While “nature” refers to all of the genes and hereditary factors that influence people, “nurture” refers to all the environmental variables that impact people including early childhood experiences, social relationships, and culture. Truman Capote’s nonfiction novel, In Cold Blood, gives the reader an opportunity to see examples of how nature and nurture influence one’s character. Capote introduces two criminals to the reader; Richard Eugene Hickock (Dick) and Perry Edward Smith. Although both Perry and Dick have certainly different childhoods and different family relationships, their lives of crime are almost identical. We begin to see similarities between the two men in their older ages. Despite their differences, Dick’s genetic qualities and Perry’s treatment from his parents allow them to share an ignorance for life, which eventually is seen on the night they murder four members of the Clutter family.
Richard Eugene Hickock is raised by his parents who are modest farmers. In spite of his family’s hardship Dick’s childhood is pretty typical, and he dreams of going to college. Due to his family's lack of resources, he is unable to attend college. Dick lives an average life, he marries 2 women and has 3 children. However, after he gets divorced from his second wife Dick is arrested for writing false checks. While in prison Dick meets Perry, who he commits fraud and executes the horrific murders of four innocent people with. The Dictionary defines psychopath as “A mentally unbalanced person who is inclined toward antisocial and criminal behaviors.” Dick’s psychopathic nature is seen throughout the novel. One of the characteristic traits that lead to the killing of the family is Dick’s lack of remorse and guilt. For example, when he needs money, he resorts to writing false checks. Dick shows absolutely no remorse after he tricks people into giving him money. In addition, Dick shows his psychopath tendencies after they rob and murder the Clutter family, Dick goes on with his life and doesn’t feel any emotions. For example, in the story, after they kill the well-respected innocent family, he has dinner with his own the very night as nothing important or shocking has happened. In one conversation when Perry tells him he thinks “there must be something wrong with us. To do what we did”, and Dick casually responds: “Did what? What is it, honey? That other deal? Why the hell can't you forget it?” (Capote, 142). Dick obviously doesn’t see anything wrong with murdering innocent people because he is a psychopath. Comparing his background and family relations with his actions we understand that Dick wasn’t raised to be a bad person, it was simply in his nature.
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Perry Edward Smith’s childhood is unusual; he was neglected by his alcoholic mother and abusive father. Perry’s unstable background is the reason why he is a lawbreaking criminal. After his parent’s divorce Perry is forced to live with his mother who does not care about her children and their nutrition which causes them to develop health problems. Later on, he is placed into an orphanage where he gets physically and psychologically abused. After that, Perry moves in with his father who is also psychologically abusive towards him. For example, one time his dad points a gun to his head because he is eating a biscuit. “He tore loose and ran to get his gun. Came back pointing it at me. He said ‘Look at me, Perry. I’m the last thing you’re ever gonna see.’”. (Capote, 125) Another example of how traumatic events from his childhood caused him to become a criminal is when he witnesses his father physically abuse his mother. The abuse that Perry witnessed made him feel that it is acceptable to harm others. That experience omitted the feelings that one can do as one wishes without considering other people. No one can disagree to the fact that Perry’s mother and father’s alcoholism and abuse are direct causes to him breaking the laws. It is evident that Perry’s life experiences cause him to become a criminal.
Coming back to Dick, he is impulsive and doesn’t think about his actions and the consequences that come with it which causes him to constantly get in trouble. Talking to Perry about his actions, he says, “I know it is wrong. But at the time I never give any thought to whether it is right or wrong….it seems to be an impulse” (Capote, 64). Also, Dick’s lack of consideration for other people’s life clearly shows that he truly only cares about himself. A statement made by Perry about Dick states “The glory of having everybody at his mercy, that’s what excited him.” (Capote, 219) It is clear that he is impulsive and selfish, however, these pieces of evidence create a question in the readers' minds; Is being a criminal in his nature or is it nurture? Even though, it might be confusing from some aspects, looking at the picture as a whole we can say that being a criminal is in Dick’s nature.
It is quite evident that a combination of life experiences and heredity determine who one eventually becomes. Some people are blessed by having a good childhood and coming from a loving and nurturing home, which allows them to flourish in society. Then there are the people who are born into a dysfunctional family or go through a traumatic experience and are simply incapable of adapting to social norms because of what they have experienced. Despite knowing that a combination of the two shapes who one becomes, it is unclear whether one of them has more influence than the other.
Citations
- Harris, Judith Rich. “The Nurture Assumption.” The New York Times, The New York Times, https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/first/h/harris-nurture.html.
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