too, and as someone who just works there, it must have been pretty obvious that these two "rough" customers where suspicious.
6. Japan is well known to be a reserved, and a well-mannered country, compared to other countries. Holcomb is a microcosm of Japan, the well-mannered, trust-worthy people, the "wonderful, gentle people, with manners like flowers”(Capote 47). We see this beautiful culture of being well-mannered and polite, in Japan and some other countries. Also Japan is well known for it's beautiful nature, it's wonderful agriculture, just like Holcomb, and especially Mr. Clutter.
7. Dick's idea of a natural killer is, "absolutely same, but conscienceless, and capable of dealing, with or without motive, the coldest-blooded deathblows" (Capote 53). Basically someone that can move on without thinking about the murder afterwards, without regret. Someone that can kill without thinking about the aftermath, someone that is careless is a natural killer to Dick.
8. I think by disclosing the murder, they'll figure out that all trust is gone within Holcomb, it connects on to a bigger theme of the safety issues of the once "very peaceful", Holcomb. I don't know the one word that is distinctly American, but generally the whole idea of of trust being crumpled will be a huge problem to overcome.
9. Dick head home and had a quality family time, as if nothing happened over the past twenty-four hours. "He had arrived home at noon, kissed his mother, readily replied to questions his after put concerning his supposed overnight trip to Fort Scott" (Capote 72). He then later watched a baseball game his three sons, "but of course, he did not understand how very tired Dick was.. had driven over eight hundred miles in the past twenty-four hours" (Capote 72).
1. People develop an acquired taste for Garden City. People arrive and end up with no desire to leave. "Why go? What the hell for? Maybe it's not New York but who wants New York? Good neighbors, people who care about each other. That's what counts"(31). I think American taste has changed due to industrialism. Luxuries are less common in this area because money is spent towards buying and selling goods.
ReplyDelete2. "It was stupid not to admit that there might be a witness that they hadn't seen" (35)
3. This foreshadows but providing an image of something being caught up in a string or rope.
4. "he desired a reunion with this man, his 'real and only friend"(40). Perry was visiting willie-j. Willie J played an important role in Perry's life. The murders were almost a side job.
5.Dick's eyes and sullen expression and Perry's strange, prolonged sojourn in the lavatory disturbed him" (52). The two were becoming nervous and having second thoughts about their future plans. "The attendant whose name was James Spor, felt uneasy" (Capote 52). It seems that their nervousness was noticeable from the outside as well.
6. The japanese lady is respected and Mr. Clutter wants to reward her. This reflects japan positively in that it's people are kind and respectful.
7. “absolutely sane, but conscienceless, and capable of dealing, with our without motive, the coldest blooded deathblows” (52) Perry is considered a natural killer. As if he was born to kill and feel no remorse.
8. This is saying that, because everyone knows each other and nothing ever goes wrong, when they found out who did it it will be a surprise because that person will be the image of the misfortune. And because nobody is a suspect, that makes every body a suspect.
9. After the cold blooded murders, Dick visits his family and eats dinner. He drives straight to his families house after the murders and does not think any more of it.
1.The tastes of the Americans have changed because of consumerism and it is mentioned that this is because times have changed, the tatses are shown in the city "the glamours of the past are today entombed" (Capote 31). People have really taken a liking to this city for many reasons. One being that people come there planning to stay and become great neighbors and friends.
ReplyDelete2." But Dick had made up his mind..encountered would not live to bear witness" (Capote 35). This states that the two of them are willng to kill to keep thier secrets.
3. The twine may very well forshadow what they plan to do to the people they murder or to the extra lives lost in the process of 4 bullets killing 6 people. As in, what is used to kill them or help with the deed.
4. Why was Perry really in Kansas? Do you think this is an excuse he came up with after the murders? Use a quote as support.
He wanted to visit an old friend/ cell mate willy-jay who would be released just a few nights before the murders. "he desired a reunion with this man, his 'real and only friend'" (Capote 40). is what he said to them. This could be an excuse because it was never mentioned and also an easy thing to bring up on the spot if he knew when his cell mate was going to be released.
5. “His legs trembled; the pain in his knees made him perspire”(Capote 54) Perry's legs started to act up and cause him to sweat. "Dick's eyes and sullen expression and Perry's strange, prolonged sojourn in the lavatory disturbed him" (Capote 52). and showing that someting bad will happen.
