Family

Perry comes from a rough child hood whereas Dick had the support of his family when he was growing up which makes an immense difference on the character of a person when they grow up between a murderer and someone who just wants attention. When Dick and Perry have to write a diary entry to the psychiatrist Dick’s background story differs from Perry. Dick initiative was more about going to rape the young Clutter girl and he writes, “I think the main reason I went there was not to rob them but to rape the girl. Because I thought a lot about it. That is one reason why I never wanted to turn back when we started to. Even when there was no safe.” (278). Dick’s motive in the whole scandal wasn’t about the money or killing the family but more the fact that he needed to fill his sexual desires. Dick’s entry to the psychiatrist described his young life as pretty normal. He was a varsity athlete, managed his grades pretty well, and his parents rarely argued. Instead of having a rough family life, he emphasized more on the idea of his girlfriend and how he never touched her. Dick also talked about his marriage then went down the drain (278). Perry’s story talked his mother cheating on his father and how they use to fight all the time. His father use to beat him and he was always scared. He wrote “I was fightfully scared because I thought my father was going to hurt me.” (274). Perry didn’t have stable relationships growing up like Dick. When Dick was growing up he was focused on school, sports and girls like the average teenager. Perry spent his time worried about when he would get beat up by his parents, fighting in the wars and where was going to live. In the end though Dick doesn’t end up killing the Clutters but Perry does. The role of having a family and where you are brought up defines a person when they get older. Perry was use to violence where Dick just needed someone to build his self esteem.