Homework!

 Truman Capote very cleverly writes this story in the eyes of several characters giving you the feeling that you are there living the life as the character and events are taking place. Using amazing in-depth research and hypothesis as to how the murder could have happened. The story is told in such a way that makes you feel as if you were there while every event taking place was happening. Truman as I see it has used photographs, newspapers, and people’s narration of the incidents that have happened all of which have been saved by Perry who is collecting research about his own life and not seeing it. Also, over the course of the novel Perry the main character’s life there are many reflections of what his past have made him to be in life and just what decisions put him in the situations he found himself in.

I would recomend this book for people who are readers who can focus due to the fact that this book starts off very slow.

I found two quotes within this book that really caught my attention and made me chose to write about them. The first quote from “In cold blood” is a look at the words from Perry’s Sister expressing her feelings about the actions and path Perry had chosen. The second is a quote found within the same letter that states how amazing Perry’s father is even being a school dropout.

“It is no shame to have a dirty face – The shame comes when you KEEP it dirty”

         Found on page (140) of “In cold blood” these words to me sent to Perry from his sister and his brother in law while he was in jail hit home for me. These words in my eyes basically mean that all the wrongs you have done in your life and mistakes you have mad are ok. They become not okay when you decide not to learn from your mistakes and wrong-doings, and continue to do wrong. The dirty face was symbolism for doing wrong and “keeping it dirty” was an analogy for knowing your doing wrong but continuing to do so.

           

Another quote that I found that I liked a lot was the description of Perry’s fathers literacy throughout his life it reads:

“It’s true Dad did not have a great extensive education but in school we only learn the words and how to spell them”

Found on (141) In cold blood” in the text of  the quote from Barbra Perry’s Brother really hit home for me. This touched me because me being a first generation college student along with my twin brother. I see just what this quote means and is trying to tell the reader of this novel. It means that although you did not go to Harvard or in Perry’s case his father did not finish school. It does not mean that the individual is any more or less capable of learning or of achieving greatness. It simply means that you learn through “living life” and experiences throughout your life which become lessons. These lessons if you will teach us in ways that school or any kind of formal instruction may not be able to. Being that they take place in the real world and not in the classroom you should be able to see why it may be more beneficial in some cases.

            My point can be more cemently hardened by the information I used for outside sources to prove my case to you. The first of my sources which are both internet sources comes from researching my first quote. I simply looked at the statistics of people who commit crimes and the likelihood to commit a crime of the same nature in specifically murder. I was influenced based off the conclusion that if peole have a “dirty face” and learn from mistakes. How many of them do not learn and “keep their faces dirty”. My results varied but I found concrete information in a chart which you can see below: 

 For a bigger version go to: http://www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/Publications/2002/11/15850/14165

Granite the chart is outdated, and these are stats from a different country. One can still see just how many murders learn from their mistakes. Also I saw the need to point out that other things influence the way people act such as drugs, alcohol, and just how many just committed the act out of anger or insanity (Neither drink or drugs, and Not known).

My second quote through research brought me to want to use refernces form success stories of famous people in our world today who have dropped out of High School. Upon dropping out they did something with their lives and became successful millionaires without a “formal education simply living through life’s ups and downs. The following is a list shows 10 of some of the famous people in our society today taken from socyberty.com:

• 1) Quentin Tarantino
• 2) Dave Thomas
• 3) Johnny Depp
• 4) Nicholas Cage
• 5) Christina Aguilera
• 6) Jim Carrey
• 7) John Travolta
• Chris Rock
• 9) Tom Petty
• 10) Joe Pesci

All of the following decided to say forget school and they went to do their own thing. I know that Perry’s father was not as successful as far as wealth but it can be seen

through his character and his love that he is worth more than the fame and the money. Sometimes what people need to see is that just because someone does not have a piece of paper to show for their “in class” training they are still capable of doing amazing things in life.

Citations:

1) Capote, Truman. In Cold Blood. First Vintage International Edition 1991

2) “10 Famous millionaire high school dropouts.” November 8 2007. Accessed February 6 2008. <http://www.socyberty.com/People/10-Famous-Millionaire-High-School-Dropouts.56831

3)  Drinking/ Convistions. Chart. The Scotish Government. November28. 2006.<http://www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/Publications/2002/11/15850/14165