6. First, the Ashida family, Mrs. Ashida contributes a lot to 4-h. also a quote about the Japanese people “wonderful, gentle people, with manners like flowers”(Capote 47).
7.A person who is “Absolutely sane, but conscienceless, and capable of dealing, with or without motive, coldest-blooded deathblows” (Capote 53). someone who is a lot like Perry would make for a natural killer in Dick's mind.
8. If they find out that the murders were within the town, it would be a huge deal. Not that the trust between people that had been broken isn't. The American word could be "bigger" which connects to this american dream theme we spoke about in class.
9. The thought that Dick has been driving so long,"over eight hundred miles in the past twenty-four hours" (Capote 72). That's insane! but also when he went in to give his mother a kiss after he just took the life of a mother, and ruined a family.
1. Consumerism changed the taste of Americans. Consumerism brought a new advanced range of technology, completely different to what the country people have been accustomed too. “The glamour’s of the past are today entombed” (Capote 31). Garden city still holds the old American tradition close, this excites many of the close to home Americans, “Good neighbors, people who care about each other, that’s what counts” (Capote 31).
ReplyDelete2. Dick and Perrys conversation foreshadows that everything will not go according to plan. “‘The ineffable happens. Things do take a turn,’ he said” (Capote 35).
3. The word twine means a knot, or to tangle up, it could be hinting the reader that things are not going the way it should be.
4. The reason behind Perry’s visit to Kansas is because he strongly wanted to reunite with his former cellmate Willie-Jay. Perry refers to Willie Jay as a “real and only friend” (Capote 40). Proving his affection genuine.
5. “Dick returned empty-handed” (Capote 44).
“They were glue-covered, sticky and thin, and as he inched them on, one tore- not a dangerous tear, just a split between the fingers, but it seemed to him an omen” (Capote 52)
6. There are two clear similarities between Holcomb and Japan. The kind and docile natured people and the respect towards nature.
7. A “natural Killer” for Dick is a person who is “absolutely sane, but conscienceless, and capable of dealing, without a motive, the coldest blooded deathblows” (Capote 52). So killing someone in cold blood.
8. This sentence implies that the whole town not only the murderers will be surprised. Because of the tight community everyone is familiar with one another, thus greatly impacting everyone. The larger theme is the fact that the attention given to the murdered is greatly lacking compared to the attention given to the murders.
9. Capote ends the chapter with Dick and his family. Dick’s nonchalant reactions greatly disturb the reader. His façade is so convincing that you can hardly believe he is a murder.
1. Along with the fast modernization of the countryside, many big and ugly buildings were built. “The glamours of the past are today entombed” (Capote 31). Now only a few of these glamours are still present, serving as landmarks. But people still enjoy Garden City, because “good neighbours, people who care about each other, that’s what counts” (Capote 31).
ReplyDelete2. “’The ineffable happens, things do take a turn’” (Capote 35). I think this foreshadows very well, that they are going to make a mistake along the way. A clue that leads back to them.
3. The way twine is used here makes me imagine a twine trap. I think this symbolizes a possible trap, or trick in the murder, that will change everything.
4. I do not know why he really was in Kansas, but I am sure that visiting Willie-Jay was just an excuse. I believe so because Perry thinks about how “the proof would involve his confessing the true and secret motive behind his return to Kansas” (Capote 40). This shows that he had a secret motive, behind returning to Kansas, and he wasn’t keeping Willie-Jay a secret at all.
5. A big foreshadow that something bad is going to happen, is "Dick's eyes and sullen expression and Perry's strange, prolonged sojourn in the lavatory disturbed him" (52). This shows that they trust each other less, hinting at a rising problem. The second one is “as he inched them on, one tore - not a dangerous tear, just a split between the fingers, but it seemed to him an omen”, (Capote 52). This also hints strongly at the fact that something is going to go horribly wrong for the murderers.
6. At one point Perry suggests going to Japan, because of the good manners of Japanese people. The second is the Japanese family that Mr. Clutter knows.
7. For Dick, a natural killer is someone who is “absolutely sane, but conscience-less, and capable of dealing, with or without motive, the coldest-blooded deathblows” (Capote 53).
