FREE ESSAY ON THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL STABILITY IN THE NOVEL IN COLD BLOOD

THE ROLE OF FINANCIAL STABILITY IN THE NOVEL IN COLD BLOOD

Herb Clutter and his family possess it. Dick and Perry want it. It is often associated
with the ideal existence. What is "it" exactly? "It" refers to financial stability. This
is the state of not having to fret about paying the bills or providing for one's family
and of not having to worry if one will eat on a given day. The concept of financial
stability is central in the novel written by Truman Capote and inspired by real events
entitled In Cold Blood. This issue is the backbone of the novel and is the chief motive
for the murders committed in the story. Additionally, financial stability is an important
component in the typical view of the "American dream." It is fair to say that the
Clutters embody this concept, which involves a pattern of social and personal virtue that
is accompanied by financial stability. The opposite seems true for those characters of
Dick and Perry who fail to exhibit virtuous behaviors and therefore, never attain
financial stability. These characters embody the "American nightmare." Capote argues in
his story that tragedy is not confined to the latter category and life is indeed a
fragile thing.
It may seem risky to say that a person who has attained financial stability has done so
by exhibiting virtue. While in the real world this statement might not hold true, it is
supported within the context of Capote's story. He introduces the Clutters as a
financially stable family and as the embodiment of the "American dream." He illustrates
the virtues of Herb Clutter by stating "his name was everywhere respectfully recognized"
(6) and "he was known for his equanimity, his charitableness, and the fact that he paid
good wages" (10). Capote, when speaking of what Herb wanted to obtain in the world, says
he "had in large measure obtained it" (6). Herb was a successful father, husband,
businessman, and politician according to Capote's account. The success of his farmland
was a direct result of his hard work (11-12). In addition, Herb was very prudent with his
money. He never carried cash (46) and he was excellent at storing his assets (11). Herb
Clutter obtained financial stability for his family through virtuous means. Thus his
family, with respect to financial stability, embodied the "American dream." 
Dick Hickock and Perry Smith, however, were not known for their virtue and
respectability. While it is true today and was true at the time of the story that many
profit from dishonesty, ultimately Dick and Perry were destroyed by it. It is fact that
both Dick and Perry had served prison sentences for robbery in the past. Capote further
illustrates the vices of Dick's personality when he uses the statement, "I promise you,
honey, we'll blast hair all over them walls" (22) to portray Dick as a potential
murderer. Capote also shows that Dick is a liar by revealing that he lied to his father
about where he was going the night of the murders (23). It is fairly obvious that Capote
is portraying Dick as a person who doesn't often exhibit virtue in his actions. Capote
presents a similar idea about Perry when he reveals Perry's confession of murdering all
four Clutter's present at the house (255). Dick and Perry never attain financial
stability and are, within Capote's story, the embodiment of the "American nightmare." It
is possible that Capote is subtly equating this with their lack of virtue. 
Throughout the story Dick and Perry tried to come up with schemes to make money. Dick
goes on a bad check writing spree and he promises to marry Maria "who was the widow of a
'very prominent Mexican banker'" (118) in order to get money. In fact, the incident at
the River Valley Ranch was meant to be a robbery and not a murder. Dick and Perry never
seriously try to find honest ways to make money, rather they spend all their time
scheming and violating others in order to get money. Their methods ultimately fail every
time and they always find themselves broke shortly after scamming someone. Thus the
pattern of dishonest and dishonorable behavior is a major component to the idea of the
"American nightmare" and it seems to coincide with financial instability within the
context of Capote's story. 
It is possible to argue against Capote's idea that virtue is followed by financial
stability. After all the Hickocks were what Dick described as "semi-poor. Never down and
out, but several times on the verge of it" (277). The Hickocks were good people who
worked hard for what they had (277). They do not seem to fit with the idea that virtue
follows financial stability. The only problem with this counter argument to Capote's idea
is that we don't know anything else about the Hickocks. We don't know what they did with
the money they had. We have no idea how well the saved the money or if Walter (the
father) went and gambled some of it away. Therefore, the counter argument cannot be
effectively made using the information given. 
The absence of financial stability in Dick and Perry's lives is obvious. They probably
wish that this was the extent of their problems. Unfortunately, their lack of virtue
brought about a more serious situation. The result of the Clutter murders for Dick and
Perry was death. This seems like any easy connection to make. If a person kills another
person they may be punished by death. The important thing to understand is that Dick and
Perry had little to lose my committing the murders. They had both spent time in prison
and had nothing in the world but each other and the clothes on their backs. This was a
desperate situation for Dick and Perry and they were willing to risk their lives in order
to obtain some sense of financial stability. Perhaps this desperation is why they embody
the "American nightmare." Contrastingly, Herb Clutter had everything he wanted for
himself and his family and the idea of him committing a similar crime is inconceivable
given how much he has to lose. 
The real tragedy that Capote presents is that the terms "American nightmare" and
"American dream" hold limited value in the real world. Tragedy can strike even those who
embody the "American dream" as in the case of the Clutters. Capote's point is that life
is fragile and it cannot be defined by black and white terms such as the ones above. It
was tragic that Dick and Perry lost their lives, but such an occurrence coincides with
the idea of the "American nightmare." Society expects that people like Dick and Perry
will be brought to justice and that people like the Clutters will live in peace and
fulfillment. Capote argues that while we want things to work out this way it is
inevitable that tragedy will strike some of those who embody the "American dream." 
Herb Clutter, a man of described virtue, was blessed with respect from his peers and
financial stability. Within the concept of the "American dream" virtuous people are
always rewarded with financial stability. Conversely, Dick and Perry, who Capote depicts
as the embodiment of the "American nightmare," do not exhibit virtuous behavior and
therefore, never experience the stability and respect that the Clutter's experience. The
distinction between the "American nightmare" and the "American dream" is easy to see.
Capote argues, however, that these concepts do not hold true all of the time and that
tragedy strikes even those who are the most virtuous. Thus, we must understand that life
is fragile and no one is impregnable to tragedy.