In Cold Blood Nature vs Nurture Essay - 885 Words

In Truman Capote’s famous non-fiction novel, In Cold Blood, there is evidence that supports the injustices of the trial: death penalty. The final outcome of the trail was never to be any different than death. â€Å"Of all the people in all the world, the Clutters were the least likely to be murdered† (Capote 85). We know the two men who killed the Clutter family, Perry Smith and Bill Hickock, preplanned the crime with malice and forethought. Although the actions were crul and grusome, does Death Row fit what they did if their pasts, childhood environments and situation, are bad. Capote shows the effect of childhood on the killers and if the death penalty is fair. Capote gives the killers a voice to show their humanity by giving childhood†¦show more content†¦If the juror had had this incite would they have sentenced Smith and Hickock to death? Perry Smith came from a very dysfunctional family. Growing up Perry was never taught right from wrong. His parents divo rced after years of domestic violence, his mother became an alcoholic. Due to the stresses at home he is a cronique run-away. He was â€Å"in and out of detention homes many times† (277); an orphanage. The cottage mistress severely beats and humiliates Smith for wetting the bed. During Smith’s teen years two of his sibling’s committed suicide, and the surviving sibling refusing to interact with him. Smith was angry, conflicted, and scarred by years of abuse. Taking the opportunities his adulthood gave him to act out against the world that hurt him. Dick Hickock had an excellent family, but they did struggle with finances. He was an outstanding athlete and a good student. Dick was â€Å"An outstanding athlete-always on the first team at school. Basketball! Baseball! Football! Dick was always the star player. A pretty good student, too, with A marks in several subjects†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Capote 166).â€Å"I think the main reason I went there (the Clutter home) was n ot to rob them but to rape the girl† (Capote 278). In the ongoing debate about whether nature or nurture is the primary force shaping a person’s character, Capote comes down firmly on the side of nurture and environment in his book In Cold Blood. Was Capote trying to justifyShow MoreRelatedTruman Capote -In Cold Blood - Nature vs Nurture1274 Words   |  6 Pagesryan hegarty In Cold Blood. Question 2 â€Å"Nature vs Nurture† Truman Capote’s acclaimed â€Å"non-fiction† novel, In Cold Blood explores the concept as to whether killers are born or made, following the brutal murders of the Clutter family in rural Kansas. Capote develops Perry Smith’s horrid, unfortunate upbringing as a key narrative device which serves to illustrate the effect of childhood experiences on adult behaviour. Capote manipulates the reader’s idea of morality, controversially portraying PerryRead MoreNature vs. Nurture in in Cold Blood Essay2044 Words   |  9 PagesThe Effects of Ones Environment in In Cold Blood On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, a family of four was brutally murdered by shotgun blasts only a few inches from their faces. The protagonist of the story, Perry Smith, a man with a troubled past, is the one responsible for committing these murders. In framing the question nature versus nurture, Capote’s powerfully written account of the Clutter family killings asks whether a man alone can be held responsible for his actionsRead MoreNature vs Nurture in Truman Capote’s Novel, In Cold Blood Essay1058 Words   |  5 PagesRichard Mulcaster, a British instructor of English, once wrote, â€Å"Nature makes the boy toward, nurture sees him forward.† Mulcaster recognizes that both genetic and environmental factors determine the type of a person one becomes. Truman Capote’s nonfiction novel, In Cold Blood gives the reader an opportunity to see prime examples of how nature and nurture influence one’s character. Capote’s n ovel, In Cold Blood introduces the reader to two men; Richard Eugene Hickock known as Dick throughout theRead MoreThe Theory Of Nature Vs. Nurture1680 Words   |  7 PagesThe theory of nature vs. nurture, or inherited vs. acquired, is a complex psychological theory that questions how people develop, as a person, in life and how they act. Their impact determines your personality traits, values, morals, and behavior in life. The idea of nature is the belief that people develop into who they are based on genetic traits given to them at birth. For example, some children inherit a musical talent from their parents along with eye color, hair color, and race. These traitsRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture Essay1612 Words   |  7 PagesNature vs. Nurture Essay Throughout many years, scientists have been debating about whether nature or nurture is the driving force that shapes a person’s cognitive abilities and personal traits. Before the ongoing debate can be explained, it is necessary to understand what nature and nurture actually are. Nature is loosely defined as the genetics one inherits and tendencies that influence development. Many things in an individual are hereditary, for instance; gender, disease, height, eye color,Read MoreThe Murder Of The Clutter Family1135 Words   |  5 Pagesthe course of six years bringing this narrative together, Capote began taking drugs and drinking heavily due to the dark nature of the book. Truman Capote tells the true story of a family murdered in In Cold Blood, through character analysis and symbolism to prove nature is a stronger force than nature in shaping a person’s character. Capote expresses his idea of nature vs. nurture in Dick Hickock and Perry Smith and whether killers are born or made. With this in mind, he writes, â€Å"Dick became convincedRead MoreNature Vs Nurture : Nature And Nurture1821 Words   |  8 Pages Nature and nurture are usually seen as very different things, but they are actually somewhat similar and even integrated. There is a huge debate over which holds more influence over how people develop and whether they behave based on genes or their environment. In Sincero’s article Nature and Nurture Debate she discusses arguments for both sides, saying behavior may be completely in a person’s genes, or it could come from experience and influence. Many people believe â€Å"that the criminal acts, tendencyRead MoreNature Vs Nurture : Nature And Nurture1821 Words   |  8 PagesNature and nurture are usually seen as very different things, but they are actually somewhat similar and even integrated. There is a huge debate ove r which holds more influence over how people develop and whether they behave based on genes or their environment. In Sincero’s article Nature and Nurture Debate she discusses arguments for both sides, saying behavior may be completely in a person’s genes, or it could come from experience and influence. Many people believe â€Å"that the criminal acts, tendencyRead MoreThe Film Mind Of A Rampage Killer1475 Words   |  6 Pageshighlighting a mix of nature and nurture ranging from neurologists from Harvard studying brain patterns affected by genetics, to psychologists studying maternal care and attachment during infancy. For example, the documentary presents the discussion of research studying rats which suggests that baby rats that were frequently licked by their mother grew up to be calmer and gentler. Yet, if their mother was more distant in the babies’ infancy, the rats were observed as having higher blood pressure and higherRead MoreNature Vs Nurture : Nature Versus Nurture1360 Words   |  6 PagesNature vs Nurture Nature versus nurture is a complicated subject to speak about. If one’s abilities or lack of are due to their environment or their genes. For example, a child is behaving negatively in class. Many individuals are quick to jump to the conclusion that â€Å"Oh, that kid’s parents don’t care, or just don’t know how to raise their child.† That could very well be a possibility, but most people never think that maybe they have a hereditary problem, such as ADHD, that was passed