8. Because Holcomb is so small, everyone there is very close. If the murder really was local, then if anybody found out one of their friends was guilty, it would’ve been a bigger shock than the murder itself. I think the distinctly American word is where the man says “who done it” (Capote 69). This is a clear example of verisimilitude.
9. It is very disturbing how after a cold-blooded murder, Dick could just go back to his life, with his family, and have nobody be “conscious of anything uncommon in his manner” (Capote72).
1. The change in the taste of Americans is seen by the spread of consumerism. The glory of the past seems to have left the place with yet, some acknowledgement which is almost forgotten. "The glamours of the past are today entombed”(Capote 31). The people in the Graden City seemed to be the very friendly middle sized community, which has enough facilities to live comfortably and the close knitted relationships among the inhabitants. Also, Capote mentions it being a “ ‘hometown’ that is probably remembered with nostalgia by those who have left it, and that, for those who have remained, provides a sense of roots and contentment”(Capote 31), this feeling that evokes the familiarity with the town is probably very famous within the citizens.
ReplyDelete2. Perry mentioning the risk of being witnessed foreshadows the murder itself, and its risk; "it was stupid to not admit that there might be a witness they haven't seen" (Capote 35). This also indicates the overly-confident Dick and his supposedly "perfect" plan of the murder.
3. The twine, being a set of tangled thread, might predict the twist in the trust among the people in the town which has not been doubted until the murder.
4. Perry was in Kansas City, first to meet his respected cellmate, William-Jay which did not happen. This could be a reason he came up with to get away from the worst sentence however, I like to think that because William-Jay was his "real and only friend", it really was to meet him in the first place to leave Perry the last bit of humanity despite the crime in cold-blood that is about to happen (Capote 41).
5. The first omen would be Perry's leg pain; "His legs trembled; the pain in his knees made him perspire" (Capote 54). The next could be James Spor, who might be considered as another witness in the murder. Also, Dick is starting to doubt himself for choosing Perry as a partner which is rare and not very promising coming from the part of a very confident character.
6. The first connection to Japan would be the Ashida family, a quite stereotypical Japanese family with the hardworking and caring mother, which probably a very appreciated traits in most of the Japanese people. Another reference is Perry's idea of moving to Japan; a factor showing Perry's doubts and fear in the murder and his intention and desire to get the furthest away from the crime scene.
7. For Dick, Perry seemed to have the perfect charisma as a natural killer; "absolutely sane, but conscious-less, and capable of dealing, with or without motivem the coldest-blooded deathblows" (Capote 53). This is describing a person who is determinate in what one's doing and without any swing in confidence even after the deed.
8. It will be a bigger surprise then the murderers themselves, because the surprise would be that the fact that some men from town dit it. Holcomb, being a very small town with a very close relationships among people, the trust that has built up is great which yet, faces a huge fall down when the most popular family in the town is killed. It would have been definitely different if it were a city with a few hundred or thousand inhabitants which is not the case in this small town situated in the middle of almost-nowhere.
9. It is very disturbing to see both killers spending their Sundays in their usual routine; or almost. "A few miles north, in the pleasant kitchen if a modern farmhouse, Dick was consuming a Sunday dinner" (Capote 72). This shows no remorse nor fear of the crime they have committed and perfectly shows the characteristics of "natural-killers" mentioned earlier, in the chapter.
1. Americans no longer desire to live in cities and instead find that life in the suburbs are much safer and more peaceful. “(T)he glamours of the past are today entombed” (Capote) as new buildings emerges. People choose to live in the suburbs because not only are there everything that they could ask for but since it’s a smaller community, everyone knows each other and are friendlier too.
ReplyDelete2.I think there are two great examples on p35, one, for each side of the story. “‘I can’t imagine you afraid. No matter what happened, you’d talk your way out of it’”, when Mrs. Ashida talks about Mr.Clutter. And “stockings of any shade were unnecessary, an encumbrance, a useless expense... after all, anyone they encountered would not live to bear witness”
3. The word “twine” might be symbolic of the cord that would later be tied around the Clutters during their murder.
4.Perry’s true intention of returning to Kansas was actually to meet his only real friend, Willie-Jay. I don’t think that was an excuse that he made up after their arrest because there was that letter that WIllie Jay wrote to him, which displayed quite a deep understanding of Perry. I think to Perry, it was more important than anything else, because “in Willie-Jay his vanity had found support, his sensibility shelter” because he was the only one that truly understood and cared about him. (Capote 43).
