Childish Perry

Through much of "In Cold Blood," Perry is represented quite childishly, connecting with other child characters, making him seem harmless. Along with an old man Dick and Perry pick up a 12 year old kid with whom Perry really seems to connect. Perry quickly spots the two before Dick does, which implies that there is some connection between the two. Dick suggests kicking them out of the car, because the old man could present a threat if he died while in the car. Perry, on the other hand decides, “‘Frankly, I don’t give a damn. You want to put them out? Then by all means…’ ‘Go ahead. Put them out. But I’ll be getting out, too,’”(209). Since Perry remembers traveling with his old man, he shares a connection with the two hitchhikers. These memories put the image of a child Perry in the reader’s mind. This is also combined with his reaction to Dick’s suggestion that the hitchhikers get kicked out. When Perry says he would get out if they got out, it seems like a rather childish response (if they’re gonna do it than I’m gonna do it to). This childish response suggests that Perry is in some ways still a kid at heart. The reader is also reminded of Perry’s addiction to “treasure hunting”. Dick, Perry, and the kid are all collecting bottles at the side of the road; “Nevertheless, the game generated a treasure-hunt excitement, and presently he [Dick], too, succumbed to the fun, the fervor of this quest for refundable empties,” (210). Perry is reduced to a kid playing games, going on quests to find bottles. This kid like behavior (inspired by the hitchhiker) makes Perry seem kid-like, and therefore more innocent and harmless. Once again, Capote excellently makes Perry act at two ends of the spectrum, kid and murderer.