5. Things began to tense up for Perry and Dick. Not only did Dick start questioning whether his decision for choosing Perry as his partner-in-crime was a good idea or not, Perry’s “legs trembled; the pain in his knees made him perspire” (Truman 54). Even the newly-bought rubber gloves “split between the fingers” and seemed to Perry like an omen (Truman 52), suggesting a rough start in their master plan.
6. Japan is Perry’s ideal country. He loved Yokohama’s seaport, a “crowded clanging, ship-clogged, sewage-scented” city. He wants to travel to Japan with Dick on a small boat and meet the “wonderful, gentle people, with manners like flowers” (Truman 47), which is quite ironic considering how brutal they both are.
7.To Dick, ‘a natural killer’ is someone (he hoped) like Perry. Someone “absolutely sane, but conscienceless, and capable of dealing, with or without motive, the coldest-blooded deathblows” (Capote 53). This term goes hand in hand with the title of this book - “In Cold Blood”.
8.Instead of saying “who’d done it” Capote had written “who done it” to make it sound more distinctly American. It said that it would be more shocking to find out who the murderer was than the actual murder, because everyone basically knows each other in Holcomb since it’s such a small village, and to think that the killer would be someone who knew the Clutter house well and was probably hiding among the villagers was more frightening to them.
9.The last disturbing image of the chapter shows the two killers returning to their individual confines, quite relaxed and indifferent, albeit extremely exhausted after their horrifying trip. Dick “had arrived home at noon, kissed his mother, readily replied to questions his father put concerning his supposed overnight trip to Fort Scott, and sat down to eat, seeming quite his ordinary self” (Capote 72). This showed that the two men were truly ‘natural killers’.
1." The glamours of the past are today entombed " ( Capote 31). Meaning in Garden City , on can still sense the old glamourous days of the past. No tall, new big buildings, no sign of urbanization. Why would people prefer to live in Garden City? Because" you won't find friendlier people or fresher air or sweeter drinking water" ( Capote 31). At Garden City the idea of a wholesome small town still remains.
ReplyDelete2. While Perry were prepared to buy stockings to cover his face Dick thinks to himself " and after all, anyone they encountered would not live to bear witness " ( Capote 35). which pretty much explains that Dick had a cold blooded murder perfectly planned all along.
3. Twine meaning tangled and twisted can refer to the storyline. Foreshadowing that later on in the plot line , things will not go as they should have gone. Meaning Dick's plan did go on so smoothly, never the less, the Clutter's family still ended in death.
4. When Perry heard "Willi-Jay sing 'The Lord's Prayer' ; the hymn's grave language sung in so credulous a spirit moved him, made him wonder a little at the justice of his contempt "( Capote 41). Willie-Jay was somewhat a religious support to Perry, a good friend. Perry came to Kansas in search of his old cellmate. This was his main reason, the murder was something that just came along since he couldn't fine his old friend, so no it would be no excuse.
5. As the two murderers arrive in Garden City , Perry's " legs pained him,as they often did; they hurt as though his old accident had happened five minutes before" ( Capote 52). And as Dick waits for Perry to come out of the men's room , he sees that something is wrong too, hinting both of them are going to face something bad later one.
6. Well , rather then Japan I would say Hokkaido. People here are well-mannered and nice. Since Hokkaido is considered the " country" I feel like there is often a wholesome feel to it.
7. A natural Killer -" absolutely sane, but conscienceless, and capable of dealing, with or without motive, the cold-blooded deathblows" ( Capote 53).
8. Holcomb in everybody's eyes were a wholesome town. Everybody new each other, everybody were too nice to each other. So if the killer was someone from the town, the trust would no longer exist. Everyone will be constantly afraid of each other, even friend for long periods of time, because everyone can be the suspect.
9. Dick wakes up and eat with his family." He had arrived home at noon, kissed his mother, readily, replied to questions his father put concerning his supposed over-night trip to Fort Scott"( Capote 72). Seeing as Dick just ended a family of six lives, it is extremely inhuman of him and uncomfortable for the readers to see him act as nothing happened eating with his own family.
CATHERINE CATHERINE CATHERINE ( just so you won't mistake this with my sister's )